Oregon Coast – 3 Days in Cannon Beach

February 8, 2025

Our family’s favorite travel destination is the west coast. More specifically the Pacific Northwest, where we always settle in at Cannon Beach, Oregon. After a decade or more of repeat trips, and becoming a Midwest resource for the Oregon Coast – we’ve to put together a three-day guide to Cannon Beach.

Day One On The Oregon Coast

We fly direct from MSP to PDX and rent a car using Turo Car Rental (what a great rental car solution) to head right to the beach. If you have a full day ahead of you, consider the Deschutes Tap Room in Portland for a local draft and a bite to eat. A quick walk from here you will find Powell’s Books, the largest independent book store, stock up for the coast, and you will have plenty of time on the beach.

Other fun Portland stops are Voodoo Doughnut, Mother’s Bistro and Bar, and a 30-minute drive North to Multnomah Falls on the Columbia River Gorge, which is breathtaking. Note that the falls are not on the way to the coast, so plan accordingly.

The sightseeing kicks off just minutes outside the city as you head west on Highway 26 toward the coast. The scenic mountain pass winds through a dense forest, showcasing a breathtaking mix of evergreens, most notably Oregon’s towering state tree, the Douglas fir. You’ve likely never seen trees this massive.

Fresh Spring Water

Approximately 45 miles west on Highway 26 from Portland, keep your eye out for fresh drinking water. You can pull over and fill all your water bottles with the freshest, cold water to keep you hydrated for the remainder of your drive.

Drive to Cannon Beach

Depending on traffic, it takes about 90 minutes to reach Cannon Beach from Portland. For this reason, it’s best to book a morning or afternoon flight from your departure city. Driving the mountain pass at night can be more difficult, and you’ll miss the scenic views along the way. If you’re traveling from the Midwest or East Coast, don’t forget about the time difference, you’ll gain a few hours upon arrival.

Lodging in Cannon Beach

The town is lined with picturesque beach homes with cedar siding and contrasting white painted trim, and almost every property is situated with a view of the ocean or a walkable distance from the beach. With approximately 4 miles of beachfront access, you can’t go wrong with where to stay. If you’re headed in for a few short days, grab a hotel on the beach and get the most out of your stay. If you can swing a full week (or longer), we prefer a larger condo or house where we can do light grocery shopping and prepare most meals together.

Our favorite place to stay: Left Coast Hideaway – a family cottage we purchased in 2024 for personal use and rentals. The online listing is here for viewing and renting this home. There are two units, currently the main house is for rent and has two private bedrooms, sleeps 6 with a queen bed and two twin beds. There are two brand new full-size sofa sleepers, one in the main-floor living area, and one in the second-floor loft. A total of 6 people can comfortably sleep in this home, also with two bathrooms, one full and one three-quarter. Option to use both sides, email us [email protected] with questions.

The cottage is one block from the ocean on Orford Street, on the south side of town in a much quieter location.

Our family's favorite travel destination is the West Coast. More specifically the Pacific Northwest, where we always settle in at Cannon Beach, Oregon. After a decade or more of repeat trips, and becoming a Midwest resource for the Oregon Coast - we've to put together a three-day guide to Cannon Beach.

Additional lodging we recommend on the south side of town is the Inn at Cannon Beach. Both lodging locations are within walking distance of Fresh Foods, Sea Level Bakery, and Warren House Pub.

Settle In; Get Acquainted

The rest of the day is about getting settled, getting to know your surroundings, and possibly grabbing dinner at a favorite local eatery, Bill’s Tavern, Public Coast Brewing, or Pizza A’fetta.

Haystack Rock

Take a stroll on the beach and visit Haystack Rock, the main attraction of Cannon Beach. It’s rumored the movie The Goonie’s was filmed here; in actuality, it’s Pacific City, further down the Oregon Coast, in the opening scene of the movie. Much of the film also occurred in Astoria, approximately 15 miles north of Cannon Beach – a lovely fishing community where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. If you’re in the Astoria area on a Sunday, Astoria has a several-block farmer’s market worth seeing. While there, take a stroll on the waterfront and stop at Bouy Brewery for a local beer (the cream ale is a favorite!)

