Out of all the scenic drives you can enjoy a trip along the Oregon coastline has got to be one of the best. The stops we're highlighting along the way certainly do not represent all the scenic sites and stops you'll make but will give you a good sampling of the sites you'll see.
Start Your Tour In Astoria
On the north end of this route you can begin at the mouth of the Columbia River where you'll view the dramatic Astoria Bridge which connects the states of Washington and Oregon. In historic Astoria Oregon itself a must stop is the fascinating Columbia River Maritime Museum. This museum concentrates on the Columbia River maritime history and is loaded with one a kind exhibits. You'll see and hear quite a lot of history concerning the well known and dangerous Columbia River Bar and how it's been navigated for centuries. This is a great museum to visit for young and old alike.
Drive South of U.S. Hwy 101
You'll find driving on U.S. Hwy 101 down the Oregon coast is one of the more scenic drives you;ll ever take. U.S/ Hwy 101 along the Oregon coast stretches for some 363 scenic miles. Heading south from the Astoria area you'll drive through the towns of Seaside and Cannon Beach, two very popular art and tourist towns located right on the beaches.
Drive further south along Hwy 101 to the town of Tillamook and make a point to visit the famous Tillamook Cheese Factory. The Tillamook County Creamery Association was organized back in 1909 to aid in quality control for factories that had operated throughout the county. Eventually these factories were consolidated in Tillamook. Starting at the Visitor Center you'll have an opportunity to see the famous Tillamook cheese produced. It's been said that the Tillamook Cheese Visitor Center is one of the most visited Oregon attractions.
Coos Bay Oregon
Along U.S. Hwy 101 you'll come to the town of Coos Bay, the largest town on the Oregon coast. Enjoy the Coos Bay Boardwalk, a wide variety of restaurant and lodging facilities and the historic McCullough Memorial Bridge. The bridge is 5,305 feet in length and was built in 1936. This is a cantilever bridge. It is the longest bridge on the Oregon coastline. Two annual events you'll want to check out at Coos Bay include the Jazz Festival held each March and the Oregon Coast Music Festival held every July.
Bandon Oregon
Just a short drive down Hwy 101 from Coos Bay is the town of Bandon. The town received it;s name for the town of Bandon Ireland. The first settlement nearby was in 1873. Some travel sources have named Bandon one of the "Coolest Small Towns in America". Gold was actually discovered nearby in 1851, at the time of the California Gold Rush further south and inland, but didn't have near the lasting effect that it did in California.
Bandon-by-the-sea offers many unique shops which you can take in with easy walking from the town's renovated Old Town section. On the beach loop road you'll view such scenic landmarks as Kitten Rock, Elephant Rock, Garden of the Gods and Table Rock. These sites are very representative of the many beautiful rock formations the Oregon coastline is so noted for.
Port Orford Oregon
Coming to Port Orford along U.S. Hwy 101 you'll come to a charming art and fishing town. In 1934 the Port Orford Lifeboat Station was constructed for the purpose of providing lifesaving services to Oregon's southern coastline. It's said that the town took it's name from a friend of Captain George Vancouver with the title the Earl of Orford.
A stop to definitely make is to the Port Orford Heads State Park.
At the park is a very unique museum operated by the Cape Blanco Heritage
Society which includes an exhibit of a 36 foot motor lifeboat that was
once used at the lifeboat station. Hikers will love this park as it offers excellent trails that will give you great views up and down the Oregon coastline.
Gold Beach Oregon
Fifty-five miles south of Bandon along U.S. Hwy 101 you'll come to the town of Gold Beach. The town's name was not hard to come by as it was named after the gold discovery there in the mid 1800's. Gold Beach is a very popular tourist destination as it offers year round fishing and jet boat trips up the Rogue River. On this jet boat trip which covers 104 miles don't be surprised to see wildlife like bears and bald eagles.
Gold Beach is located where the Rogue River enters the Pacific Ocean. Visit the Rogue River Museum which tells the story of this famous river and the departure point for the jet boat excursion.
Brookings-Harbor Oregon
Brookings and the unincorporated town of Harbor Oregon represents the southernmost stop on your Oregon Hwy 101 journey. The town is just six miles north of the California state line.
Sport fishing is a big draw to the area and a major industry is commercial flower growing. The Chetco River is located between Brookings and Harbor and offer plenty of boating and fishing opportunities. In addition, beachcombers will love the coastline. The area is widely known as the "Banana Belt" for it's average temperatures are considered some of the warmest on the Oregon coast.
You also may enjoy the additional Oregon and Washington Western Trips articles on the links below...
A Tour of Astoria Oregon
A Tour of Columbia River's Bonneville Dam
Washington's White Pass Scenic Byway
Oregon's Pacific Coast Highway offers to help make your Oregon vacation one to remember. The scenes are beautiful and your photo opportunities are endless. The 363 mile coastal route offers plenty of unique shops, restaurants and lodging as well as great camping spots.
