Wild Coast, Small Wonders

Five days of shipwrecks, tidepools, crab rings, one $1 flying glider, and a rainforest trail to a hidden cove—with a hotel and indoor pool exactly when everyone needs a reset.

Under the stars3 camp nights

By the ocean1 hotel night

The escape

Sea air by lunch.
Campfire by dusk.

The Oregon Coast changes character every few miles. The Columbia rolls past old cannery towns, sea stacks rise from broad beaches, and shore-pine forests hold campsites close enough to hear the surf.

This route leaves space for the good stuff: a second cup of camp coffee, another run down the dune, and an early dinner while the sea lions argue beneath the dock.

The whole loop

South by the sea.
Home through the forest.

The route runs clockwise from Seattle, follows the northern Oregon Coast to Newport, then turns north through Nehalem and the Coast Range.

Map of the clockwise road-trip route from Seattle through Astoria, Cannon Beach, Tillamook, Newport, Cape Kiwanda, and Nehalem Bay — Numbered dots match the directions at right. Arrows show the clockwise travel direction.

Day 11 → 2

Seattle → Fort Stevens

3 hr 45 min

Day 22 ↔ 3

Fort Stevens ↔ Astoria

45 min local

Day 32 → 4 → 5 → 6

Fort Stevens → Cannon Beach → Tillamook → Newport

3 hr 15 min

Day 46 → 7 → 8

Newport → Cape Kiwanda → Kelly’s → Nehalem Bay

2 hr 45 min

Day 58 → Short Sand → 1

Nehalem Bay → Short Sand Beach → Seattle

4 hr 25 min moving

Open turn-by-turn directions ↗

Day by day

Follow the river.
Find the ocean.

Highway 101 supplies the scenery. Most days keep the van moving for less than three hours, leaving the best hours for beaches, boats, and camp.

The Peter Iredale shipwreck at sunset in Fort Stevens State Park

Mon · Aug 243 hr 45 min · 185 mi

Shipwreck at the edge of the continent

Leave Seattle by 8:00 and let the drive unwind over one playground-and-picnic stop. By afternoon, the van is tucked beneath shore pines at Fort Stevens. Walk onto the broad beach, find the rusted ribs of the Peter Iredale, and let the Pacific make the first impression.

Morning · SeattleAfternoon · Shipwreck beachEvening · Campfire

Family favoriteThe shipwreck rises straight out of the sand. Beach combing around it is the first day’s whole agenda.

EatSettle in with an easy camp supper and something warm by the fire.

SleepFort Stevens State Park · night 1 of 2

The painted Astoria Column rising into a deep blue sky

Tue · Aug 2545 min local · 30 mi

Ships, sea lions and one flying glider

Pedal through Fort Stevens’ mossy gun batteries, then follow the river into Astoria. The Maritime Museum brings shipwrecks, storms, and Coast Guard rescues to life. End above town at the Astoria Column: climb 164 spiral steps and send a $1 balsa glider sailing over the hill.

Morning · Fort batteriesMidday · Museum + pizzaFinale · Column glider

Family favoriteThe glider launch is the promised finale. A short trolley ride is a bonus only if the five-year-old still has fuel.

EatFort George Brewery for wood-fired pizza, root beer, and a Northwest pint for the adults.

SleepFort Stevens State Park · night 2 of 2

Astoria Column details ↗

Wed · Aug 263 hr 15 min moving · 140 mi

Haystack Rock, cheese curds and a hotel pool

Leave Fort Stevens before dawn and reach Haystack Rock around 6:15 a.m., near the predicted 6:11 low tide, for exposed tidepools and a barefoot beach walk. Then follow Highway 101 through dairy country for the free Tillamook Creamery tour, cheesemaking windows, and the obvious ice-cream finish. In Newport, trade camp chores for a hotel room, an ocean view, and a warm indoor pool.

6:00 · Haystack tidepoolsMidday · TillamookLate day · Hotel pool

Family favoriteTidepools, cheese curds, and a pool before bed. The early start buys the best beach conditions and leaves the afternoon pleasantly easy.

EatShare cheese curds and ice cream at Tillamook, then catch an early seafood dinner at Georgie’s or bring takeout back to the room.

SleepBest Western Plus Agate Beach Inn · hotel reset

Free Creamery details ↗

A close view of freshly caught Oregon Dungeness crabs

Thu · Aug 272 hr 45 min moving · 115 mi

Dunes, crab rings and a bayfront camp

Take one last swim after breakfast, then point the van north. Cape Kiwanda brings a giant dune and a wide-open beach. At Kelly’s Brighton Marina, bait a crab ring, lower it from the dock, and wait for the bay to reveal dinner before settling into Nehalem Bay.

Morning · Newport swimMidday · Cape KiwandaAfternoon · Dock crabbing

Family favoriteSand to climb, ropes to pull, and the suspense of checking a crab ring. Stay on the lower beach and outside the fenced headland.

EatSteam the catch if the bay cooperates; make camp tacos if it does not. Dinner and sunset belong to Nehalem Bay either way.

