The Best Time of Year to Visit the Oregon Coast

Feeling overwhelmed trying to plan the perfect family vacation to the Oregon Coast? The first – and possibly most important! – thing to determine is the best time of year to visit the Oregon Coast. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! We’ve been to the Oregon Coast multiple times and in every season and are happy to share our favorites. You may be surprised to find out that peak is summer is not the best time of year to visit the Oregon Coast!

Weather on the Oregon Coast

Weather is truly the limiting factor to when you visit the Oregon Coast. If you are looking for a hot and humid beach day like Florida, you are going to be disappointed. Even in summer, the average highs on the Oregon Coast are in the mid 60s. But fortunately this is the Pacific Northwest so you’ll find average highs in winter aren’t that much colder (low 50s).

What is the Busiest Time to Visit the Oregon Coast?

The busiest time to visit the Oregon Coast is from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Does that mean its the best time of year to visit the Oregon Coast? Not necessarily!

Visiting the Oregon Coast in Summer

While peak summer between Memorial Day and Labor Day is the most popular time to visit the Oregon Coast, we actually prefer early to mid-September. You’ll miss the crowds as most families have headed back to school and you’ll have the perfect warm and sunny days as summer on the coast winds down.

If you have to travel during peak summer months, and trust me with young kids I understand that!, then I recommend you plan your trip for late July or early August. While June is considered a peak summer month the weather can be unpredictable and you may encounter colder and cloudier days than you will in July and August.

As an added bonus if you travel during the summer, you may get to see whales! There are 200 whales that live off the coast of Depot Bay and peak whale spotting time in Depoe Bay is June through September when the whales are more active near the coast.

Visiting The Oregon Coast in Fall

If you visit the Oregon Coast in the fall you are in for a real treat. The drive from Portland to the coast will be full of beautiful fall colors! Hiking is one of our favorite activities to do on the Oregon Coast in the fall. Families will enjoy the hikes on Cape Perpetua and Ecola State Park.

And there are so many traditional fall activities you can enjoy like the Halloween Carnival in Seaside. If you are going to visit the Oregon Coast in the fall, I’d recommend the month of October as you’ll still have average highs in the 60s and can enjoy some sunshine on the coast. And maybe a little trick-or-treating!

Visiting the Oregon Coast in Winter

Visiting the Oregon Coast in the shoulder season offers a different and possibly more authentic view of the Oregon Coast. You’ll have beachside towns to yourself and can enjoy the solitude of the Oregon Coast. However, you need to be aware of closures as some restaurants and shops are only open seasonally. And make sure to practice ocean safety, ocean swells get larger as the year goes on and you need to be extra vigilant for sneaker waves.

Your activities on the Oregon Coast are going to be a little different in winter. Winter welcomes some powerful ocean storms so cozy up in front of a fire, grab a hot tea, and watch the storms roll in over the ocean. It may not make for fun adventures outside, but the storms are truly awe inspiring. Winter is another great time to watch whales as 18,000 gray whales migrate south to warmer waters.

While it may not be a popular pick, winter may just be the best time of year to visit the Oregon Coast!

Visiting the Oregon Coast in Spring

Living in the Pacific Northwest, spring break on the Oregon Coast is always a very popular option! Weather is still cool with average highs in the 50s so you won’t deal with the same crowds as you will over the summer. There is substantially less rain on the coast in April than in March so if you can shift your travels to later in the spring, I definitely recommend it. An extra bonus from all of that rain? Spring blooms! Spring is the perfect time to hike on the Oregon Coast and enjoy wildflowers while you do it. Just make sure you bring your rain coat!

Let’s go!

There really isn’t a best time of year to visit the Oregon Coast because each season has something unique to offer! We are definitely partial to trips in August and September so we can maximize time outside on the beaches and soak up as much Pacific Northwest sun as we can. But if you are a big fan of whales and moody weather then a winter trip to the Oregon Coast may just be for you! If you are looking for a list of the best things to do on the Oregon Coast with kids regardless of season, here are some of the best activities.