The Best Two-Day Oregon Coast Road Trip From Portland

Tiff
Aug 19
7 min read

The Oregon Coast is a majestic getaway, full of coastal forest, sprawling beaches, and grand rock formations jutting out of the Pacific. It’s also close enough to Portland to have a quick weekend getaway without taking time off work! Though time seems to slip away while you explore tide pools and walk the beach, it is possible to hit the north coast in a limited time frame! I recently did just that, and am here to share what I believe is the perfect two-day itinerary for a northern Oregon coast trip coming from Portland, Oregon!

Tiff bundled in sweaters on a beach with left arm up at sunset time — Beach sunset!

Note: You can expand on this all you want. Turn it into a two-nighter or week-long! I’m a big believer that you can continue exploring in a single place for days. But, if you are like me and only have two days to spare, this works!

Oregon Coast Road Trip From Portland

Day 1:

Start in Portland, OR

This plan works for visitors or residents. If you have a business trip to the city, take the extra two days and see what the coast has to offer! This itinerary starts and ends in Portland. It’s a loop road trip from Portland to the coast, so keep that in mind.

There are tons of ways to experience the northern Pacific coast, but for the sake of centrality and my living location, this particular trip is Portland-oriented. :-) The cool thing about this Oregon coast itinerary is that it can be used year-round! I love going to the coast in the winter! It can be a bit soggy, but don’t let that stop you from seeing the sights!

Drive to Lincoln City

You’ll want to start decently early (or a little late). Portland traffic can be gnarly, so if you’re sneaking this trip in on a weekday, leave at 6:45 am or after 9:30 am, whenever traffic has died down a bit. The weekends are a toss-up. Have some grub or take a banana on the road. I recommend plugging Lincoln City, OR into your preferred maps to get the quickest route to the Oregon coast. You’ll most likely end up on 99W to the 18, but it’s always helpful to double-check. Fill the ride with your favorite tunes or pop in an audiobook and head on your way!

Pacific ocean on right, lincoln city on left. View from God's Thumb hike — Where you're headed!

Get lunch at Pub Fish & Chips

I visit Lincoln City at least three times a year, and Pub Fish & Chips has become a staple for my trips! And no, I’m not getting paid to promote them!! I truly just love this place. The vibe is always great, the food always hot, and the staff makes you feel like a townie no matter where you’re venturing in from. Pick your poison of specials, chowder, and fish and chips! The meals are fairly heavy, so keep that in mind as you prepare for what comes next…

Do God’s Thumb Hike

There are a few options for entry points and trails to hike God's Thumb.

grassy spot on a mountain with a dirt trail running through, Pacific ocean in the background — God's Thumb jutting out over the Pacific

I like the longer hikes, so I parked on NE Devils Lake Blvd. There’s a cul-de-sac at the end with two different trail heads. The trailheads loop together, which I ended up doing (completely on accident, mind you. If you follow my tales of misadventure, you’ll know that staying on path isn’t my strong suit). Anyway, I recommend taking the path on the left-hand side of the cul-de-sac (if facing the forest). It’s the one by the porta-potty if that’s still there. You got this! Have an adventure!

When you hike up, you have the option of going to the Knoll or God’s Thumb. Do both, if you want! The knoll is just that- a large grassy area that overlooks the city and the ocean. As for the Thumb: if you’re feeling adventurous, hike all the way to the point! You get a 360 view of the coast and it’s phenomenal.

Happy Hiking!

Here's the God's Thumb AllTrails overview for you :-)

Dinner (Lobster Roll, Anyone??)

You’ll probably work up an appetite on your hike! I have a few recommendations!

What I did: My Airbnb had an oven, and I had a Papa Murphy’s coupon! I got a takeaway pizza and made dinner in-house.
There’s a lobster roll food cart and beer garden on the south side of Lincoln City named Rook & Larder. H-O-L-Y CoW. Best lobster roll of my LIFE. Enjoy it with a pint from the beer garden. 10/10 recommend.
Find your next favorite food spot! Lincoln City has a ton of cuisine to offer!

Noah and I ate at Rook & Larder on a different trip to the coast. SOOOO yummy!

Sunset on the Beach

Once your belly is full, take a load of blankets and post up on the beach to watch the sunset! It gets cold and windy, so bundle up. Other than that, I provide no more explanation other than experience it yourself.

clear view of the sun at sunset on the coast — :-)

Sleepover :-)

Hopefully, you’ll have booked an Airbnb or hotel room by now (do this before leaving, lol). Sweet dreams, coast chaser!

