Cannon Beach Travel Guide

It’s hard to find an Oregonian who hasn’t visited the seaside town of Cannon Beach. Located on the northern part of the Oregon coastline, just under an hour and a half from Portland, the town is a popular weekend trip and vacation destination.

“Cannon Beach packs coastal charm into a tiny hamlet of fewer than 2,000 residents,” says Matt Wastradowski, a lifelong Oregon resident and travel guidebook author. Travel + Leisure.

But don’t let its small population fool you into thinking it’s a quiet town: It’s a vibrant, bustling town filled with talented artists and local purveyors, and there are plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy, whether that’s going for a hike, sampling fresh seafood or simply relaxing with your toes in the sand on the beach.

“You can hike through Sitka spruce groves before lunch, walk past art galleries run by passionate locals, enjoy lunch at a brewery founded in celebration of Oregon’s wide beaches, dine on locally sourced seafood for dinner, and make s’mores under the stars in the shadow of world-famous ocean rocks,” Wastradowski says. “And it’s all so close; all of the things I mentioned are within a 10-minute drive of downtown.”

Ready to plan your trip to Cannon Beach? Read on to find out about the best things to do in this coastal town, as well as where to eat and stay during your visit.

Great place to stay

Stephanie Inn

This hotel was voted one of the best resorts in the West by T+L readers. With rooms overlooking Haystack Rock and the sound of crashing waves, the views alone are worth a stay. Relax with a book by the fireplace or enjoy a lavender treatment from sister company Public Coast Farm at the on-site spa. Chat with other guests at the daily afternoon beer and wine get-together. End the day with s’mores and wine by the beach bonfire, which inn staff set up year-round depending on the weather. After a morning stroll on the beach, enjoy a complimentary chef-prepared breakfast with homemade pastries in the dining room.

Surf Sand Resort

This pet-friendly resort offers oceanfront rooms with a deck or patio. Freshly baked cookies are available in the lobby. There’s an on-site pool and gym, you can rent beach cruiser bikes to explore the town, and the resort hosts ice cream parties on Saturdays in the summer. The central location means you can take a short walk to the beach or an easy stroll into downtown for lunch or dinner.

The Inn at Cannon Beach

Located on the south end of Cannon Beach, where you can watch the town’s famous wild rabbits hopping about, this property offers cozy rooms with warm woods and a Northwest feel, set in small cottage-style buildings with courtyards. Rooms feature gas fireplaces, breakfast is included in the rate, and the beach is a 2-minute walk away.

Best Activities

Visit Ecola State Park

Just 10 minutes from downtown, this Oregon state park is a walk through Sitka spruce and western hemlock trees. Miles of hiking trails allow you to trek through the forest, look out over the cliffs to the ocean, and see the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, “Terrible Tilly,” which operated in the late 1800s. Walk to Indian Beach and enjoy a picnic with a view. As you explore the park, Wastradowski suggests keeping your eyes peeled for Roosevelt elk, which graze in the meadow just below the main parking lot in spring and fall. “It’s a pleasant surprise to see all these majestic animals in such close proximity,” says Wastradowski.

Walk along the beach to Haystack Rock

No visit to Cannon Beach is complete without a trip to the beach and a stroll along the sand. You can access the beach on foot from the town’s numerous side streets, or park your car in one of the many public parking lots nearby. While you’re at the beach, you can’t miss Haystack Rock. The 235-foot-tall sea rock is made up of towering basalt rocks and is a great place for photos (you may have seen it featured in the 1985 film The Goonies). The protected rock is home to a colony of tufted puffins that return in April and stay until July. On low tide days, you can see starfish, crabs, and other sea life in the marine gardens beneath the rock. Volunteers from the Haystack Awareness Program are on-site to answer any questions you may have about the protected environment.

Hiking in Oswald West State Park

“The cliffs at the end of Cape Falcon are a great place to watch gray whales, especially in the winter and spring,” Wastradowski says. “They’re about 250 feet above sea level and pretty open, so you get views from all sides.” This trail, and several others with towering rainforest and stunning coastal views, are found in this 2,484-acre state park, just 10 minutes south of Cannon Beach. If you go, prepare for rougher trail conditions. Wastradowski notes that parking fills up quickly on summer weekends, so hikers may want to leave earlier to enjoy more quiet on the trails.

