Highway 101 - the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway -between Brookings and Port Orford.

The Pacific Coast Scenic Byway - Highway 101 - takes you from the Columbia River to the Smith River, from Astoria to Brookings and the California border.

This is not a one-day drive, nor should it be. There are too many opportunities to stop and gaze. And there are just as many things to do.

Explore the secluded beaches and bountiful state parks. Absorb the charming atmosphere and diverse activity of towns along the way. So let's get started with a leisurely drive along the Oregon Coast.

Whale Watching - Waysides and state parks along the Coast make excellent vantage points for watching gray whales migrate between December and May.

Where to Stay...

Red Lion Inn Astoria 124 deluxe guest rooms with private balconies overlooking the Columbia River or marina. Located on Highways 101 and 30 near the approach to the Astoria/Megler Bridge at the West Mooring Basin Marina.

Driving the Coast - North to South

Astoria - The mouth of the Columbia River opens wide as the Scenic Byway begins in the shadow of the impressive Astoria-Megler Bridge. Shadows of the past are waiting to be explored in the city of Astoria, the oldest U.S. settlement west of the Rockies.

Don’t miss the 1883 Flavel House, the shipwreck of the Peter Iredale at Fort Stevens State Park, and The Fort Clatsop National Memorial, a life-size replica of Lewis and Clark’s 1805-06 winter outpost.

Seaside - Follow the Lewis and Clark trail to this resort town, famous for its two-mile beachfront promenade.

Cannon Beach - This is a popular artist community highlighted by massive shoreline monoliths known as Haystack Rock and The Needles.

Garibaldi - Visit Hugh Point, Oswald West and Nehalem Bay state parks before reaching this busy fishing port on Tillamook Bay.

Munson Creek Falls - The highest waterfall in the Coast Range is an easy side trip from the Byway. Seven miles south of Tillamook, watch for a small sign to and follow the narrow road a mile-and-a-half to the parking area. A short stroll takes you to the base of this 266-foot cataract.

Lincoln City - Go where the wind takes you. See colorful kites and wind socks welcome you back to the ocean and the resort town of Lincoln City. With sprawling Devil's Lake on the north side and Siletz Bay to the south, it's virtually surrounded by water, wildlife and recreation.

Heceta Head Lighthouse

Depoe Bay - Head south and discover the world's smallest navigable harbor and Spouting Horns that shoot geysers above the seawall at high tide.

Cape Foulweather - Farther on, keep your camera handy to capture the coast's most photographed seascape, Cape Foulweather and the churning waves at Devil's Punch Bowl.

Newport - In the shelter of Yaquina Head, Newport is home of the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Hatfield Marine Science Center. Yaquina Head features a 125-year-old lighthouse and two unique intertidal areas, one of which is the nation's only wheelchair accessible tide pool.

Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area east of Reedsport

Florence - Florence is the gateway to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, a 47-mile sandbox with areas designated for bird watching and dune riding. Honeyman State Park is a popular place to water-ski and camp.

As you travel on through the dunes, take a side trip to the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area at Reedsport. Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area with more than 31,000 acres, the Oregon Dunes offer a place for everyone. You can camp, arrange a tour, take an exhilarating off-highway vehicle ride, walk along tranquil lakes, forest trails and beaches and much more.

Winchester Bay / Lakeside - Tucked among some of the highest coastal dunes in the world, you'll find plenty of fishing and boating in small communities like Winchester Bay and Lakeside. The dunes end near the cities of North Bend and Coos Bay, the Coast's largest urban area.

Where to Stay...

Red Lion Inn Coos Bay offers 143 spacious guest rooms featuring free high-speed wireless Internet access, HBO, pool, whirlpool, fitness center, putting green, complimentary airport transportation, restaurant and lounge.

North Bend / Coos Bay
Coos Bay has long been a major shipping port for the timber industry and a haven for sportfishing enthusiasts. An unforgettable side trip for the senses begins in Charleston, near Coos Bay. The trip takes in three state parks, including the fragrant floral gardens at Shore Acres State Park, which are especially breathtaking during the Holiday Light Festival.

Bandon - This charming town is known for its lighthouse, cheese factory, quiet beaches with giant sea stacks, and terrific vantage points for winter storm watching. South of town, the Byway passes through some of the richest cranberry bogs this side of New England.

Gold Beach - The Rogue River meets the sea beneath the graceful Patterson Bridge. The Rogue River offers salmon and steelhead runs in late summer, and equally exciting jet boat tours in the nationally recognized "Wild and Scenic" section.

Brookings - The drive into Brookings saves some of the best scenery for last. Samuel Boardman State Park, for example, shows off nine miles of rocky viewpoints and quiet beaches at the base of the Siskiyou Mountains. After crossing crystal blue Chetco River, the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway ends in redwood country at the California border.

This brief tour was compiled in cooperation with the Oregon Coast Visitors Association.

We also welcome your ideas
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