4 Day Oregon Coast Road Trip Itinerary
The Oregon coast is a stunning stretch of coastline with miles and miles of beaches and rugged cliffs! There are so many places to see it can be overwhelming when planning a trip. So here is our 4-day Oregon coast trip itinerary to ensure you don't miss any top spots!
We love road trips because they allow you to stop at hidden gems along the way that you might have otherwise missed. You also have so much flexibility to add a stop or two along the way that it's one of our favorite ways to travel around the US!
This Oregon Coast Road Trip route starts in Portland, travels south, and then loops back to finish where you started in Portland. If you are continuing south to California, you can adjust as needed!
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Day 1: Portland to Cannon Beach
Day 1 total driving = 1.5 hours
Drive 1.5 hours from Portland to Cannon Beach. This small coastal town is best known for Haystack Rock. You definitely want to be on the beach to catch the sunset! We recommend grabbing dinner and going to the beach about an hour before sunset.
Pelican Brewing is a tasty dinner option with lots of choices, from burgers to seafood. Plus, it has so many brews to choose from. Or, if you want something a little faster and more low-key, grab fish and chips from Tom's Fish and Chip's.
Enjoy the sunset behind Haystack Rock before ending the night.
There are some beachfront hotels that look amazing but fill up in the more popular months.
There are a few RV parks for camping in Cannon Beach, but they are pricier, so we stayed about 10 minutes away at Circle Creek RV Resort in Seaside.
Day 2: Cannon Beach to Tillicum
Day 2 total driving = 3.5 hours
Drive south, about 50 minutes from Cannon Beach to Tillamook Creamery. You can view the factory, get some cheese samples, and have lunch. We opted for a grilled cheese and ice cream flight, both of which were delicious!
Drive about 2.5 hours from there to Lighthouse and Sealion Beach Vantage Point in Florence. You can find it at these coordinates 44.12570° N, 124.12560° W. It's a beautiful scenic pull-off looking over the water at Heceta Head Lighthouse.
We pulled in at sunset, and the light was gorgeous!
We camped at Tillicum Beach Campground, which ended up being one of our favorite campsites! It's on the beach with bathrooms, fire pits, and picnic tables. You can reserve a campsite on Recreation.gov.
We picked this campground randomly because it was only a few hours of driving, but we loved it! It was quiet, beautiful, and affordable at $28 a night. We would definitely stay here again!
Day 3: Tillicum to Bandon
Day 3 total driving = 1.5 hours
Florence is a really cute town to walk around if you're looking for a spot to grab a coffee or breakfast. From there, drive 1.5 hours to Bandon.
Check out Coquille Point for coastal views. The beach below is a great spot to watch the sunset as well. Grab fish and chips at Tony's Crab Shack in Old Town Bandon for dinner. We sat outside to eat and it was delicious!
Nearby, Bullards Beach State Park is a great campground for the night! We've visited both with and without reservations. It's also reasonably priced! It has bathrooms and showers, and all campsites have power hookups.
Day 4: Bandon to Brookings
Day 4 total driving = 7.5 hours (to return to Portland)
There are so many scenic pull-offs on this drive, so stop at as many or as few as you want! We recommend stopping at Port Orford Lookout and Sisters Rock State Park. You can also catch windsurfers on the water on a windy day!
Natural Bridges and Secret Beach are other beautiful spots you don't want to miss along this Oregon Coast road trip! Natural Bridges is about 1.5 hours from Bandon along a beautiful stretch of the coast! A viewing platform is a short walk from the parking lot, so this is a very accessible stop.
There is a dangerous hike down to Natural Bridges that has been recently closed because of how steep and slippery it can be.
From Brookings, it's about a 5.5 hour drive back up to Portland to finish this Oregon Coast road trip itinerary!
If you have additional time and are looking to do more, here are a few other places relatively nearby:
Crater Lake National Park (4.5 hrs)
Bend, OR (5.5 hrs)
Jedediah Smith State Park - Redwoods (30 mins)
Oregon Coast Road Trip Must-Haves
Here are a few things that you definitely don't want to forget at home for your Oregon coast road trip:
Rain Jacket - the weather can be unpredictable, so it's a good idea to have a rain layer just in case. This one packs up making it easy to travel with!
Car Phone Holder - a phone holder is an essential road trip item, especially on a long road trip
Snacks - we always pack lots of snacks on road trips, especially when we go long stretches where there are no food options. Our favorite road trip snacks are pretzels, chips, apples, and candy. We use these reusable bags so that we can refill them with snacks throughout the trip.
Reusable Water Bottle - we prefer an option with a filter so we don't have to worry about where to refill it.
Blanket - this is nice for the passenger as well as to bring with you to watch the sunset on the beach or have a picnic along the way
Jumper Cables & Tire Inflator - we always keep these in the car just in case! You never know, and it's better to be safe than sorry!