Quick answer: Oregon’s best beaches include Cannon Beach with Haystack Rock, Indian Beach and Crescent Beach in Ecola State Park, Manzanita, Pacific City at Cape Kiwanda, Newport’s Agate and Nye beaches, the Oregon Dunes near Florence, Bandon’s sea stacks and Harris Beach near Brookings. Every beach on the Oregon coast is open to the public. The Pacific here is cold, and “sneaker waves” can surge far up the sand without warning, so never turn your back on the ocean and keep off logs at the water’s edge.
The Oregon coast runs for about 362 miles (about 583 km) from the California border to the Columbia River. Thanks to the 1967 Oregon Beach Bill, the public has free use of the beaches, so the whole shoreline is open to walkers. (An earlier version of this article gave the length as 362 miles but 538 km; the metric figure was wrong.)
Summers are mild rather than hot. On the north coast, average highs peak at about 70°F (about 21°C) in late summer, and July and August are the driest months, while most rain falls from November to December. That makes Oregon’s beaches better for walking, tide-pooling, photography and surfing in a wetsuit than for tropical-style swimming. June to September is the main beach season.
North coast
1. Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock
Cannon Beach, in Clatsop County, is one of Oregon’s most popular coastal towns and a favourite weekend escape from Portland. Its beach runs about 8 miles south from Ecola Creek to Arch Cape, and its landmark is Haystack Rock, a 235-foot (72 m) basalt sea stack. At low tide, the tide pools at its base hold starfish, sea anemones and crabs, and tufted puffins nest on the rock in summer. The rock is a protected Marine Garden and part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, so climbing above the barnacle line is not allowed. In 2013 National Geographic listed Cannon Beach among the world’s 100 most beautiful places.
2. Indian Beach, Ecola State Park
Indian Beach is a small, cliff-backed cove inside Ecola State Park, just north of Cannon Beach, and is popular with surfers and hikers. The park has been used as a film location: much of The Goonies was shot in the park, and Indian Beach appears in Point Break and Twilight. (An earlier version of this article called Indian Beach the most visited stretch of sand in the Pacific Northwest and said Cannon Beach attracts 750,000 visitors a year; we could not confirm either claim.)
3. Crescent Beach, Ecola State Park
Crescent Beach is a secluded beach in Ecola State Park, close to Cannon Beach, reached by trail. The setting combines sand, dramatic headlands and dense conifer forest, which makes it one of the most scenic spots on the north coast. Check trail conditions with Oregon State Parks before you go, as landslides have affected parts of the park in the past.
4. Arcadia Beach
Arcadia Beach State Recreation Site is a few minutes’ drive south of Cannon Beach, between Tolovana Park and Arch Cape. It is a quieter place to enjoy the same long, sandy shoreline, and a popular surfing spot.
5. Short Sand Beach, Oswald West State Park
Short Sand Beach is a cove inside Oswald West State Park, just north of Manzanita, reached by a half-mile trail through forest that passes under Highway 101. Its mix of sand and small pebbles, sheltered setting and reliable waves make it popular with surfers and hikers.
6. Manzanita Beach
Manzanita is a small, relaxed town about 15 miles south of Cannon Beach. Its long, wide sandy beach stretches south towards Nehalem Bay, with Neahkahnie Mountain rising at its northern end.
7. Rockaway Beach
Rockaway Beach is easy to recognise thanks to Twin Rocks, a pair of large rock formations just offshore. The beach is a favourite for photographs, especially at golden hour before sunset, and on stormy days when waves crash against the rocks.
8. Oceanside Beach
Oceanside is a quiet coastal village west of Tillamook. Its main attraction is the beach at Oceanside Beach State Recreation Site, where you can explore tide pools, walk the sand, hike and fish. An earlier version of this article also listed a separate “Jackson Creek” beach south of Oceanside; we could not confirm it, so it has been replaced by Cannon Beach in this list.
9. Pacific City and Cape Kiwanda
Pacific City, in Tillamook County, sits beside Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, a sandstone headland with a huge sand dune that visitors climb for views. The beach is popular with surfers despite the cold water, and Pacific City is known for its dory boats, which fishermen have launched straight off the beach for about a century. Rip currents are a danger here, so swim with care.
10. Neskowin Beach
Neskowin, in Tillamook County between Cascade Head and Nestucca Bay, is a quiet community and a popular summer weekend spot. Neskowin Beach State Recreation Site includes Proposal Rock and, at times, the Neskowin Ghost Forest, the stumps of an ancient forest that appear when winter storms strip away the sand.
