I Drove the Entire Oregon Coast on Highway 101 and I’m Already Planning to Do It Again

I love a good road trip but typically, my road trips are short, one-day excursions to visit family members and it usually involves a vehicle full of young children. Not too long ago, I needed a break from daily life. I needed some time away from my responsibilities at home and from worries that were keeping me up at night. I needed some time with my husband and a chance to just be ourselves — not mom and dad. So, I proposed a Highway 101 road trip and my husband quickly agreed. I had never explored the Oregon Coast in its entirety, and this was our chance. It was a trip of a lifetime.

I’m a planner. I create itineraries for our vacations because I don’t want to miss a thing. But on this trip, the most important thing to me was time with my husband and the beauty we were going to see. I broke up our trip into three days and booked a hotel or vacation rental in two cities along the route. Other than a place to spend the night, we had no concrete plans for each day. We stopped where and when we wanted. It was a true adventure and something completely out of my comfort zone.

We actually began our trip by flying into Seattle. I love this Washington city and always jump at the chance to visit. Unfortunately, we didn’t spend much time there. Instead, we rented a vehicle and then headed south, stopping in cities like Olympia and Aberdeen to stretch our legs. However, our road trip really took off when we arrived in Astoria.

I had never been to Astoria and was anxious to arrive in this historic town. As we drove over the Astoria-Megler Bridge, I marveled at its size and did not realize it was once the longest continuous-truss bridge in the world. And it wasn’t just the bridge that mesmerized me, the entire town left me under its enchanting spell. The beauty of the area, its unique architecture, and the city’s history are astounding. I could have spent days exploring all Astoria had to offer.

Driving along the Oregon Coast each day was beautiful. We stopped at well-known places like Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach and Lincoln City. We would pull over at various lookouts and even state parks. We took our time and just enjoyed the spontaneity of the trip.  

As we continued down the coast, we reached Tillamook, where we stopped at Tillamook Creamery for delicious grilled cheese sandwiches and ice cream. We then took a slight detour off Highway 101 to Highway 131, where we ventured toward Oceanside, a small coastal community that has a special place in my heart. We spent the night at a charming vacation rental here. We walked the beach multiple times and visited Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint. Here, we hiked, visited the Cape Meares Lighthouse, and observed wildlife in the distance.

Our second day was spent at countless pullouts and locally-owned shops along the coast. However, my favorite destination (and a place I strongly recommend visiting) was the Haceta Head Lighthouse in Florence. This is one of the most photographed lighthouses along the Oregon Coast and it certainly was breathtaking. We hiked to the lighthouse, learned a little about the area and its history, and even spotted whales out in the ocean. I could have spent more time here but our next hotel was in Coos Bay and we wanted to explore the town before it grew dark.

On our final day, we made our way towards Brookings, the last major city along Highway 101 in Oregon. One of my favorite stops along this portion of the drive was Gold Beach, a small community with gorgeous beaches, fascinating rock formations, and lots of nearby, seaside hikes.

Brookings was another fun place to explore and a coastal town where I could have stayed longer. We also found it is an excellent place to eat with many bucket-list-worthy restaurants such as Black Trumpet Bistro and Zola’s on the Water.

Now, I will admit that my husband and I added a few extra days onto our trip and continued on Highway 101 into California and spent some time exploring Redwood National Park and State Parks. We continued our drive until we reached San Francisco where we dropped off our rental car and flew back home.

In total, our multi-day road trip, from Seattle to San Francisco, was more than 900 miles and took five days but it was worth it. I’ve always had a love for the Oregon Coast and this excursion deepened those feelings. This was my favorite road trip I’ve ever taken and I can’t wait to do it all over again.

Have you ever driven along Highway 101 in Oregon? What are your favorite things to do along the Oregon Coast? Let me know! I’d love to add your suggestion to my next itinerary!