The Southern Oregon Coast is one of the most breathtaking stretches of coastline in the Pacific Northwest. Think rugged cliffs, massive sea stacks, hidden beaches, towering forests and miles of scenic Highway 101 that somehow seem to get more beautiful around every corner.

It’s also noticeably wilder and less crowded than many of the more popular destinations farther north on the Oregon Coast. Around Brookings and Gold Beach, you can hike to secluded beaches, explore tide pools, drive through the incredible Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, stand beneath towering redwoods and even take a jet boat ride up the Rogue River.

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or adding Southern Oregon to a longer Oregon Coast road trip, there’s plenty here to fill a few days. This guide covers the best things to do on the Southern Oregon Coast, when to visit, where to stay and everything you need to know to plan your trip.

Where Is the Southern Oregon Coast?

Stretching from the California border to Coos Bay, the Southern Oregon Coast covers roughly 110 miles of Highway 101 and takes around 2.5 to 3 hours to drive without stops. But this is definitely not a drive you’ll want to rush. The Southern Oregon Coast covers some of the wildest and most scenic parts of the Oregon coastline. With viewpoints, beaches, hikes and roadside stops along the way, you could easily spend several days exploring this stretch of coast.

While there aren’t official boundaries separating one part of the Southern Oregon Coast from another, it helps to think of the region as four distinct areas when planning your trip.

Brookings & Samuel H. Boardman

Just north of the California border, Brookings is the southernmost major town on the Oregon Coast and a great base for exploring Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, Harris Beach State Park and the nearby Oregon redwoods. This is where you’ll find some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the region, including secluded beaches, sea stacks and surprisingly turquoise water.

Gold Beach & the Rogue River

Continue north and you’ll reach Gold Beach, located where the Rogue River meets the Pacific Ocean. In addition to beaches and coastal scenery, this area is known for outdoor adventures along the Rogue River, including the jet boat trips that have become one of Gold Beach’s signature experiences.

Port Orford & the Wild Coast

Between Gold Beach and Bandon, the coastline around Port Orford feels especially remote. You’ll find rugged beaches, scenic headlands and quirky Highway 101 stops like Prehistoric Gardens, along with Cape Blanco just north of town.

Bandon & Coos Bay

Farther north, Bandon and Coos Bay mark the northern end of the area covered in this guide. Bandon is famous for its enormous offshore sea stacks and beautiful beaches, while the Coos Bay area brings you to the southern end of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, where the landscape shifts from rocky coastline to massive sand dunes.

Why Visit the Southern Oregon Coast?

Southern Oregon offers a completely different feel from the more heavily visited northern Oregon coast. The scenery here is more rugged and dramatic, with towering sea stacks rising from turquoise water, secluded coves hidden beneath cliffs, and dense forests stretchOne thing that immediately sets the Southern Oregon Coast apart is the weather. This part of the coast is often referred to as Oregon’s “Banana Belt,” thanks to its relatively mild year-round temperatures and more frequent stretches of sunshine. Brookings in particular is known for having some of the warmest weather on the Oregon Coast, making Southern Oregon a great option even outside of the traditional summer travel season.

The scenery feels different here, too. Instead of the steel-gray ocean you might picture when you think of the Oregon Coast, the water along parts of the Southern Oregon Coast can appear an almost tropical shade of turquoise against the dark rocks and sea stacks.

But what I love most about this part of Oregon is how quickly the landscape changes. You can spend the morning looking down at turquoise waves from a secluded beach and, just a few hours later, be hiking beneath towering redwoods. Add wild rivers, enormous sand dunes, tide pools and miles of rugged coastline, and there’s an incredible amount of variety packed into one road trip.

Best Time to Visit the Southern Oregon Coast

Thanks to its mild coastal climate, the Southern Oregon Coast is a year-round destination, but June through October is generally the best time to visit if you want the best chance of dry weather for hiking, beaches and scenic drives. September and early October are especially great if you want to avoid the peak summer crowds while still having a good chance of sunny days.

That said, there really isn’t a bad time to visit. I’ve explored this part of the coast in different seasons, and each one offers a slightly different experience.

