Looking for the best things to do on the Central Oregon Coast? Our family has explored this stretch of Highway 101 from Lincoln City to Florence, returning to favorite beaches, tide pools, lighthouses, hikes, and wildlife stops along the way.
In this guide, we’re sharing 15 memorable Central Oregon Coast attractions, including the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Yaquina Head, Cape Perpetua, Heceta Head Lighthouse, whale watching in Depoe Bay, and the Oregon Dunes.
If you’re traveling with kids, you’ll find plenty of easy stops alongside bigger adventures. We’ve included the places our family loved most, what makes each one worth visiting, and practical tips to help you choose the best stops for your own Oregon Coast trip.
The Central Oregon Coast is beloved for its natural allure and abundant recreational opportunities. Three large coastal cities lie within this region: Lincoln City, Newport, and Florence. Each of them have their own collection of noteworthy attractions, luxurious accommodations, and quality restaurants.
| If you’re looking for… | Our pick |
|---|---|
| Best overall experience | Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area |
| Best attraction with kids | Oregon Coast Aquarium |
| Best tide pools | Otter Crest Marine Gardens |
| Best waterfall hike | Drift Creek Falls |
| Best whale watching | Depoe Bay |
| Best lighthouse stop | Heceta Head Lighthouse |
| Best coastal viewpoint | Cape Perpetua |
| Most unusual beach | Neskowin Ghost Forest |
| Best big adventure | Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area |
| Our favorite beach | Beverly Beach |
Why trust our recommendations?
Our family has explored the Oregon Coast repeatedly, and many of the places in this guide are stops we’ve personally visited with our kids. We prioritize memorable scenery, wildlife, family-friendly activities, and places that are genuinely worth pulling off Highway 101 to experience.
Table of Contents
Lincoln City: Wonders to Find
Lincoln City has a lot going for it. It’s one of the largest cities on the coast and offers an impressive array of quality hotels and shops. Its location puts it within reach of Interstate 5, making it one of the easiest coastal cities to visit.
#1. Neskowin Ghost Forest (near Lincoln City)
Stroll through a strange landscape at this truly unique Oregon experience. Ghost Forests are remnants of once-vibrant forests, now drowned by the sea.
Low tides expose the stumps and trunks, allowing you to walk the beach in an entirely new way.
Ghost Forests testify to the power of subduction quakes and the role they have played in the Pacific Northwest. It appears that these ancient trees were once 150-200 feet tall.
The Neskowin Ghost Forest was destroyed around 2000 years ago, most likely by an earthquake or tsunami. Sea sands buried and preserved the trees until they were unearthed by winter storms in 1997 and 1998. We enjoyed our visit to the Ghost Forest, despite getting soaked.
The Neskowin Ghost Forest is a bit tricky to reach. Check out the video below for tips on how to maximize your experience.
#2. Find Lincoln City’s Glass Floats
You can beachcomb at any beach, but at Lincoln City you might just find a piece of art! Hand-blown glass floats are often placed on Lincoln City’s seven-mile stretch of shoreline.
The floats are part of a program that celebrates the tradition of collecting Japanese net floats. Before the advent of plastic, Japanese glass floats could often be found on Oregon Beaches. Today, “Float Fairies” leave the art glass for you to find and collect. This is a real case of finders-keepers!
#3. Hike to Drift Creek Falls
One of Oregon’s best waterfall hikes awaits you in the mountains east of Lincoln City. The Drift Creek Falls Trail features a majestic waterfall, a wonderful suspension bridge, and lush coastal forestland. This moderate 3.2-mile, there-and-back path is a great family outing.
The Drift Creek Falls Trail Head is a forty minute drive from Lincoln City. This trail is well loved, so try to visit in the morning or during the off-season.
Depoe Bay: Home of Gentle Giants
Depoe Bay is a picture-perfect, Pacific Northwest fishing town. Shops and neighborhoods frame the world’s smallest harbor. The town’s tall bluffs make it a great place to spot whales or watch winter storms.
#4. Go Whale Watching in Depoe Bay
Oregon has a prime location on the gray whale’s migratory route from Mexico to Alaska. This means that whale-watching season is nearly year-round. Depoe Bay offers plenty of ways to spot migrating gray whales.
Start at the Whale Watching Center, an Oregon State Park offering wide vistas of the surrounding waters. The viewing deck and binoculars help you look for the nearly 20,000 gray whales that pass the bay every year. Displays and park rangers are ready to answer questions and provide additional ways to understand these incredible creatures.
Otter Rock: Unparalleled Nature
This sea town stole our hearts! Otter Rock is a tiny community located just north of Newport. The quiet hamlet offers incredible scenery, a laid-back style, and lots of peace and quiet. We’ve been to Otter Rock several times, and we plan to return soon.
#5. Otter Crest Marine Gardens
What’s a marine garden? Imagine huge tide pools of remarkable diversity. I grew up on the coast, but was blown away by how much could be found here.
A low-tide stroll features sea plants of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Marine creatures abound in this beautiful tidal landscape. Otters can often be spotted playing about at high tide.
