When to visit OR coast
 

We have decided on Cannon Beach as our destination. We would like to go when it is less crowded. Would going in late June vs. July make any difference in crowds?

June is probably a little less crowded - any time after the 4th - but not a whole lot. In fact, mid-week, I doubt the place is that crowded. Weekends are worse than weekdays. If there's a heat wave, Portlanders tend to head to the coast, but of course that is unpredictable.

Andrew

If you are flexible - I would rec. September over June. September weather is usually warmer than June and it is quite a bit less crowded than the "summer" months.

We were there in July & Sept before we moved here, both months had cool damp days at Cannon Beach as well as sunny .. a lot of people in July, not half as many in Sept.
June , on the other hand, can be downright cold in Portland, so I don't know how the Coast might fare..
I think I would go for July for the weather, it never was that crowded to us.. :)
Andrew, do you think it will get that hot again this summer ( 103) ?

second for september.....or the week before spring breaks start is good. Anytime after July 4th, before Labor Day, will be crowded...

Early September is probably your best likely shot at good weather on the coast, but you never know. It sounded like EBZ wanted to know between June and July which was the better month...

I'm guessing it will get hot again before the summer is out, Scarlett. But who knows?

Andrew

I'm with those implying you should make your choice based more on the weather than concern for crowds. The town itself does at times feel a little elbow-to-elbow; you might even have to wait 10 minutes in line for an ice cream cone. But I've never thought of the beach as crowded, and I've been going to Cannon Beach for many years.

On average, best weather months are July and August. But if you can sneak in right after Labor Day, you have a good shot at having great weather, and lower "crowds".

I agree with September. I have had absolutely gorgeous days then.

yeah, true, beachbum- I've been so many times, I no longer care about the weather (unless it's truly miserable)....I go when there are the fewest people out and about! So, EBZ- I guess to answer your original question- no major difference between crowds unless it's a weekend or national holiday. The later, the better chance for sun.....but then again, you never know about OR coast weather:)

We were told that it rarely gets over 90 in the summer in Portland :D
I think that was like someone telling me that hurricanes never hit Northern Florida lol...

Well, Scarlett, there is this whole Global Warming thing going on. And to be fair, it hasn't gotten hot that often this summer, has it? Two weeks of 90+ temperatures so far? The rest of the country has had it much worse than that, probably with unbearable humidity to boot!

Andrew

Andrew, I came from NYC by way of a year in Florida, it is balmy and downright chilly here in the summer LOL

And this isn't the first time it's been that hot in the area....a few years ago, it was in the mid 90s at CB for almost a week- the only time I've spent most or the time at the beach actually in the ocean:)

Just to re-iterate that the Oregon Coast is NOT necessarily warm in the summer even if it is inland in Portland: today, when it was 80 and sunny in Portland in August, it was 63 and partly cloudy in Cannon Beach. Walking on the beach was a bit chilly without a jacket but not bad once you start moving. The water is usually way too cold for swimming in the ocean most of the time - surely not today!

(By the way: it was somewhat crowded mid-week in Agusut at Cannon Beach - not impossible, but I'll bet it's much worse on a weekend.)

The Oregon Coast can be beautiful and sunny in the winter and chilly in the summer. It's just like that.

Andrew

Andrew-Yes, that's what I like about the beach- went in March last time and experienced better weather than occasional August trips:)

And the crowds are miserable on August weekends- in town at least. Beach can never be really considered crowded unless you have dogs/hate children/spend only time on beach at low tide Haystack R....

Thanks for the responses but our oldest daughter will be starting kindergarten in mid. August, so Sept. is out of the question for us. I think we will look at the 2nd or 3rd week of July.

Can anyone recommend any vacation homes to rent?

Vaction homes- you may want to look either a little south or a little north of CB to rent- rentals seem to be a lot more expensive/harder to get in CB...

Have fun!

ah, sorry, vacation....

July is good! :-) Be sure to check out VRBO for home rentals. And, piggy-backing on mooselywild, if you can't find what you're looking for in Cannon Beach, try Arch Cape, about five miles south. I'm a bunch older than you, but still smile remembering annual beach trips there 35-40 years ago.

yes- big smile...