Summer

Summer brings long days, warmer temperatures and some of your best chances for clear, sunny weather. It’s the best season for camping, hiking, jet boat trips and spending long days exploring the beaches and viewpoints along Highway 101.

It’s also the busiest time of year. Popular spots like Natural Bridges and Secret Beach can get crowded, and campgrounds and accommodations may fill up well in advance. If you’re visiting in July or August, book your stay early and try to hit the most popular trails and viewpoints earlier in the day.

Fall

September and early October may be the sweet spot for visiting the Southern Oregon Coast. You’ll often find fewer crowds than during peak summer while still having mild temperatures and plenty of opportunities for clear weather.

Fall can also bring beautiful light along the coast, making it an especially good time for photography. As you get later into October and November, expect the weather to become wetter and less predictable.

Winter

Winter brings a completely different mood to the coast. Beaches and trails are much quieter, and powerful Pacific storms make this a great season for storm watching.

You’ll need to be more flexible with outdoor plans because of rain, wind and rough ocean conditions, but clear winter days can be absolutely gorgeous. Winter can also be a good time to explore the nearby redwood forests, where snow is uncommon at the lower elevations.

Spring

Spring brings lush green forests, wildflowers and waterfalls flowing along the coastal cliffs. It’s a beautiful time for hiking and exploring the redwoods, although you should expect a mix of sunshine and rain.

Trails can be muddy during the spring, so waterproof shoes are a good idea. Crowds are generally lighter than in summer, making late spring a nice option if you don’t mind unpredictable weather.

How to Get to the Southern Oregon Coast

The Southern Oregon Coast is fairly remote, and you’ll need a car to explore it. There isn’t a practical public transportation system connecting the beaches, trailheads, viewpoints and other attractions along the coast. Highway 101 runs through the entire region, connecting Coos Bay, Bandon, Port Orford, Gold Beach and Brookings.

Driving to the Southern Oregon Coast

From Portland

If you’re driving from Portland, Coos Bay is the closest entry point to the Southern Oregon Coast at about 220 miles and 4 hours away. From there, you can follow Highway 101 south through Bandon, Port Orford and Gold Beach to Brookings. If you’re driving all the way from Portland to Brookings, plan on roughly 6.5 to 7 hours before stops.

From Eugene

Eugene is one of the easiest starting points for a Southern Oregon Coast road trip. It’s about 115 miles and 2 hours from Coos Bay, making it convenient to start at the northern end of the region and work your way south along Highway 101.

From Medford

Medford is the better starting point if you want to begin at the southern end of the coast. It’s about 125 miles and 2.5 hours from Brookings, with the route taking you west through Grants Pass and across the Coast Range before reaching Highway 101 near the California border.

From San Francisco

If you’re coming from Northern California, San Francisco is about 380 miles and 7 hours from Brookings without stops. This can also make an incredible longer road trip if you follow the Northern California coast and travel through the redwoods before crossing into Oregon.

Flying to the Southern Oregon Coast

If you’re flying in specifically to explore the Southern Oregon Coast, you have three main airport options. Which one makes the most sense will depend on where you’re coming from and what other parts of Oregon you plan to visit.

• Eugene Airport (EUG): The best option if you want to start around Coos Bay or Bandon and travel south. Eugene Airport is Oregon’s second-largest airport and is served by several major airlines, with multiple commercial flights arriving and departing each day. Coos Bay is about a two-hour drive from the airport.
• Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR): The best option if you want to begin around Brookings or Gold Beach and travel north. Medford is served by several major airlines with multiple commercial flights each day. Brookings is about a 2.5-hour drive from the airport.
• Portland International Airport (PDX): PDX is farther from the Southern Oregon Coast, but as Oregon’s largest airport, it offers significantly more flight options and may have better schedules or cheaper fares depending on where you’re coming from. Portland is a particularly good choice if you’re planning a longer Oregon road trip that includes the Northern Oregon Coast, Portland or other parts of the state.

No matter which airport you choose, you’ll need to rent a car to explore the Southern Oregon Coast.