The marine gardens are located just north of Devil’s Punchbowl, on a beach directly below Otter Crest Resort.
#6. Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area
Kids love this collapsed sea cave. Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area is a bite-sized State Park can be enjoyed from several vantage points. The Punchbowl forms the southern end of the same beach that hosts the Otter Crest Marine Gardens.
At low tide you can explore the marine gardens and scamper about the inside of the Punchbowl.
High tide is no less fantastic. A bluff-top viewing area allows you to watch surging tides smashing into the bowl and its adjoining cliffs.
Good weather gives great views of Beverly Beach and Yaquina Head Lighthouse. Foul weather offers great storm watching and a hot bowl of clam chowder at Mo’s!
#7. Beverly Beach
I think Beverly Beach is Oregon’s most beautiful beach. This long sandy beach is framed by forested bluffs and closes with Yaquina Head and its noble lighthouse.
There’s nothing quite like walking along this beach. You enjoy the sound of the surf while admiring the misty pines and the light emanating from the lighthouse.
Beverly Beach is immediately south of Devil’s Punchbowl State Park. The beach can be accessed from the town of Otter Rock or from Beverly Beach State Park.
Newport: Queen of the Coast
If Astoria is king of the Oregon Coast, then Newport is the queen. No other coastal city offers so much in the way of beauty and amenities. The City of Newport is blessed with some of Oregon’s best beaches, including the famous Nye Beach.
Newport hosts Oregon’s best aquarium and one of the state’s best natural areas. The queen of the coast also boasts a wide range of historic, artistic, and culinary attractions. Finally, Newport is located at the end of Highway 20, making it easy to reach from Interstate 5.
Newport is a great place to stay as a “home base” while visiting other nearby areas. Check out these Newport Vacation rentals for lodging options.
#8. Go Rockhounding at Moolack Beach
Here’s a stop for that family member who’s all about rocks and minerals. Moolack Beach is one of a handful of Oregon beaches that yield treasures to the careful seeker. Streams from nearby mountains bring down marine fossils, agates, and jaspers that can be collected off the beach.
For best results, stop by Moolack after a storm and look over the creek beds and the surrounding beach. Moolack Beach is located south of Beverly Beach and north of the city of Newport.
#9. Visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium
Oregon’s top aquarium gives visitors up-close access to the creatures of the Pacific Northwest. Admire sea feathers, walk among puffins, face-off with spider crabs, or stroll through the aquarium’s shark tank.
We love the size and value of this aquarium. You can see everything in a matter of hours, and the selection and exhibits are excellent.
The Oregon Coast Aquarium is located on Yaquina Bay, one of the best spots in all of Newport. It’s within walking distance of the Hatfield Marine Science Center, the Yaquina Bay Trail, and the iconic Yaquina Bay Bridge.
Cross the bridge to see the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse and visit the shops and restaurants of Newport’s historic harbor.
#10. Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
As the name suggests, this is the place to see marine wildlife. I don’t understand how so much marine life can abound right next to Newport, but it’s there!
Seals and sea lions pack the coves, creatures fill the tide pools, and marine fowl cover the rocks. Bald eagles often hunt along here as well.
On our visit we witnessed a bald eagle capture a puffin. It happened on the rocks directly in front of the lighthouse viewing platform!
The historic Yaquina Head Lighthouse stands at the center of all this natural beauty. Tours of the lighthouse are available. All of this can be reached with an easy hike from the visitor center.
The visitor center provides excellent displays and activities about the natural and human history of Yaquina Head.
Waldport & Yachats: Epic Sights
Waldport and Yachats are small cities with beautiful beaches. These communities are located on a quiet stretch of the Oregon coast next to national forests and lovely state parks.
#11. Cape Perpetua
Take in incredible views of the Oregon coast on top of an 800-foot tall headland. Cape Perpetua boasts the highest scenic viewpoint accessible by car on the Oregon Coast.
Formidable Cape Perpetua was named by the British Captain James Cook in 1778. It bears evidence of over 6,000 years of human occupation. Today, Cape Perpetua Scenic Area includes 2,700 acres of coastal forestland and 26 miles of trails.
The cape’s rocky coastline includes a number of noteworthy landmarks. Devil’s Churn, Thor’s Well, and Cook’s Chasm are curious natural formations. Each lend their own wonder to this foreboding stretch of coast.
Cape Perpetua’s Visitor Center features exhibits on the area and provides information and services to ensure an enjoyable visit. Cape Perpetua Scenic Area is located three miles south of Yachats.
#12. Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint
Heceta Head Lighthouse is the most photographed lighthouse on the entire Oregon Coast. Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint offers one of the most picturesque experiences of the Oregon Coast.
This park includes a secluded beach, beautiful trails, and a Bed and Breakfast at the historic Heceta Head Lightkeepers House. Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint is 12 miles north of Florence, Oregon.
Florence: Sand and Sea Lions
Florence is known as Central Oregon’s Coastal playground. You can ride a dune buggy, go fishing, shop for antiques, and enjoy fresh seafood all in one place.
