10 Best Oregon Beaches For Families
Planning the perfect family vacation to the Oregon Coast can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry, I’m here to share the best Oregon beaches for families to take all of the guess work out of planning for you. I’ll give you all of the details from facilities to parking and everything in between. We started visiting the Oregon coast back in 2017 and have been absolutely captivated by Oregon beaches. You will be too once you head to one of our secret spots that you can have all to yourself!
Where are the Best Oregon Beaches?
Our favorite Oregon beaches for families are all on the Northern Oregon coast. Why? You’ll find they are easier to access from Portland which is great for out of state visitors. I also find there to be more family friendly resorts and amenities on the Northern Oregon coast.
when is the best Time of Year to Visit Oregon Beaches?
Northern Oregon Coast temperatures aren’t exactly tropical so you need to plan your vacation accordingly. Or go on a spur of the moment trip when the weather is nice! Peak travel season to the Oregon Coast is between Memorial and Labor Day with most visitors to the coast going in July or August. We are a huge fan of visiting in September when most kids are back in school because you will have long warm days and the beaches to yourself. If you are looking for inspiration on shoulder season visits to the Oregon Coast check out this guide. And now onto the best Oregon beaches for families!
Ten Best Oregon Beaches For Families
1. Cannon Beach
No list of the best Oregon beaches for families would be complete without mentioning Cannon Beach. An iconic Oregon coast destination, Cannon Beach is sure to take top spot on most list of the best Oregon beaches for families. But I assure you, the accolades are deserved! Not only can you spend your beach day staring at the beautiful Haystack Rock, there is so much more to do at Cannon Beach. You can walk the charming Main Street and go shopping or grab a quick bite to eat. Or you can rent beach bikes and coast down the beach to Haystack Rock. If you go at low tide you can even enjoy tide pooling. We’ve found it to be one of the least windy beaches on the Oregon Coast, making it one of the warmest beach days as well. It’s one of the only Oregon beaches where I can actually wear a bathing suit without a sweater!
Location: Just over 1.5 hours from Portland on the Northern Oregon coast.
Where to park? Public parking on the beach isn’t plentiful but we’ve usually been able to find street parking within 5-10 minutes of driving around.
Amenities: None
2. Manzanita Beach
If you are looking for a golden sandy beach that stretches on for miles than Manzanita Beach is the perfect choice. It also has a small Main Street with shops and restaurants making Manzanita an excellent choice for a home base while you are on the Oregon coast. A word of warning, while we think Manzanita Beach is one of the best Oregon beaches for families it can be very windy. Plan on avoiding it during the afternoon hours, instead enjoy walks in the morning and s’mores at night. During our last visit there were no fire restrictions so we were able to make a small beach bonfire without a permit. The sunset views are spectacular as well!
Location: Two hours away from Portland on the Northern Oregon coast.
Where to park? You’ll be able to easily find public parking on the street running along the beach or along Main Street. The town is small so you won’t be in for a long trek to the beach.
Amenities: None
3. Fort Stevens Beach
Just outside of Astoria, Oregon, you’ll find Fort Stevens State Park and the eponymous Fort Stevens Beach. This beach makes our list of best Oregon beaches for family because of one unique feature: a washed up shipwreck! Your kids will love playing around the Peter Iredale shipwreck and adults will enjoy seeing one of the easiest to reach shipwrecks on the US West Coast. For really outdoorsy families you can combine a visit to Fort Stevens Beach with camping at the state park. It’s the perfect way to really enjoy the beach and Oregon Coast sunsets. This is one of the best Oregon beaches for families who love to camp and enjoy more adventurous vacations!
Location: 2 hours away from Portland on the Northern Oregon coast.
Where to park? There is a small parking lot a short walk from the beach
Amenities: Restrooms and parking
4. Seaside Beach
One of the largest beaches I’ve seen on the West Coast, Seaside Beach is a massive stretch of white sand framed by a promenade and shops that give the seaside town a unique charm. While Seaside can get crowded, it is so massive that you’ll have plenty of space for your family. A day spent at Seaside Beach is best spent combining traditional beach activities like making sand castles and flying kites with a bike ride on the Promenade. Another family favorite is visiting the Seaside Aquarium which can easily be done in an hour or two.
Location: Just under 2 hours away from Portland on the Northern Oregon coast.
Where to park? There is ample public parking around town
Amenities: Restrooms and public parking
5. Rockaway Beach
I love Rockaway Beach for families because there are so many great hotels, vacation rentals, and shops and restaurants. Making Rockaway a one-stop-shop for family fun! If you want to arrive to the beach in style you can take the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad to Rockaway. The train ride is 30 minutes from Garibaldi to Rockaway and visitors must have at least a 30 minute layover, although I definitely recommend longer. While you are in Garibaldi make sure to check out the tide pools as well. You can also find some at Barview Jetty, Nedonna Beach, and Three Graces.
