Visitor information about Oregon’s Pacific Coast Ocean Beaches. Oregon’s Pacific Coast is nothing short of spectacular. If it is ocean beaches you are looking for you will find them in every shape and size on Oregon’s Pacific Coast

North, Central, and South

Most sources of information divide Oregon’s Pacific Coast into three different regions; The North Coast, The Central Coast, and the Southern Coast. We have also succumbed to the temptation.

On this site the division between the North Coast and the Central Coast is the county line between Tillamook and Lincoln Counties. This boundary is between the Cities of Tillamook and Lincoln City.

Our division between the Central Coast and the Southern Coast is the county line between Lane and Douglas Counties which lies between Florence and Reedsport.

Oregon Beaches

North Coast

Central Coast

Southern Coast

A Sunset at Bandon Beach

The Oregon Coast is almost exclusively an automobile place. There is little or no public transportation so if you’re flying in plan to rent a car.

The North Coast

The settlement of Oregon first started by ship on the North Coast. In 1792 American Captain Robert Gray sailed the ship Columbia Rediviva into the mouth of the Columbia River, hence the name Columbia River.

In 1805 the Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived at the mouth of the Columbia. In 1811 John Jacob Astor’s fur trading company was established in what became the City of Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia. The inevitable flood of settlers over the Oregon Trail was soon to follow.

Today the river and its history and the rich history of Astoria bring tourists to the city and the ocean beaches at Gearhart, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Nehalem, and Rockaway Beach bring a flood of visitors.

For more information about the North Coast visit our North Coast page link at the top of the green column to the left.

The Astoria Column

The Central Coast

God had a hay-day when he made the Central Coast. It is highlighted by massive and rugged outcroppings with cliffs into the Pacific Ocean like Cape Perpetua and Cascade Head. Most of these points have lighthouses. Between these massive outcroppings you will often find beautiful sandy beaches, many with unique rock formations.

You’ll find the cities of the Central Coast are all on the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, US-101. The scenery through this area of the

coast is exceptional from the highway. Unlike the North Coast, US-101 follows the coastline of the Central Coast.

The Cities on the Central Coast are, form north to south; Lincoln City, Gleneden Beach, Depoe Bay Otter Rock, Newport, Waldport, Yachats, and Florence. These are all coast cities with lots of facilities for the coastal visitor.

For more information about this area click on our Central Coast link in the top of the green bar at the left of this page.

Depoe Bay

Siuslaw Pioneer Museum

at Reedsport

The South Coast

The South Coast is the least inhabited of the three areas of Oregon’s Pacific Coast. Probably the main reason is that it is the farthest from Oregon’s densest population concentration in the Portland Area.

If you were going to use one word to describe the south coast it would be rugged. Most of the beaches on the south coast are wild and undisturbed.

The South Coast is really split into two distinct area, The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area that covers the northern 40 miles of beaches and sand dunes and the Wild Rivers section at the south end of the South Coast that offers not only beaches but opportunities to explore the unspoiled wild rivers of the Coast Range that go as far inland as Grants Pass and Medford.

The cities on the South Coast are, from north to south; Reedsport, North Bend, Coos Bay, Charleston, Port Or4ford, Gold Beach, Brookings, and Harbor.

For more information about the South Coast click on our Southern Coast link at the top of the green bar at the left side of this page.

The Beach at Bandon

Alsea Bay Bridge

in Waldport

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