Located at the end of Highway 126, this city is in close reach of Eugene and Interstate 5. Florence is about four hours from Crater Lake National Park. So it’s a good stepping stone if you’re looking to go from the Cascades to the coast.
#13. Sea Lion Caves
Here’s a big attraction with a tame name. As a beach boy, I’d always wondered why you’d want to visit the Sea Lion Caves. It sounded a lot like “trees with squirrels,” not all that fantastic on the coast.
However, there’s quite a lot to this place. For one, you take an elevator to North America’s largest sea cave. The enormous cave is the only Steller Sea Lion rookery in the lower 48 United States. The Sea Lion Caves are located on high cliffs situated ten miles north of Florence.
#14. Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Florence is located just north of one of the largest expanses of temperate coastal dunes in the world. Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area allows a host of outdoor activities while also protecting this strange and beautiful ecosystem.
Oregon’s sand dunes are best known for its off-road adventures. People take to the dunes in ATVs and dune buggies in the three designated areas allowing vehicle recreation. A number of companies provide guided tours of the sand dunes via dune buggies and other off-road vehicles.
BONUS: #15. Umpqua River Scenic Byway
Enjoying the drive is one of the best parts of road tripping. Umpqua River Scenic Byway provides one of the most scenic routes to the Central Oregon Coast.
This route follows the lower Umpqua River from the Southern Willamette Valley to the river’s mouth near Reedsport. Lush forests and mossy bluffs frame one of Oregon’s wildest rivers.
Our family enjoyed spotting bald eagles and osprey as we followed the Umpqua west. Be sure to check out the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area. Viewing platforms offer an excellent place to watch elk in their natural habitat.
Central Oregon Coast FAQs
What are the best things to do on the Central Oregon Coast?
Some of the best things to do on the Central Oregon Coast include visiting the Oregon Coast Aquarium, exploring Yaquina Head, whale watching in Depoe Bay, hiking at Cape Perpetua, searching for glass floats in Lincoln City, and exploring the Oregon Dunes near Florence.
Our family especially enjoys the beaches, tide pools, lighthouses, and wildlife along this stretch of the coast. There’s enough variety here to fill several days without running out of things to see.
What towns are on the Central Oregon Coast?
The Central Oregon Coast includes Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport, Waldport, Yachats, and Florence, along with smaller communities such as Otter Rock.
Highway 101 connects these coastal towns, making it easy to explore several of them during the same Oregon Coast road trip.
What are the best things to do on the Oregon Coast with kids?
Families will find plenty to do on the Central Oregon Coast. Some of our favorite kid-friendly stops include the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Devil’s Punchbowl, Drift Creek Falls, tide pooling at Otter Crest Marine Gardens, searching for glass floats in Lincoln City, and exploring the beaches around Newport.
Wildlife watching is another great option. Kids can look for whales, seals, sea lions, birds, and tide-pool creatures throughout the region.
How many days do you need on the Central Oregon Coast?
Three to five days gives most families enough time to enjoy several Central Oregon Coast highlights without rushing.
You could easily spend a full day around Lincoln City and Depoe Bay, another day exploring Newport and Otter Rock, and one or two days visiting Yachats, Cape Perpetua, and Florence.
Where is the best whale watching on the Central Oregon Coast?
Depoe Bay is one of the best places for whale watching on the Central Oregon Coast. Its high coastal bluffs offer wide views of the Pacific, and gray whales travel along this part of the Oregon Coast during their annual migrations.
Whale-watching cruises are also available from Depoe Bay. Even when we’re simply standing along the shore, we always keep an eye on the water—you never know when a spout will appear.
What can you do on the Central Oregon Coast when it rains?
Rain doesn’t have to ruin an Oregon Coast trip. The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport is an excellent choice for a wet day, and many coastal towns have shops, restaurants, museums, and other indoor attractions.
Storm watching can be an adventure of its own. Depoe Bay, Devil’s Punchbowl, and other bluff-top viewpoints can be spectacular during rough weather. Just stay well back from cliffs, waves, and exposed beaches when conditions are dangerous.
When is the best time to visit the Central Oregon Coast?
Summer generally offers the warmest and driest weather, but every season has something special to offer.
Spring and fall can bring fewer crowds, while winter is fantastic for storm watching and massive King Tides. Wildlife viewing also changes throughout the year, so the best time to visit depends on what your family hopes to see and do.
No matter when you visit, bring layers. Weather on the Oregon Coast can change surprisingly quickly.
Keep Exploring the Oregon Coast
The Central Oregon Coast is only one part of this incredible shoreline. Head north and you’ll find historic towns, dramatic headlands, shipwrecks, and some of Oregon’s most famous coastal scenery. Continue south and the landscape becomes wilder, with rugged sea stacks, secluded beaches, and spectacular stretches of Highway 101.
Planning a longer road trip? Check out our guide to the best things to do on the North Oregon Coast and our guide to the best things to do on the South Oregon Coast. Together with this Central Coast guide, they’ll help you plan an Oregon Coast adventure from one end of the state to the other.
©️ Copyright Brian A. Warren 2026.