Things to Do on the Southern Oregon Coast

From hiking and beachcombing to surfing, kayaking and riding through massive sand dunes, there are plenty of ways to experience the Southern Oregon Coast. Here are some of the best things to do during your trip.

Explore Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor

If there’s one place you shouldn’t miss on the Southern Oregon Coast, it’s Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. This spectacular 12-mile stretch of Highway 101 between Brookings and Gold Beach is packed with rugged cliffs, forested sea stacks, secluded beaches and some of the most incredible and Instagrammable coastal viewpoints in Oregon.

Part of the fun is simply driving the corridor and stopping along the way. There are numerous viewpoints, trailheads and short hikes just off Highway 101, so you can spend anywhere from a couple of hours to an entire day exploring.

Some of the highlights along Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor include:

• Arch Rock: One of the easiest stops along the corridor, with a short paved path leading to a viewpoint overlooking offshore sea stacks and islands.
• Natural Bridges: One of the most iconic and Instagrammable viewpoints on the Southern Oregon Coast, where you can look down on a series of natural rock arches carved into the coastline.
• Secret Beach: A secluded beach reached by a short but steep hike through the forest. Visit around low tide to explore the beach and tide pools.
• Whaleshead Beach: A wide sandy beach with easy access and views of the distinctive Whaleshead rock formation just offshore.
• House Rock Viewpoint: A scenic overlook with sweeping views of the coastline and access to the Oregon Coast Trail.

You can also hike portions of the Oregon Coast Trail, which runs for 18 miles through the corridor, connecting many of its viewpoints and beaches.

I’ve put together a separate guide to the best stops along Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, including which viewpoints and hikes are worth your time and how to plan your drive.

Enjoy the Beaches

You can’t visit the Southern Oregon Coast without spending some time at the beach. And with more than 100 miles of coastline, there are plenty to choose from — whether you’re looking for a secluded cove, a long stretch of sand for a beach walk, tide pools or the perfect place to watch the sunset.

A few beaches worth adding to your trip include:

• Harris Beach: Located just north of Brookings, Harris Beach State Park is one of my favorite beaches on the Southern Oregon Coast. It’s easy to access and has everything you want in an Oregon beach: dramatic sea stacks, sandy shoreline and some fantastic tide pools to explore at low tide.
• Secret Beach: Tucked beneath the cliffs of Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, Secret Beach requires a short hike to reach but rewards you with a beautiful little cove surrounded by sea stacks and waterfalls. Time your visit around low tide when there’s more beach to explore.
• Lone Ranch Beach: Another beautiful stop just north of Brookings, Lone Ranch has a wide sandy beach, rocky areas to explore and grassy bluffs overlooking the ocean. It’s a great choice for a beach walk or sunset.
• Whaleshead Beach: This wide sandy beach along Samuel H. Boardman is much easier to reach than Secret Beach and gets its name from the whale-shaped rock formation just offshore.
• Bandon Beach: Farther north, Bandon has some of the most recognizable sea stacks on the Oregon Coast. The beach stretches for miles beneath dramatic formations like Face Rock and is especially beautiful around sunset.

One of the best things about Oregon’s beaches is that they’re all public, so don’t be afraid to pull over when you see beach access along Highway 101 and go explore. Just remember that the Pacific is cold year-round, and sneaker waves and strong currents are a real concern — this is much more of a beach-walking coast than a swimming coast.

Go Tide Pooling

Low tide reveals a completely different side of the Southern Oregon Coast. As the water recedes, rocky areas along the shoreline fill with tide pools where you can spot colorful sea stars, anemones, crabs, mussels and other marine life.

Harris Beach State Park near Brookings is one of the best places to go tide pooling on the Southern Oregon Coast. At low tide, you can explore the rocky areas around the beach and get a close-up look at the marine life that calls this stretch of coastline home.

Lone Ranch Beach is another great option, with rocky tide pools that are easy to explore when the tide is out. You’ll also find opportunities for tide pooling at beaches throughout Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor and farther north along the coast.