Day 2:

Play on the beach or explore the town

Day 2 is a go! Wake up and enjoy a nice snack or breakfast in town, then enjoy your morning! You have lots of options here. You can take a stroll in Lincoln City, shop at all the local businesses, and buy a kite to take to the beach!

You can also go straight to the sand and swoon over the tide pools. Put your marine biologist hats on and become enthralled in the intertidal environments that are home to sea anemones, barnacles, starfish, and much, much more!

dozens of pink sea anemones bunched together on a rock — Tide Pool Critters :-)

Drive to Cape Kiwanda

Rachel and Tiff posed together on top of the sand dune with the ocean in the background — :-) Pre Pelican Brewery

Around 10 or 11 am, take off from Lincoln City, OR and head north up the 101 to Pacific City, OR! Type “Pelican Brewery” into your GPS and off to your next stop on your Oregon Coast road trip! It will take between 30-40 minutes, so plan accordingly. Once there, park in the shared parking lot ($10 a day) and trek up the Cape Kiwanda Sand Dune! You got this! Make it to the top! There’s lots to see and

explore, plus the run down feels like you’re flying!

Eat at Pelican Brewery

You can do this before or after you hike the Cape Kiwanda Sand Dune. I enjoy eating afterwards! Get a beer and maybe some merch! Eat outside to watch the surfers on Pacific City Beach with a fantastic view of Chief Kiwanda Rock!

on a sandy, rocky overlook looking out at the Pacific Ocean — One viewpoint from the top of the sand dune at Cape Kiwanda

Tillamook Factory

Make sure you save room for dessert... you’re going to need it! Another 30-40 minute drive north leads to the Tillamook Creamery! Meander through the self-guided tour of the cheese factory! Then treat yourself to ice cream! This is a must on your Pacific Coast road trip.

Tiff and Rachel with ice cream cones smiling in front of the "Tillamook creamery" sign — ice cream !!!

Hug Point

Controversial opinion incoming: as much as Cannon Beach is an Oregon Staple, pull over just south of the town to a place called Hug Point. You get a view of the famous Haystack Rock without the stress of finding parking in Cannon Beach. Post up for a little on the beach, toss a frisbee, bump a volleyball, and run the waterline! If you look south, you can walk around the cape (at low water) and find another little beach!

This being said, there is no shame in the game for stopping at Haystack Rock north of Hug Point. The tide pools are mesmerizing, and the quaint town is a wondrous walk. The Cannon Beach itself is sprawling! I’m not against the beach! just overcrowded spaces and finding parking spots (blame my sporadic inability to parallel park). And, if it’s on your bucket list, by all means go! My personal preference is a pull-over and going straight to the beach rather than parking in town. But remember, this is your trip, revise this itinerary to fit your needs and wants!

Catch the Sunset at Astoria Brewing Company

Once you’ve finished your frollicing, continue north past Seaside to the gateway of the Columbia River: Astoria! By now, it’ll be close to sunset! I recommend going to Astoria Brewing Company and sitting outside to watch the ships and get a view of the Columbia, Washington, and the Astoria-Megler Bridge. It’s quite the sight! If you can, walk to the boardwalk at sunset. It’s romantic, historic, gorgeous, and the perfect way to end the coastal part of your trip.

Sunset in the background, view of a bridge and a sign with neon red saying "Astoria Brewing" — Sunset night two

Drive back to Portland

Once the first couple of stars pop into view, head back southeast along the Columbia River back to the City of Roses. You’ll be a little sleepy and a lot satisfied. Remember to drive safely and hold your memories of your two-day coast trip close <3

There you have it! An overnight trip to see the northern coast of Oregon! Adapt this itinerary to your needs. Some additional options/swap-outs include:

Hike Ecola State Park (in Cannon Beach)
Visit Cannon Beach (stay here for the night if you want to add a second night)
Seaside, OR
Fort Stevens State Park (between Seaside and Astoria)
Check out the true mouth where the Pacific feeds into the Columbia River
Spend the day in Astoria
Drive the Columbia River back to Portland in the daytime and make stops along the way (add a day)
Instead of going back to Portland, continue north on the 101 into Washington

Make your Oregon Coast road trip your own. This is just an outline for you to go off of! Feel inspired! Chase the ocean! Run the beach! Get your feet wet! Live this life fully and with spirit!