Beach Town Tour: Highway 101

U.S. Highway 101 runs from north to south down the west coast through three states: Washington, Oregon, and California. While there are some fabulous beach towns all up and down along the highway, for the sake of this article, let’s focus on the ones located in Oregon. Considering they’re all off the same roadway, it makes visiting them really convenient. If you’re thinking of taking a road trip down the west coast, check out the following beach towns in Oregon that you can find along Highway 101.

Seaside
Founded in 1899, Seaside is a beautiful coastal community that offers plenty to do. You can walk down the 1.5-mile oceanfront Promenade, visit the aquarium, go kayaking, go surfing, play golf, do some shopping, or eat some delicious food. That’s just the beginning of what this town has to offer. There are also plenty of events to attend, so make sure to check out their events calendar here.

Cannon Beach
This small city with less than 2,000 residents is known for their Haystack Rock which is 235-feet in height and set right on the exquisite beach. There are several shops to check out as well as wonderful eateries such as Seasons Cafe, Driftwood Restaurant & Lounge, Fultano’s Cannon Beach Pizza, and Cannon Beach Cafe. Keep in mind that between October and May is their quiet season, so it’s a good chance to do some exploring without crowds.

Yachats
With a community of only around 700 residents, consider this gem a must-stop on your beach town tour down Highway 101. Set about 3-hours from Cannon Beach and only about 40-minutes from Siuslaw National Forest, it’s a village that offers a plethora of natural beauty. There are several shops and galleries to explore, and when you get hungry, you can stop off at one of the eateries that include Bread and Roses Bakery, Yachats Brewing + Farmstore, Outta Gas Pizza, and The Village Bean.

Port Orford
Let’s move down the coast about 2.5-hours to Port Orford where the little town is all about the great outdoors. It’s here that you can do whale watching, go hiking and fishing, go kayaking, or just sit on the beach and enjoy the fresh, clean air. There are a handful of restaurants to check out when you get hungry especially if you love seafood.

Gold Beach
Only a short drive from Port Orford down Highway 101 and about 40-minutes north of the California border is Gold Beach where there is always an opportunity to get outside and enjoy nature. Just some of the activities include clamming, fishing, hiking, and crabbing. You can, of course, also just hang out on the beach. Want to get some golfing in? Head over to the Cedar Bend Golf Course.

There is much more to do in the aforementioned towns so you’ll definitely want to take some time to explore them and see what they have to offer. In addition to those towns, from the large and crowded to the small and quaint, there are many more that are worth visiting right off Highway 101. Isn’t it time you booked a west coast beach town tour?