Timing is everything when it comes to tide pooling. Check the local tide chart before you go and try to arrive shortly before low tide so you have plenty of time to explore before the water starts coming back in. Keep an eye on the ocean while you’re exploring, and remember to look but don’t touch or remove marine life from the tide pools.

Get Out on the Water

If you want to do more than admire the Pacific from the shore, there are several ways to actually get out on the water along the Southern Oregon Coast.

South Coast Tours offers guided adventures around Brookings and Port Orford, making this a good option even if you don’t have your own gear or much experience on the water. Depending on the tour and location, you can paddle along the coastline, explore protected coves and get a completely different perspective of the sea stacks and rocky shoreline.

A few ways to get out on the water include:

• Take a surf lesson in Brookings: Learn the basics with an instructor and experience the Southern Oregon Coast’s local surf culture for yourself.
• Go sea kayaking in Port Orford: Join a guided paddle along the coastline around Port Orford, with opportunities to see rocky coves, sea stacks and marine wildlife from the water.
• Kayak Samuel H. Boardman: For one of the most unique ways to experience the scenic corridor, guided kayaking trips take you onto the water and around some of the arches, coves and rock formations you’ve been admiring from above.

Even during summer, the Pacific Ocean off the Oregon Coast is cold, so going with a guide is a great way to get on the water while also having the appropriate gear and local knowledge of ocean conditions.

Explore the Oregon Redwoods

You don’t have to cross the California border to walk among towering redwoods. The Southern Oregon Coast is home to the northernmost naturally occurring coast redwoods, with several trails tucked into the forests just outside of Brookings.

If you’re short on time, the Redwood Nature Trail is an easy way to add a completely different landscape to your coastal road trip. This peaceful one-mile loop winds through towering redwoods and Douglas firs, crosses small wooden bridges over a creek and passes through a forest floor covered in ferns and rhododendrons.

One of the highlights is the Chetco Giant, an enormous redwood measuring nearly 10 feet in diameter.

Redwood Nature Trail hike details:

• Distance: About 1 mile
• Route: Loop
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Location: Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest near Brookings

If you have more time and want a longer and more challenging hike, head to the Oregon Redwoods Trail, about 11 miles southeast of Brookings. The trail starts along a shorter accessible trail before descending into the upper Moser Creek drainage and a grove of old-growth coast redwoods. The Forest Service rates the main trail as difficult due to its steep grades.

Oregon Redwoods Trail hike details:

• Distance: 1.2 miles one way for the main Oregon Redwoods Trail, plus the connecting access trail
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Terrain: Steep grades
• Location: About 11 miles southeast of Brookings
• Season: Open year-round

Visiting the redwoods is an easy addition to a Southern Oregon Coast trip and one of my favorite examples of just how quickly the landscape changes here — one minute you’re standing above the Pacific Ocean and the next you’re surrounded by enormous trees and a lush, fern-covered forest.

Ride a Jet Boat on the Rogue River

For a completely different kind of adventure, head to Gold Beach and take a jet boat ride up the Rogue River. Jet boat tours have been a signature Gold Beach experience for decades, combining beautiful river scenery with wildlife viewing, history and, of course, some high-speed fun.

Tours travel inland from the mouth of the Rogue River through increasingly remote stretches of wilderness, giving you a chance to experience an entirely different side of Southern Oregon. Along the way, keep an eye out for wildlife like bald eagles, osprey, deer and river otters.

Jerry’s Rogue Jets offers several different trips, ranging from shorter scenic excursions to longer adventures that travel deeper into the Rogue River canyon. Some trips include stops along the river for a meal, making this an easy half-day or full-day addition to your Southern Oregon Coast itinerary.

Jet boat tours operate seasonally, generally during the warmer months, and reservations are a good idea during the busy summer season. If you’re visiting Gold Beach between late spring and early fall, this is one experience I’d definitely consider adding to your trip.

Go Hiking

With coastal headlands, old-growth forests, secluded beaches and miles of the Oregon Coast Trail, hiking is one of the best ways to explore the Southern Oregon Coast. You don’t have to be an experienced hiker, either. There are plenty of short, easy trails mixed in with longer hikes if you’re looking for more of an adventure.