Oh and did I mention that Rockaway Beach stretches for 7 miles? So if you aren’t up to the train ride, grab your shovel and build sandcastles instead!
Location: Just under 2 hours away from Portland on the Northern Oregon coast.
Where to park? There is ample public parking around town
Amenities: Restrooms and public parking
6. Hobbit Beach
I’ll let you in on a little secret, while everyone else is hiking up to the Heceta Head Lighthouse, you are going to be taking a leisurely mile stroll to Hobbit Beach. This is one of my absolute favorite secret beaches in Oregon and its definitely one of the best Oregon beaches for families. After walking through a Sitka spruce forest you’ll come upon a magical white sand beach that is guaranteed to be deserted and stretches on for miles. We’ve been numerous times and typically stay all day and have only seen one other family here!
Location: 3.5 hours away from Portland and 18 minutes away from Florence on the Northern Oregon coast.
Where to park? There is limited parking at the trailhead. We parked across Highway 101 and ran across to the trailhead.
Amenities: None
7. Neskowin
Neskowin is one of my favorite Oregon beaches for families with young children. The stunning beach is over 3 miles long, stretching north from the mouth of the Nestucca River. Little kids will love playing in the shallows of the river where the it meets the ocean. Another only in Oregon experience, the Neskowin Ghost Forest. During low tide, visitors can find the stumps of 2,000 year old Sitka spruce trees that are dotting the beach. My kids thought they made for a fantastic game of hide and seek. Near the Ghost Forest you can also enjoy Proposal Rock. Don’t let the name fool you, Proposal Rock is for families too! It makes a beautiful backdrop for family photos or picnics and at low tide you can search the tide pools for marine life.
Location: Just over 2 hours away from Portland on the Northern Oregon coast.
Where to park? Public parking lots dot the beach, including near Proposal Rock
Amenities: Restrooms
8. South Jetty Beach
If you have really active kids then South Jetty Beach may just be the best Oregon beach for your family! This gorgeous white sand beach stretches for miles and is fringed by sand dunes. My kids spent hours running over and around the sand dunes playing tag and hide and seek. Of course, that meant I did too and I can tell you – it’s a great workout! A note about spending the day at South Jetty Beach, the Oregon coast can be windy and South Jetty Beach is unsheltered so it can be very windy especially during the afternoon. Be sure to check wind forecasts before you go. On one of our visits we ended up having to leave early because the wind was whipping sand in our face so badly it hurt.
Location: 3.5 hours away from Portland and 12 minutes away from Florence on the Northern Oregon coast.
Where to park? There is a small parking lot a short walk from the beach
Amenities: Restrooms
9. Short Sands Beach
Another hidden beach at the end of a short hike! Short Sands beach is the prize at the end of a half mile walk through Sitka Spruce trees. Short Sands beach is considered one of the best surfing and boogie boarding destinations on the Oregon Coast so if you are an adventurous family grab your wetsuit and your board and head to Short Sands beach! Short Sands beach is part of Oswald West State Park so there are other trails in the park. After exiting a tunnel from the parking lot you’ll stay on a paved trail. There will be ample signage to Short Sands Beach and if you go during peak Summer months plenty of other tourists so you aren’t at risk for getting lost and missing the beach.
One of our favorite things about Short Sands beach were the shallow tide pools and sand bars. Not the kind to find marine life in but the kind that are perfect for running through on a warm beach day!
Location: Just under 2 hours away from Portland on the Northern Oregon coast.
Where to park? There is limited parking at the trailhead. The parking lot is across Highway 101 and you’ll go through a tunnel under the highway to start your short hike to the beach.
Amenities: Picnic tables and restrooms
10. Lincoln City
Lincoln City, Oregon is home to 7-miles of sandy golden beaches. Even though its a popular destination that means you’ll have plenty of space to yourself! Since Lincoln City is a larger metro area than some of the smaller beaches I’ve recommended, you’ll find public parking at various access points within town. The city has a comprehensive list of access points you can check out before you head to the beach.
One of my favorite things about Lincoln City is the Finders Keepers program. Over 3,000 glass treasures are hidden along our seven miles of sandy beach, made by local artisans, also called Float Fairies! If you find a glass treasure, it is yours to take home! Anyone with young kids knows a treasure hunt is a sure fire way to have fun, making this one of the most unique Oregon beaches for families. The Fairies hit all 7-miles of the coastline, so its also a great way to get young kids to go on a walk! We haven’t found a glass float yet but its only a matter of time!
Location: Just under 2 hours away from Portland on the Northern Oregon coast.
Where to park? You’ll find public parking near the access points
Amenities: Public parking and restrooms
Let’s Go!
Have I convinced you to visit the Oregon Coast yet? I certainly hope this list of the best Oregon beaches for families did! We find ourselves going back to the Oregon Coast over and over because the beaches are just out of this world. Even you consider yourself more of a tropical beach vacation person, I think you need to plan a family vacation to the Oregon beach. Check out our list of the best beach towns on the Oregon Coast to make visiting these beaches easy!
