The 13 Best Beaches in Oregon

Located in the alluring Pacific Northwest, Oregon offers dozens of stunning beaches. It’s hard to choose which is the best from the many beautiful spots along the Oregon coast.

Despite its cold weather, beaches in Oregon offer opportunities for more activities than you might think, from surfing and hang gliding to exploring tide pools and sand dunes. Here are the 13 best beaches in Oregon where you can do it all.

1. Cannon Beach

If you’ve only heard of one beach in Oregon, it’s most likely Cannon Beach. Located in Clatsop County, the city and beach which share the same name are popular tourist destinations for good reason. With a huge four-mile shoreline, there’s plenty of space to spread out and explore.

Cannon Beach boasts a beautiful backdrop that includes Haystack Rock, a 235 ft sea stack that juts out along the coast. The city itself offers charming villages and oceanfront lodgings, as well as plenty of shops, museums, and other attractions to explore.

Swimming Permitted: Yes

Gear to Bring: Cozy sweaters and long-sleeve layers

2. Seaside Beach

Let’s face it, beaches in the Pacific Northwest aren’t great for swimming. The water is never going to be at an especially comfortable temperature, but if you’re determined to take a dip, Seaside Beach is your best bet.

A study done by Current Results reports that Seaside has the warmest ocean of all the places measured on the Oregon coast during summer. Still, temperatures only reach around 58 degrees in the warmest months of June, July, August, and September.

The unusually high temperature is due to the Columbia River emptying into the ocean a short distance to the north. If braving the cold water isn’t your thing, never fear. There are plenty of other recreational opportunities on shore, including the world’s largest beach volleyball tournament! The Seaside Aquarium is another impressive attraction nearby.

Swimming Permitted: Yes

Gear to Bring: Wetsuit, swim cap, wetsuit gloves, and boots, temperature gauge to check the water, warm clothes to change into

3. Short Sand Beach

Oregon has plenty of great spots for surfing, especially for those who don’t mind braving the cold waters. Located in Oslwald State Park, Short Sand Beach offers unforgettable views and reliable waves all year round. Keep in mind that there is a short walk (about half a mile) from the parking lot to the beach entrance.

Devoted surfers may find that the cooler months are the best time to avoid the crowds and hit Short Sand Beach. Just be sure to have the right equipment, like a reliable wetsuit.

Swimming Permitted: Yes

Gear to Bring: Cold weather wetsuit, temperature gage to check the water, warm clothes to change into, walking/hiking shoes, surfboard

4. Manzanita Beach

Plenty of beaches in Oregon are kid-friendly, but Manzanita Beach is one of the best. Manzanita itself is a charming small beach town on Oregon’s north coast. Manzanita Beach stretches seven sandy miles and draws fewer crowds and fairer weather than better-known locations like Cannon Beach.

Visitors can rent boogie board equipment and hit the waves or metal detectors to search for treasures like lost rings and coins. Nearby are spots like Nehalem Bay State Park which offer a great location for kid-friendly bike rides.

Swimming Permitted: Yes

Gear to Bring: Metal detectors, boogie boards, and other kid-friendly beach items

5. Gold Beach

Gold Beach is actually a city in Oregon with several shorelines to explore: South Beach offers seven miles of white sands; Bailey Beach provides an exciting opportunity to hunt for driftwood, shells, and other beach valuables; Meyers Beach is a great spot for surfing and windsurfing; And finally visitors to Nesika Beach may spot whales during certain times of the year. The city itself offers plenty of attractions and exciting nearby spots.

Swimming Permitted: Yes

Gear to Bring: Binoculars for whale watching

6. Secret Beach

The city of Brookings is located along the southern Oregon coast. Between this city and Gold Beach sits a hidden spot, aptly named Secret Beach. Getting there isn’t as easy as some of the beaches on this list, but the adventurous will find it worth their while.

There are a couple of different routes to reach Secret Beach, both of which require a hike from the parking lot to the shore. However, there are plenty of spectacular views and even a waterfall along one way. The best time to visit Secret Beach is in the early morning, during low tides when most of the beach is exposed.

Swimming Permitted: Yes, likely not monitored. Exercise caution.

Gear to Bring: Hiking boots, layered clothing, tide chart

7. Cape Kiwanda State Scenic Area

Located just north of Pacific City, Cape Kiwanda State Scenic Area boasts some of the most breathtaking views in the Pacific Northwest.