Here are a few trails worth adding to your trip:

Cape Blanco Lighthouse Trail

For an easy walk with a big payoff, follow the road from the gate out to the historic Cape Blanco Lighthouse. Perched high above the Pacific, Cape Blanco offers sweeping views of the surrounding coastline. The walk from the gate to the lighthouse is about a quarter mile each way.

• Distance: About 0.5 mile
• Route: Out and back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Elevation gain: Minimal

Otter Point Trail

Just north of Gold Beach, Otter Point is a quick stop that rewards you with beautiful views over the Pacific and the area’s unusual sandstone formations. The trail itself is short and relatively flat, making this an easy one to squeeze into a day of driving the coast.

• Distance: About 0.5 mile
• Route: Out and back
• Difficulty: Easy
• Elevation gain: About 20 feet

Cape Sebastian Trail

Just south of Gold Beach, the Cape Sebastian Trail descends from the top of the cape through coastal forest, with beautiful views of the Pacific along the way. Keep in mind that this trail starts by heading downhill, which means you’ll do most of your climbing on the way back to the trailhead.

• Distance: 3.3 miles
• Route: Out and back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Elevation gain: 797 feet

Secret Beach Trail

Secret Beach is one of the most beautiful hikes along Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. The trail takes you through coastal forest to viewpoints overlooking the beach, with the option to continue down toward the sand. The descent can be steep in places, and access to portions of the beach depends on the tide, so check tide conditions before you go.

• Distance: 1.9 miles
• Route: Out and back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Elevation gain: 406 feet

Redwood Nature Trail

For a complete change of scenery, head inland from Brookings and hike beneath some of Oregon’s towering coast redwoods. The Redwood Nature Trail winds through redwoods and Douglas firs along a lush, fern-covered forest floor. We talked more about this trail in the Oregon Redwoods section above, but it’s worth including here too because it’s one of the most unique hikes you can add to a Southern Oregon Coast trip.

• Distance: About 1.1 miles
• Route: Loop
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Elevation gain: About 375 feet

Between these trails and the many shorter walks and viewpoints along Highway 101, it’s easy to add hiking to your Southern Oregon Coast itinerary whether you have 30 minutes or half a day.

Explore the Oregon Dunes

We’re going to cheat the Southern Oregon Coast boundary just a little for this one. The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area begins around Coos Bay and stretches approximately 40 miles north to Florence, putting most of it technically on the Central Oregon Coast. But since the southern end of the dunes begins right around where this guide ends, they’re absolutely worth adding to your trip.

This isn’t just a small patch of sand, either. The Oregon Dunes are one of the largest expanses of coastal sand dunes in the world, with massive wind-sculpted dunes rising as high as 500 feet between the forest and Pacific Ocean.

And there are several ways to experience them depending on how adventurous you want to get.

Go Sandboarding

Think snowboarding, but swap the snow for sand. Sandboarding lets you ride down the face of the dunes on a specially designed board, and you don’t need to bring your own gear. There are outfitters around the Oregon Dunes where you can rent sandboards and head out onto the dunes for a few hours.

Try Sand Sledding

If standing on a sandboard sounds a little too ambitious, try a sand sled instead. Sand sledding is similar to traditional sledding — you sit on the board and slide down the dune — making it an easy way for beginners and families to get in on the fun.

Some rental shops offer both sandboards and sand sleds, so you can choose whichever sounds more your speed.

Ride a Dune Buggy

For something considerably faster, rent a dune buggy, ATV or side-by-side and head out onto one of the designated OHV areas. The southern Oregon Dunes around Coos Bay and North Bend include thousands of acres of open sand where off-highway vehicles are permitted.

If you’ve never driven on sand before, make sure you understand the rental company’s safety requirements and where you’re allowed to ride before heading out.

Take a Sand Rail Tour

You don’t have to drive yourself to experience the dunes at full speed. Guided sand rail tours let an experienced driver do the work while you ride across the dunes.

Sand rails are smaller and faster than the larger tour buggies and are designed for a more thrilling ride over the dunes. You’ll also find larger dune buggy tours that offer a slower, more scenic experience if flying over the sand isn’t quite your idea of a relaxing vacation.

