Oregon Coast Tours and Tickets

September is the best month to visit the Oregon Coast. The weather is almost as warm as in August, but there are usually fewer crowds as children return to school. There are also many great September events, including the Lincoln City Fall Kite Festival and the Bandon Cranberry Festival.

You can easily visit the Oregon Coast on a day trip, as it’s less than a 2-hour drive from many larger cities along the I-5 corridor, including Portland, Salem, Eugene, and Roseburg. However, give yourself a week if you want to drive the entire 360-plus-mile (580-kilometer) stretch of coast, with stops along the way.

The best way to tour the Oregon Coast is by car. Although there is limited bus service between some coastal cities, a car allows you to stop at viewpoints or visit smaller towns. You can rent a car or join a tour that includes transportation, most of which depart from Portland.

It takes around 7.5–8 hours without stopping to drive the entire coast of Oregon, from Astoria on the border with Washington State to Brookings near California. However, breaking the drive into chunks is safer and more pleasant, and most people give themselves at least two days to tackle the journey.

Most tours of the Oregon Coast depart from Portland and take you to popular North Coast towns such as Cannon Beach and Manzanita, as well as to scenic areas such as Ecola State Park. Tours from Eugene go to Central Coast cities such as Florence and may include a stop at a lighthouse.