Oregon coast beaches are known for their great sand dunes and unique rock geology. Some of the beaches are long an d wide and other others can be seen from cliffs rising high. Another feature of Oregon's Pacific coast beaches is that all 363 miles of them are free for the public to enjoy. One of the longest public access beaches found anywhere in the U.S.
More detailed information to plan your trip can be found at website www.oregon.gov
(Article and photos copyright 2013 Western Trips. Tillamook Rock Light photo in the public domain)
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| Columbia River Maritime Museum exhibit |
On the north end of this route you can begin at the mouth of the Columbia River where you'll view the dramatic Astoria Bridge which connects the states of Washington and Oregon. In historic Astoria Oregon itself a must stop is the fascinating Columbia River Maritime Museum. This museum concentrates on the Columbia River maritime history and is loaded with one a kind exhibits. You'll see and hear quite a lot of history concerning the well known and dangerous Columbia River Bar and how it's been navigated for centuries. This is a great museum to visit for young and old alike.
Drive South of U.S. Hwy 101
You'll find driving on U.S. Hwy 101 down the Oregon coast is one of the more scenic drives you;ll ever take. U.S/ Hwy 101 along the Oregon coast stretches for some 363 scenic miles. Heading south from the Astoria area you'll drive through the towns of Seaside and Cannon Beach, two very popular art and tourist towns located right on the beaches.
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| Pacific Coast off Seaside Oregon |
Coos Bay Oregon
Along U.S. Hwy 101 you'll come to the town of Coos Bay, the largest town on the Oregon coast. Enjoy the Coos Bay Boardwalk, a wide variety of restaurant and lodging facilities and the historic McCullough Memorial Bridge. The bridge is 5,305 feet in length and was built in 1936. This is a cantilever bridge. It is the longest bridge on the Oregon coastline. Two annual events you'll want to check out at Coos Bay include the Jazz Festival held each March and the Oregon Coast Music Festival held every July.
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| Plenty of historic sites along Oregon's Coast Hwy |
Just a short drive down Hwy 101 from Coos Bay is the town of Bandon. The town received it;s name for the town of Bandon Ireland. The first settlement nearby was in 1873. Some travel sources have named Bandon one of the "Coolest Small Towns in America". Gold was actually discovered nearby in 1851, at the time of the California Gold Rush further south and inland, but didn't have near the lasting effect that it did in California.
Bandon-by-the-sea offers many unique shops which you can take in with easy walking from the town's renovated Old Town section. On the beach loop road you'll view such scenic landmarks as Kitten Rock, Elephant Rock, Garden of the Gods and Table Rock. These sites are very representative of the many beautiful rock formations the Oregon coastline is so noted for.
Port Orford Oregon
Coming to Port Orford along U.S. Hwy 101 you'll come to a charming art and fishing town. In 1934 the Port Orford Lifeboat Station was constructed for the purpose of providing lifesaving services to Oregon's southern coastline. It's said that the town took it's name from a friend of Captain George Vancouver with the title the Earl of Orford.
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| Beachcombers love Oregon coast beaches |
Gold Beach Oregon
Fifty-five miles south of Bandon along U.S. Hwy 101 you'll come to the town of Gold Beach. The town's name was not hard to come by as it was named after the gold discovery there in the mid 1800's. Gold Beach is a very popular tourist destination as it offers year round fishing and jet boat trips up the Rogue River. On this jet boat trip which covers 104 miles don't be surprised to see wildlife like bears and bald eagles.
Gold Beach is located where the Rogue River enters the Pacific Ocean. Visit the Rogue River Museum which tells the story of this famous river and the departure point for the jet boat excursion.
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| Charming towns all along Oregon's Pacific Coast Highway |
Brookings and the unincorporated town of Harbor Oregon represents the southernmost stop on your Oregon Hwy 101 journey. The town is just six miles north of the California state line.
Sport fishing is a big draw to the area and a major industry is commercial flower growing. The Chetco River is located between Brookings and Harbor and offer plenty of boating and fishing opportunities. In addition, beachcombers will love the coastline. The area is widely known as the "Banana Belt" for it's average temperatures are considered some of the warmest on the Oregon coast.
You also may enjoy the additional Oregon and Washington Western Trips articles on the links below...
A Tour of Astoria Oregon
A Tour of Columbia River's Bonneville Dam
Washington's White Pass Scenic Byway
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| 1891 photo of Tillamook Rock Light |
Oregon coast beaches are known for their great sand dunes and unique rock geology. Some of the beaches are long an d wide and other others can be seen from cliffs rising high. Another feature of Oregon's Pacific coast beaches is that all 363 miles of them are free for the public to enjoy. One of the longest public access beaches found anywhere in the U.S.
More detailed information to plan your trip can be found at website www.oregon.gov
(Article and photos copyright 2013 Western Trips. Tillamook Rock Light photo in the public domain)
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