Stop at Prehistoric Gardens

For a little old-school roadside nostalgia, make a stop at Prehistoric Gardens along Highway 101 between Gold Beach and Port Orford. This wonderfully kitschy Oregon Coast attraction has been welcoming road trippers since the 1950s, and honestly, that’s part of its charm.

A walking trail winds through a lush temperate rainforest filled with more than 20 life-size dinosaur sculptures, including a massive T. rex towering among the trees. The dinosaurs were created based on the scientific knowledge available when the attraction was built, so don’t come expecting a modern natural history museum. Come for the nostalgia, the giant dinosaurs and the wonderfully weird experience of stumbling across a brontosaurus in the middle of an Oregon rainforest.

The trail itself is short and easy, and you can explore the entire attraction in about an hour, making Prehistoric Gardens a fun stop to break up your drive between Gold Beach and Port Orford.

It’s quirky, kitschy and exactly the kind of roadside attraction that makes a Highway 101 road trip more memorable.

Where to Stay on the Southern Oregon Coast

Where you stay on the Southern Oregon Coast depends largely on which part of the coast you want to explore. Brookings is the best base for Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor and the Oregon redwoods, Gold Beach puts you close to the Rogue River and the middle of the region, while Bandon is a good choice for exploring the northern end of the Southern Oregon Coast.

You’ll find everything from oceanfront hotels and luxury lodges to state park campgrounds and yurts, so you can easily turn this into either a comfortable coastal getaway or a camping road trip.

Camping on the Southern Oregon Coast

Camping is one of my favorite ways to experience the Southern Oregon Coast, and there are some excellent state parks along this stretch of Highway 101. If you’re traveling during the summer, make reservations well in advance because the most popular campgrounds can fill quickly.

Harris Beach State Park — Brookings

If I were choosing one campground for a Southern Oregon Coast trip, Harris Beach would be at the top of my list. The campground sits just above Harris Beach, giving you easy access to one of the best beaches and tide-pooling spots around Brookings.

In addition to traditional campsites and RV sites, Harris Beach has yurts, which are a great option if you want the camping experience without sleeping in a tent. The yurts have beds and electricity, but you’ll still use the campground restrooms and showers and do your cooking outside.

Alfred A. Loeb State Park — Brookings

For a completely different camping experience, head a few miles inland from Brookings to Alfred A. Loeb State Park along the Chetco River. Instead of camping beside the ocean, you’ll be surrounded by a beautiful forest of old-growth myrtlewood trees with easy access to the river.

The campground has more than 40 electrical campsites with water, hot showers and three rustic log cabins. It’s also conveniently located for exploring the nearby Oregon redwoods.

Cape Blanco State Park — Port Orford

Cape Blanco is a great option if you’re working your way north or south along Highway 101 and want to camp around Port Orford. The campground sits near the dramatic Cape Blanco headland and historic lighthouse, with trails and beaches nearby.

The campground has more than 50 electrical sites with water, along with four reservable cabins, hot showers and a hiker/biker camping area.

Bullards Beach State Park — Bandon

Near the northern end of our Southern Oregon Coast route, Bullards Beach State Park makes a convenient base for exploring Bandon, its beaches and the surrounding coastline. The campground is set among shore pines near the Coquille River and has access to several miles of beach.

It’s a particularly good option if you want to camp near Bandon without being right in town.

Hotels on the Southern Oregon Coast

If camping isn’t your thing, there are plenty of hotels, motels and vacation rentals scattered along the coast. These are three I’d look at depending on which part of the Southern Oregon Coast you want to use as your base.

Beachfront Inn — Brookings

For exploring Brookings, Samuel H. Boardman and the Oregon redwoods, Beachfront Inn gives you exactly what the name promises: a location right on the water. It’s a convenient choice if you want an oceanfront home base while exploring the southern end of the coast.

Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge — Gold Beach

If you want to splurge on one memorable stay, Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge is the standout. Located about seven miles inland from Gold Beach on the banks of the Rogue River, this peaceful riverside lodge feels more like a retreat than a traditional coastal hotel.