SleepNehalem Bay State Park · one night

Crabbing details ↗

Beach walkers and surfers at secluded Short Sand Beach

Fri · Aug 284 hr 25 min moving · 215 mi

Rainforest trail to a hidden cove

Leave camp after breakfast, pick up pastries in Manzanita, then continue to Oswald West State Park. A half-mile trail under giant Sitka spruce follows Short Sand Creek to a sheltered cove; allow 60–90 minutes for the walk and one last round of beach combing. The road home crosses the Coast Range with a playground stop and a new audiobook for the final stretch.

8:00 · Manzanita pastries8:30 · Rainforest trail9:00 · Short Sand10:15 · Seattle-bound

Family favoriteThe rainforest walk is the day’s destination, not another thing squeezed in. Leave Short Sand by 10:00–10:30 and the Friday drive home stays sane.

EatPack a van lunch for an easy roadside picnic on the way north.

SleepHome · sand in every pocket

Short Sand trail details ↗

Beach time, protected

Four to six hours with nowhere else to be.

The route protects four distinct chances to wander. Nehalem Bay adds bonus time because the beach is right beside camp.

01Peter Iredale1–2 hours

The trip’s best dedicated beach-combing session, with the shipwreck as home base.

03Haystack Rock45–60 minutes

An early low-tide mission for tidepools, wet sand, and tiny discoveries left where they live.

04Cape Kiwanda + Nehalem1–2 hours

Dune running at midday, then an optional sunset wander straight from camp.

05Short Sand Beach30–45 minutes

A final cove ramble after the rainforest trail—and one last cup holder full of treasures.

Where you’ll stay

Wake up beside
the Pacific.

Three nights under shore pines and one hotel night give the trip its rhythm: camp first, reset in Newport, then return to the beach for one final night.

Aug 24–262 nights

Recommended stay

Fort Stevens State Park

Begin with two nights beneath shore pines, close to the Peter Iredale and miles of bikeable park roads. Standard camper-van sites include a picnic table and fire ring, with hookups available in several loops.

$140–$170planning estimate

View campground ↗

Aug 26–271 hotel night

Mid-trip reset

Best Western Plus Agate Beach Inn

A hotel night delivers hot showers, an ocean view, and an indoor pool after the longest coastal day. It is the strategic comfort break that keeps the second half of the trip feeling like vacation.

$275–$350planning estimate

Check hotel ↗

Aug 27–281 night

Final camp night

Nehalem Bay State Park

Close with one quiet night between forest, bay, and beach. The campground has camper-van-friendly standard sites, and hookups are available if a little extra convenience sounds good.

$65–$85planning estimate

View campground ↗

Why this rhythm works: two camp nights create a real sense of escape, the Newport hotel resets everyone halfway through, and the final campground puts sunset and beach time right outside the van door.

Trip budget

Five days for
about $1,400.

Budgeted for two adults and one five-year-old traveling by camper van. The estimates cover every overnight, fuel, generous food money, activities, plus room for surprises and treats.

Comfortable trip budget$1,400~$1,230 planning subtotal + ~$170 buffer

CampsitesPlanning estimate for three nights at two Oregon State Parks

~$230

Newport hotelPlanning estimate for an ocean-view hotel night, including tax

~$310

FuelAbout 675 miles at a blended Washington and Oregon fuel estimate

~$190

Groceries + camp mealsBreakfasts, picnic lunches, snacks, and camp dinners for three

$150

Memorable foodEarly dinners, pizza, seafood, and Tillamook treats

$210

Paid activitiesMaritime Museum $36 · two crab rings and adult shellfish licenses $84

$120

Parking + small feesDay-use areas and incidental parking

$25

Base tripEstimated before contingency; fuel, food, and room rates are the main variables

~$1,230

Know before you go

Pack for salt air
and sandy shoes.

Late August can bring brilliant sun, cold fog, or both before lunch. A few smart layers keep the weather part of the atmosphere.

Dress for three seasons

Keep fleece, rain shells, closed-toe shoes, and a complete dry outfit for the child in the day bag. Coastal weather rarely consults the forecast.

Leave room for wonder

The best days pair one landmark with one hands-on adventure. Extra beach time usually beats squeezing in another roadside stop.

Crab like a local

Kelly’s supplies bait, instruction, and lifejackets for children 12 and under. Bring gloves, non-slip shoes, and a familiar fitted PFD if you have one.

Respect the water

Watch the surf, stay off drift logs, and keep outside fenced headlands. Windy crabbing weather is an invitation to reach camp early and explore the bay.

The fine print

Book with the latest
information.

Booking and trip sources

Oregon State Parks 2026 camping rates ↗Columbia River Maritime Museum admission ↗Tillamook Creamery free visit ↗Kelly’s Brighton Marina crabbing ↗Astoria Column hours and access ↗Oswald West and Short Sand Beach ↗2026 North Coast tide table ↗Best Western Plus Agate Beach Inn ↗OSRM and OpenStreetMap route geometry ↗Oregon beach safety ↗TripCheck road conditions ↗

Photo credits

Astoria · Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Peter Iredale · Robert Bradshaw / Rkitko · CC BY 2.5 ↗Haystack Rock · Griggs.hull · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Astoria Column · Gary Halvorson / Oregon State Archives · CC BY 4.0 ↗Dungeness crabs · Martyne Reesman / ODFW · CC BY-SA 2.0 ↗Short Sand Beach · Paul Ottaviano · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

Sea air by lunch.Campfire by dusk.

South by the sea.Home through the forest.

Follow the river.Find the ocean.