A tourist favorite is Bowpicker Fish and Chips as well, the line is long (moves fast) and the hours are particular. And the Goonies House where the Walsh’s lived has reopened for local foot traffic to stand outside and take a few pics too. If you’re into it, take the self guided tour of many of the movies attractions.

Beach Bonfire

Settle in, because there’s no better place to be at sunset than right on the beach. Bring a few chairs (many hotels offer them complimentary) or perch on a piece of driftwood. A bottle of your favorite wine pairs perfectly with the view as the sun dips into the horizon. For an extra memorable evening, light a beach bonfire. Most local shops and hotels offer grab-and-go fire kits, making it easy to spark up a cozy fire by the waves. Some of our favorite moments have been just that: the fire, the ocean, and uninterrupted time together.

While you’re in Cannon Beach, be sure to check the local tide schedule, usually posted at shops and visitor centers, easily available online too. Plan a visit to Haystack Rock during low tide, when tide pools are exposed and you can spot sea stars, anemones, crabs, and other fascinating intertidal creatures up close.

Insider Tip: pay attention to wind speeds, if you are there for more than one night, you may choose to have a fire when the speeds are below 10 mph.

Day Two On The Oregon Coast

Mornings are my favorite time at the beach. There’s often a light coastal haze, but the air is still and calm, perfect for a peaceful walk or an energizing run along the shoreline. It’s the quietest part of the day and the best way to ease into it. If you’re out for a stroll, don’t miss a stop at Sea Level Bakery for a warm cup of coffee and a freshly baked pastry before heading down to the water.

Hug Point is an attainable 5 mile (round trip) walk on the beach at low tide. Epic coastal views, very few people, and historical relevance once you arrive with old car tracks on the point. Early travelers were required to hug the point closely to navigate around it, especially at high tide. The “car tracks” are the remnants of this historic road.

Large weathered rocks rise from a sandy beach under a cloudy sky on the Oregon Coast. The tide is low, revealing wet sand and seaweed, with the ocean stretching out in the background—perfect for 3 days in Cannon Beach.

Five people pose together on a sandy beach along the Oregon Coast, with rocky cliffs and trees in the background. It is cloudy, and they are dressed in casual, sporty clothing, smiling at the camera during 3 days in Cannon Beach.

Ecola State Park

It’s the closest state park in the area, another beautiful drive through the forest. Once you enter, there are a variety of picnic tables overlooking the Oregon Coast and breathtaking views of Cannon Beach*. There are a few hiking paths, one is approximately 2 miles long to the adjacent beach, Indian Beach, we do this hike everytime we’re visiting. Many surfers on this beach, have a fun day viewing while eating lunch or rehydrating before turning back. Always good to hike earlier in the day before the trails get busy, this one in particular given it’s proximity to town is a family friendly route.

Insider Tip: Make this drive just for fun one evening during sunset, you’ll have a birds-eye view of the beach bonfires lining the coast, something only the naked eye can capture well.

Serene view of the Oregon Coast, with gentle waves crashing on rocks near the shore, surrounded by lush green trees under a partly cloudy sky—perfect for spending 3 days in Cannon Beach.

A young girl with blonde hair, wearing a cap and sweatshirt, stands on a grassy cliff along the Oregon Coast, overlooking Cannon Beach’s scenic sea stacks and waves—capturing the beauty of 3 Days in Cannon Beach under a partly cloudy sky.

Downtown Cannon Beach

Spend the afternoon visiting the local shops in downtown Cannon Beach. With over 50 shops and boutiques (bookstores, food/coffee, galleries, clothing, and more), you can spend an entire afternoon here. It’s always a family favorite to pick up some new Cannon Beach swag, stop for ice cream and coffee, or stroll through the art galleries.