The location also makes it a great choice if your Southern Oregon Coast trip includes exploring the Rogue River and Gold Beach. If you’re celebrating something special or simply want to build a little luxury into an otherwise outdoorsy road trip, this is the stay I’d choose.

Bandon Inn — Bandon

For exploring the northern end of the Southern Oregon Coast, Bandon Inn is a convenient home base overlooking Bandon’s Old Town and the Coquille River. The location puts you close to restaurants and shops in Old Town while still being just a short drive from Face Rock, Bandon’s beaches and other nearby attractions. It’s a good choice if you want to stay somewhere central and comfortable while exploring Bandon and the surrounding coastline.

Tips for Visiting the Southern Oregon Coast

A little planning goes a long way on the Southern Oregon Coast. Much of this stretch of coastline is relatively remote, and tides, weather and ocean conditions can have a big impact on your plans.

Check the tides before heading to the beach. Tides can completely change what you’re able to see and access, especially at places like Secret Beach and when you’re tide pooling. Check the NOAA tide charts before you go and try to plan tide-pooling adventures around low tide.

Never turn your back on the ocean. Sneaker waves can travel much farther up the beach than expected and can be extremely dangerous. Keep an eye on the water, especially when exploring rocks and tide pools, and don’t climb onto driftwood near the surf.

Be careful around cliff edges. Some of the most beautiful viewpoints along the Southern Oregon Coast sit high above the ocean. Stay on established trails and behind barriers when they’re present, and don’t follow unofficial trails around places like Natural Bridges just because you’ve seen photos of other people doing it.

Download offline maps. Cell service can be spotty along Highway 101, particularly between towns and around Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. Download your maps before you leave town so you can still find trailheads and stops when you lose service.

Pack layers and rain gear year-round. Weather on the coast can change quickly, even during summer. I recommend keeping a rain jacket and an extra warm layer in the car so you’re prepared for wind, fog or an unexpected shower.

Wear good shoes. A pair of sturdy hiking shoes will make exploring much easier, and waterproof shoes are especially helpful during the wetter months when forest trails can get muddy.

Don’t let your gas tank get too low. Services are more limited between towns than they are on more populated stretches of the Oregon Coast. Fill up when you have the opportunity rather than waiting until you’re nearly empty.

Book summer accommodations early. Summer is the busiest season on the Southern Oregon Coast, and popular campgrounds like Harris Beach State Park can fill well in advance. Hotels and other accommodations can also become more expensive or sell out during busy weekends.

Give yourself more driving time than you think you’ll need. Distances on a map can look deceptively short, but Highway 101 isn’t a road you’ll want to rush. Between slower sections of highway and the temptation to pull over at practically every viewpoint, a drive that looks short on Google Maps can easily turn into half a day of exploring.

Remember that this isn’t really a swimming coast. Oregon’s beaches are beautiful, but the Pacific Ocean is cold and can have strong currents, rip currents and sneaker waves. Enjoy the beaches, walk along the shoreline and explore the tide pools, but use caution around the water.Remember that this isn’t really a swimming coast. Oregon’s beaches are beautiful, but the Pacific Ocean is cold and can have strong currents, rip currents and sneaker waves. Enjoy the beaches, walk along the shoreline and explore the tide pools, but use caution around the water.

Start Planning Your Southern Oregon Coast Road Trip

The Southern Oregon Coast is one of those places that proves you don’t have to travel far to pack a lot of adventure into one trip. In just a few days, you can hike beneath towering redwoods, explore secluded beaches, search for sea stars at low tide, ride a jet boat up the Rogue River and drive past some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in Oregon.

Whether you spend a weekend based in Brookings or turn it into a longer road trip from Brookings to Bandon and Coos Bay, give yourself plenty of time to slow down, pull over at the viewpoints and explore whatever catches your eye along Highway 101. Some of the best parts of a Southern Oregon Coast road trip are the stops you didn’t necessarily plan.

Ready to start planning? Save this guide for your trip, and check out my other Oregon travel guides for more hikes, road trips and outdoor adventures around the state.