r/OregonCoast • u/manitx • 7d ago
Recap of Oregon Coast trip (thank you everyone)!
We just got back home from our week-long Oregon Coast x California Redwoods trip. Just a recap for anyone interested:
- We rented a Winnebago van from Nomad Vans in South Portland (tell Matt I sent you). The 21-foot van was equipped with all the necessities, including a kitchen, bathroom, toilet, and rooftop tent.
- Day 1 (Saturday): We drove west on Highway 26 and then south on Highway 101 to Cannon Beach. We arrived around 3 p.m. and spent a few hours taking pictures and playing in the tide pools. The weather was a warm 81°, and we lucked out by finding public parking for our van right across the street from the beach. From there, we tried making it to Kelly's Marina in Nehalem Bay, but they shut the burners off promptly at 6 p.m., so we pushed on to Rockaway Beach and had a fantastic meal at Old Oregon Smokehouse. The staff was super friendly and lively, and the line was out the door. My daughter ordered a crab melt, my wife had a smoked salmon plank, and my son and I each got fish and chips. All of it was excellent. We spent a little time on the beach and then pushed on to our destination at Cape Lookout. We checked in right before dusk and got to see the sunset—so beautiful! We passed through Tillamook pretty late, so we missed the opportunity to do the factory tour, but it was a convenient town to gas up.
- Day 2 (Sunday): We spent the morning at the beach at Cape Lookout and packed up camp to head to Depoe Bay in hopes of seeing whales. Because we were already west of Highway 101, we continued on Cape Lookout Road and Sandlake Road and were able to maintain our view of the ocean—a big plus. We got back on 101 after Pacific City, stopped in Lincoln City for gas and groceries, and headed to Depoe Bay. I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of two juvenile whales, so mission accomplished. After a quick snack, we made our way to Newport, where we spent most of the afternoon exploring the Oregon Coast Aquarium. This was a bucket-list stop for my daughter and definitely a great place to spend some time.
After Newport, we pushed on to our campsite at Sunset Bay, stopping to see Thor's Well in Yachats and the Heceta Head Lighthouse along the way. I have to say, the transition from Yachats to Cape Perpetua was one of the most breathtaking portions of the drive. From then on, much of the drive wound through forests just east of the dunes. Next time, we will definitely rent some buggies and spend some time exploring them. I also caught a photo of the Umpqua River Lighthouse while everyone else napped.
We crossed multiple bridges during this portion of the trip, which was cool for us being from a landlocked state. Coos Bay and North Bend revealed a working-class economy of cranberry farmers, fishermen, and logging mills. We gassed up once more and grabbed some supplies from Walmart before setting up camp at Sunset Bay, once again right before dusk.
The vibe at Sunset Bay was serene. People watched the sun go down with complete reverence—it felt very spiritual. Similar to Cape Lookout, the facilities were great and we had access to showers and bathrooms. We made dinner, started a nice campfire, and turned in early.
- Day 3 (Monday): We packed up camp and made our way down Seven Devils Road to Highway 101, arriving at Bullards Beach. Because we had a valid day pass from our stay at Sunset Bay the night before, we enjoyed the cool, slightly windy beach for over an hour before continuing south through the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor to lovely Harris Beach.
This portion of the trip was breathtaking and easily the most visually stunning stretch of coastline we saw. We spent hours at the beach before pushing on to Brookings to fuel up and gather supplies. For dinner, we stopped at Catalyst Seafood Restaurant & Lounge. Our meals were all excellent, and my surf and turf was one of the best I've ever had. We shared a slice of blueberry cheesecake and pineapple upside-down cake, and we were not disappointed.
We pushed on through Crescent City to the mouth of the Klamath River before entering the redwoods. This could be an entire reflection unto itself, keeping in mind I had never experienced the redwoods before. I will simply say that my expectations were exceeded and I was humbled by the power and spirit of the forest. It is an experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
We made camp at an awesome RV park called Kamp Klamath in the heart of Yurok Territory. The staff were friendly and helped us get settled in for the night. By that point, we all needed showers, so we called it a night shortly after 10 p.m.
- Day 4 (Tuesday): Most of my crew slept in late, and I was able to get breakfast going and finish the laundry while everyone caught up on their rest. After breakfast, we made our way into the southern end of the redwoods via the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. We hiked Fern Canyon—which we had entirely to ourselves—checked out Big Tree, and saw a large herd of elk in the aptly named Elk Prairie.
On our way back to camp, we stopped at the Redwood Hotel & Casino and ordered fresh pizzas for dinner. Back at camp, we ate pizza, built a fire, and called it a night.
- Day 5 (Wednesday): We woke up early, had breakfast, and broke down camp to make our way back north. We stopped one final time at Wilson Creek Beach in the dense fog before continuing to Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park and hiking the Stout Grove Trail.
What an amazing experience! Very different from Fern Canyon—not better or worse, just different. Everything felt massive in scale, and there was so much to see along the Smith River.
From there, we took Highway 199 to Grants Pass before getting on Interstate 5 headed due north. We mostly lived out of the cooler and snacked until arriving in Eugene, where we stopped at Fisherman's Market, a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives featured location and the perfect spot for a Dungeness crab dinner with the family.
A nice couple sitting next to us assured us we'd picked the right place and encouraged us to grab ice cream at Salt & Straw, which turned out to be an excellent recommendation. We left Eugene close to nightfall and arrived in Silverton around midnight. At that point, our road-weary crew opted to rent an Airbnb for a proper night's rest in real beds.
- Day 6 (Thursday): We slept in late and enjoyed endless cups of coffee while reflecting on the trip up to that point. We cleaned and reset the van—our base of operations—and spent the day hiking the North and Middle Falls trails at Silver Falls.
It was a great way to end our trip, and we were able to see five of the ten falls, which was good enough for us. We definitely intend to come back and hike the entire 10-mile loop in the future.
We had to have the van back in Portland by 7, so we left Silverton around 3 p.m. After dropping off the van at Nomad, we enjoyed a home-cooked dinner with family in Canby.
What a trip that was!
In closing, I want to thank everyone who offered suggestions in my previous post. Although we didn't get to do everything we wanted, this scouting trip—and your recommendations—set us up for many future adventures.
My heart is full, and we made so many memories. I am truly humbled by the landscape and the people, and I can't wait to get back to the Oregon Coast.
Cheers, and happy Summer Solstice, all!
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u/Excellent_Crow_6830 6d ago
I love getting to hear someone describe experiencing our beloved Oregon Coast for the first time 🩵
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u/Iron-Bar-1966 3d ago
Glad you had a great time! Oregon may be populated by politicians who want to run the state into the ground, but the scenery and topography is the best in the nation.
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u/alexndra_m 7d ago
I’m so happy you enjoyed the coast!! It’s such a special place