Central coast
11. Nelscott Beach, Lincoln City
Lincoln City has miles of sandy beach, and Nelscott is one of its most popular stretches. Offshore, the Nelscott Reef produces very large waves in autumn and winter, which attract experienced big-wave surfers.
12. Agate Beach, Newport
Agate Beach, at the north end of Newport, is a wide, easy-to-reach beach with views of Yaquina Head and its lighthouse. It is a popular surfing spot, and signs on the beach explain surf etiquette and safety.
13. Nye Beach, Newport
Nye Beach is Newport’s historic beach district, with shops, cafés and galleries a short walk from the sand. Its wide stretch of fine sand is one of the most visited in the area.
14. Baker Beach
Baker Beach, north of Florence in the Siuslaw National Forest, is one of the most natural stretches of the Oregon coast and marks the northern edge of the dunes country. It is a good place for birdwatching and quiet walks.
15. Heceta Beach
Heceta Beach lies just south of Baker Beach, near Florence, and is easier to reach, so it gets more visitors. It is a breezy, sandy beach that makes a cool escape on hot summer days inland.
16. Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area stretches for about 40 miles between Florence and North Bend and is described as the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America. Some dunes rise about 500 feet above sea level, the highest being Banshee Hill. The area is part of the Siuslaw National Forest, with zones for hiking, sandboarding and off-highway vehicles. (An earlier version of this article said Banshee Hill is the highest dune in the United States. That is not correct: the tallest dunes in North America are at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.)
South coast
17. Bandon Beach
Bandon is a small coastal town known for its dramatic shoreline of sea stacks and rock formations, reached by trails and stairways from the bluffs. It is one of the most photographed beaches in Oregon. An earlier version of this article said Bandon’s water is “smooth” and inviting for swimmers with “nearly guaranteed” sunshine; the water is cold and the surf can be dangerous, so enjoy it from the sand.
18. Meyers Beach
Meyers Beach is a sandy stretch on Oregon’s southern coast, not far from the California border. The south coast generally has more sunny summer days than the north coast, which makes it pleasant for long walks.
19. Harris Beach State Park, Brookings
Harris Beach State Park, just north of Brookings, is one of the most popular parks on the south coast, with a year-round campground, picnic areas and tide pools. Offshore, Bird Island (also called Goat Island) is the largest island off the Oregon coast and a protected breeding site for seabirds, including tufted puffins. Brookings is known for milder weather than much of the coast, but an earlier version of this article described its climate as “subtropical”, which is an exaggeration.
20. Lone Ranch Beach
Lone Ranch Beach is a sandy cove north of Brookings, near the southern end of the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, a 12-mile stretch of cliffs, sea stacks and natural arches. It is quiet and unspoiled, and makes a good starting point for driving or hiking the corridor.
Oregon beach safety
- Never turn your back on the ocean. The National Weather Service warns that sneaker waves can run much further up the beach than normal waves, often after long quiet spells.
- Stay off logs and rocks near the water. Waves can lift and roll large logs.
- Watch the tide. Check tide tables before exploring tide pools, headlands and coves, so you are not cut off.
- The water is cold. Even in summer, it is cold enough to be dangerous. Surfers wear wetsuits, and swimmers should take great care.
- If someone is swept in, call 911 and keep watching them; don’t go in after them.
More West Coast and US beaches: see our guides to the best beaches in Hawaii, the best beaches in Alaska and the best beaches in the USA.
Frequently asked questions
Are Oregon’s beaches public?
Yes. The 1967 Oregon Beach Bill gives the public free use of the beaches along the whole coast, though some parking areas charge a fee.
Can you swim at Oregon beaches?
You can, but the water is cold all year and sneaker waves and rip currents are real hazards. Most visitors walk, explore tide pools or surf in wetsuits instead.
When is the best time to visit the Oregon coast?
July to September usually brings the driest, sunniest weather. Winter is stormy and wet, but popular for storm watching.
What is the most famous beach in Oregon?
Cannon Beach, with Haystack Rock, is the best known.
Details checked in October 2026 against Oregon coast and park records, US Forest Service information on the Oregon Dunes, National Park Service information on Great Sand Dunes, and National Weather Service sneaker-wave warnings. Trail access and park conditions change, so check Oregon State Parks before you go.
