Highway 101 runs 363 miles along the Oregon Coast from Astoria to Brookings, passing dozens of state parks and public beaches along the way.
Oregon’s entire coastline is legally open to the public, a protection dating back to a 1967 state law, so nearly every beach along the route is accessible without a private gate or resort fee.
The drive alternates between dense forest, open dunes, and rocky headlands, with lighthouses marking several of the more dramatic points. Weather shifts quickly here, and fog is common even in summer mornings, usually burning off by early afternoon.
Most people spend 4 to 6 days working down the coast, splitting time between short hikes, tide pools, and small fishing towns.
Route Details: Oregon Coast
Astoria to Cannon Beach (25 miles)
Astoria sits at the mouth of the Columbia River and is home to the Astoria Column, a 125-foot tower with a spiral staircase leading to panoramic views. South of town, Cannon Beach is known for Haystack Rock, a 235-foot sea stack visible from the beach and home to nesting seabirds during spring and summer.
Cannon Beach to Lincoln City (75 miles)
This stretch passes through Tillamook, home to a large cheese factory offering free tours and samples, before reaching Lincoln City. The town is known for its glass float program, where local artists hide hand-blown glass floats along the beach each year for visitors to find and keep.
Lincoln City to Newport (25 miles)
Newport’s Yaquina Head Lighthouse, the tallest on the Oregon Coast at 93 feet, sits within a protected area with tide pools accessible at low tide. The town’s bayfront district has working fishing docks alongside restaurants and shops, and sea lions are often visible hauled out on the docks near the seafood markets.
Newport to Florence (55 miles)
South of Newport, Cape Perpetua Scenic Area has a network of short hikes leading to tide pools, an old-growth forest, and a lookout point with views stretching more than 70 miles on clear days. Florence sits at the northern edge of the Oregon Dunes, a stretch of coastline with dunes reaching up to 500 feet, some accessible by off-highway vehicle rental.
Florence to Bandon (85 miles)
This section runs through the heart of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area before reaching Bandon, a small town known for its cheese factory and the sea stacks scattered along Bandon Beach, including the well-known Face Rock formation. Golfers may recognize Bandon Dunes, a well-known golf resort just north of town built along the coastal dunes.
Bandon to Brookings (98 miles)
The final stretch passes through Port Orford, one of the oldest towns on the Oregon Coast, before reaching the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, a 12-mile stretch with some of the route’s most dramatic cliffside viewpoints. The drive ends in Brookings, near the California border, known for its mild winter climate relative to the rest of the coast.
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