More Eating and Libations

Head into The Bistro for a local culinary experience, dinner only, and one of the only places in town that offers live music. Public Coast Brewing is open with ample outdoor picnic table-style seating, a great spot to stop in and try locally brewed beer. Ecola Seafood has become a favorite with fresh seafood offerings, counter service, and a casual vibe. Boat to the table, as they fondly refer to it.

Sunset on the Beach

There’s no better way to spend your second night than back on the beach, far better than being inside watching TV. Trust me, you’ll miss it once you’re gone. Grab a blanket and and the family for a game of football, and settle in for another unforgettable sunset.

People stroll along a wide, reflective beach at sunset on the Oregon Coast, with Haystack Rock in the distance and glowing clouds—the perfect end to 3 days in Cannon Beach, where hills and houses line the peaceful shore.

Day Three On The Oregon Coast

Sleepy Monk Coffee is in the middle of town, a quaint, but well-known local roaster. Often serving up the local hotels with their special brew. Get there early, or be prepared to wait in line. Take your coffee out for a stroll on the beach.

Oswald State Park

Oswald West State Park is just a few miles south of Cannon Beach, a larger hiking area with 4 miles stretching the Oregon Coast. Miles of hiking trails with breathtaking views of the coast along the way. Pack a lunch and go ahead and picnic on their private beach as well. Cape Falcon is a recent hike we did, and easily at the top of our list for future trails. The views of this 4.5 mile hike (we saw a whale) and moderate intensity were perfect.

A cloudy coastal scene along the Oregon Coast shows a rocky shoreline and forested cliffs meeting calm ocean water, with wildflowers and greenery in the foreground—perfect for exploring during 3 Days in Cannon Beach.

Tall trees frame a view of a sandy beach and ocean on the Oregon Coast. A small stream winds through green foliage toward the shore, capturing the tranquil beauty youd experience during 3 days in Cannon Beach under a cloudy sky.

Art Gallery Tour

With over 10 art galleries in Cannon Beach, you can do your own guided tour, with a list here. We happen to be personal fans of Jeffrey Hull Gallery, original watercolors, and paintings. We have this over our bed in the new home we’re building. You can also find one of their pieces in the above-mentioned Left Coast Hideaway.

Modern Traditional bedroom with watercolor painting, white oak flooring, black windows and metal bed frame.

Cannon Beach Hardware Store

Guys, it’s not just a hardware store; it’s a public house too. Each year, the Cannon Beach Hardware Store seems to expand its offerings; I guess the word is out. Currently offering beer and food, and have a full menu, not just appetizers. Picnic tables in the parking lot, grab a sunny spot for an afternoon warm up.

Extended Stay on the West Coast

If you’re lucky enough to spend more than a few days in Cannon Beach, here are a few other day trips worth considering, all of which we have done many times and almost always include a few of these into our weekly stay.

Willamette Valley

After owning a wine bar for almost a decade and visiting this corner of the world for so many years, I can say that the Willamette Valley wine region is out of this world. It’s worth a day trip; visit a few local wineries, take in the views of wine country, and pack a case to take/send home with you. Adelsheim Winery is what we’re currently sipping on back home.

While in wine country, grab lunch at Red Hills Market, always a win with fresh, local fare.

Pacific City

Approximately 90 minutes south of Cannon Beach, it’s worth the drive alone, with several lookout points to pull over and enjoy the coast. Home to the original Pelican Brewery as well. One of our favorite reasons to head this way is for Cape Lookout State Park, actually in Netarts Bay. Really fun hiking spot, also boasting yurts, cabins, and tent camping.

The seafood restaurant we visit in Netarts Bay is the Schooner Restaurant & Lounge. Supporting local farmers, fishermen, and foragers, is a must-stop.

Crabbing at Kelly’s Marina

A recent first timer to Kelly’s Marina, and this was a really fun day. We had a larger group with thtee boats, competing on who could bring back the most crab. Arriving early is key, boats are first come first serve, friendly staff, and a crabbing tutorial. After 2 hours we returned to the docks where they prepared the crab for us (a tasty appetizer) while mingling with other crabbing experts, families, and a cold beverage.