Photographers may find a perfect spot to capture waves crashing along the shore or stick around to view the beach’s gorgeous sunsets. Cape Kiwanda is also unique in that it is the only major headland on the Oregon coast comprised of sandstone.

Swimming Permitted: Yes

Gear to Bring: High-quality camera

8. Rockaway Beach

Located in Tillamook County just 85 miles west of Portland, Rockaway Beach is very accessible and offers plenty to do. Comb the shore for treasures such as glass floats and sand dollars, or fly a kite on a windy day.

Once used by fishermen to keep their nets afloat, glass floats from decades ago still wash ashore, and are a popular item for beachcombers to hunt.

There are plenty of nearby natural wonders to explore as well as restaurants and places to stay. One of the most noteworthy lodgings, the Surfside Resort, sits right on the ocean’s edge.

Swimming Permitted: Yes

Gear to Bring: Mesh bags for storing glass floats and other treasures, walking stick, windbreaker

9. Hobbit Beach

Hobbit Beach offers a piece of Middle Earth on the Oregon Coast. The location sits north of the town of Florence off Highway 101. There you will encounter the Hobbit Trail, which offers a scenic hike through a forest of tall Sitka spruce trees before you finally emerge on the beach.

Hobbit Beach is an ideal spot for exploring tidal pools, picnicking, and walking in the sand. Additionally, the beach isn’t far from Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint, which features the 1,000-foot-high lighthouse and a historic bed and breakfast.

Swimming Permitted: Yes, likely not monitored. Exercise caution.

Gear to Bring: Hiking gear, picnic basket, food, snacks, and plenty of water

10. Nye Beach

Located in the city of Newport, Nye Beach boasts a rich history. According to their official website, Nye Beach gets its name from John Nye who claimed the 160-acre parcel in 1866.

 Nye Beach eventually transformed into a charming oceanfront neighborhood offering access to shops, services, lodging, restaurants, and art galleries by the sea.

Swimming Permitted: Yes

Gear to Bring: Weather-appropriate clothing and walking shoes

11. Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is home to one of the largest expanses of temperate coastal sand dunes in the world. It’s an ideal spot for wildlife viewing, camping, and picnicking, but the Oregon Sand Dunes also offer some unique experiences.

Experience hiking through the dunes or exploring the area via a dune buggy or sandboard. There’s plenty of incredible scenery to take in and some dunes measure up to 500 ft. tall.

Swimming Permitted: Unknown

Gear to Bring: Layered clothing, hiking boots that can handle sandy conditions, a bandana or face covering, sunglasses

12. Harris Beach

Harris Beach is another popular spot along the coast of southern Oregon. The beach gets its name from George Scott Harris, a Scotland native who obtained the property in 1871.

Surrounded by Harris State Park, the beach is easily accessible and offers a variety of things to do. Giant sea stacks pop up along the shore, and marine life is a common sight in the water. Enjoy picnicking, hiking, and even camping in this incredible location.

Swimming Permitted: Yes

Gear to Bring: Tents and other camping gear

13. Bandon Beach

Bandon Beach is a coastal town with plenty of quaint restaurants and shops to visit. It’s also known for two significant attractions: cranberries and golf.

Bandon is the cranberry capital of Oregon, so seeking out a dish with these fresh fruits is a must. For fans of golf, the town offers a large number of courses, like the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, modeled after ancient Scottish links.

Swimming Permitted: Yes. This beach is not currently monitored. Swimming and bathing are permitted at your own risk. 

Gear to Bring: Golfing gear

A Note on Swimming in the Pacific Northwest

This article notes the beaches in Oregon where swimming is currently permitted, according to the state’s Environmental Public Health website. However, water conditions are subject to change.

Oregon Coast Visitors Association also notes the Oregon Beach Bill which “decreed that all land within sixteen vertical feet of the average low tide mark belongs to the people of Oregon and guarantees that the public has free and uninterrupted use of the beaches along Oregon’s 363 miles of coastline.”

In other words, the beaches are open and available for swimming year-round unless otherwise noted by Oregon’s Public Health website.

Still, you should always take into account factors such as rough weather, water temperature, etc. Oregon’s waters are typically “warmest” between the months of June and September, but that doesn’t mean they are a good idea to swim in.

The ocean rarely gets above 58 degrees and should not be entered without an appropriate wetsuit. Cold waters, rough conditions, and deadly rip currents are quite common and can make swimming dangerous in the Pacific Northwest.

Summary of the 13 Best Beaches in Oregon