Let’s go on an art walk

Cannon Beach is home to many artists who focus on a variety of mediums, including glassblowing, woodcarving, sculpture, and painting. Grab a morning coffee and stroll through the city to explore the many galleries located within a mile of each other. There is also a public art tour that takes you through seven installations within walking distance of each other, all within 1.5 miles. While you’re downtown, check out other boutique shops or stop by Blues Candy Kitchen, where colorful saltwater taffy is made on-site.

Enjoying a bonfire on the beach

“On summer nights, the beach lights up like fireflies with bonfires, and it’s a really spectacular sight,” says Wastradowski. Yes, it’s perfectly fine to have a small bonfire on Oregon Coast beaches, as long as it’s at least 50 feet away from beach grass and driftwood and less than 2 feet high. Many hotels and resorts, including Stephanie Inn, Surf Sands Resort, and The Inn at Cannon Beach, offer bonfire-lighting services. Or you can buy firewood in your hotel lobby or convenience store and bring your own.

Best Restaurant

Wayfarer Restaurant & Lounge

Wayfarer is one of the few restaurants in Cannon Beach with waterfront views. The décor is nautical-themed and features a whiskey lounge and patio seating options. Start your day with cinnamon roll French toast with Oregon hazelnut and marionberry butter or enjoy dinner from a menu of local seafood and Oregon beef.

Public Coast Brewing

“Public Coast sources many of its ingredients from its own farms, including berries, fruit, hops and honey, adding a fresh and fun twist to our lineup of pub fare,” says Wastradowski. The beer is great, but don’t miss the creamy, house-made root beer. Pair it with fresh fish and chips or fish tacos.

Stephanie Inn Dining Room

Stephanie Inn guests don’t have to travel far to enjoy a special meal, but reservations are available for those staying elsewhere. Sit by the fireplace in the dining room and enjoy a four-course, prix-fixe dinner made with locally sourced ingredients, complete with optional chef-prepared wine pairings of Oregon wines.

Ecola Restaurant & Market

The Oregon Coast is known for its seafood, including fresh oysters, Dungeness crab, swordfish and albacore tuna. Opened in 1993, this seafood market is the perfect place to try everything. “The family that runs Ecola has been fishing on the Oregon Coast since 1977 and owns their own boat, so you could be eating fish for dinner that was caught just a few hours ago,” says Wastradowski. Order lunch to take on a beach picnic or enjoy on the restaurant’s rooftop patio.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Cannon Beach is from mid-June to early September. Temperatures are at their best. There is less rain during this time, and more sunny days with clouds. This is what makes Cannon Beach so appealing as a summer vacation spot. But if you want to travel like a local, try visiting Cannon Beach during the less popular seasons. bad “There are different times to visit, and each season offers different experiences,” says Wastradowski. “Fall brings cool, crisp afternoons and a quiet, laid-back atmosphere at the city’s restaurants. Winter brings winter storm views and a cozy vibe throughout the city.” Bring a raincoat in the late fall, winter and spring, but the dramatic scenery is truly spectacular.

How to get there

Located just off Highway 101 on the Pacific coast, Cannon Beach is an ideal road trip destination. You can access it from Highway 101 to the north or south, or from Highway 26 to the east. “Highway 26 crosses the Oregon Coast Mountains,” says Wastradowski. The whole way there you pass through beautiful tall-tree forests, with amazing views.

The closest airport to Cannon Beach is Portland International Airport (PDX) in Portland, Oregon’s largest city, which is just under a two-hour drive away. Renting a car at the airport is the best way to get to Cannon Beach, and the airport makes it easy to get around the area. Wastradowski told T+L that there is also an intercity bus service called POINT that runs daily between Portland and Cannon Beach. The NW Connector, a public transportation consortium, also runs routes to Cannon Beach from other locations on the Oregon Coast, including Portland, Newport, and Lincoln City.

Moving method

Cannon Beach is a walkable city, with beaches, hotels, restaurants, and downtown shops all within minutes. Cannon Beach does not have ride-share services, but there is a NW Connector bus line that serves multiple stops around the city, and a 3-day pass can be purchased for $25 or a 7-day pass for $30. However, you will need a car to get to places outside of town, such as state parks for hiking.