Best Stops Along the Pacific Coastal Drive

The Pacific Coastal Drive is quite long. It goes all the way from the state of Washington down to California. You can easily do all of it or simply choose portions that are closer to where you are during a Pacific Coast family getaway. There are numerous places to stop along the Pacific Coastal Drive. You are going to want to stop everywhere you see a sign. However, I recommend choosing the best stops along the Pacific Coastal Drive to save yourselves some time.

The Best Stops Along the Pacific Coastal Drive

Astoria

There are so many things to do in Astoria. I recommend planning on spending a couple of days in this portion of Oregon. A few of the popular things to do in Astoria include visiting the Lewis and Clark National Park and Fort Stevens State Park. There are many shipwrecks out in the water too. This means you can get a little diving in during your family getaway in Oregon.

Seaside

Seaside is a beach town in Oregon. This area has everything you need for a day of fun in the sun. I recommend arriving at the beach really early in the morning to claim your spot. This is a perfect destination when you are looking for downtime during your family getaway in Oregon.

Cape Meares Lighthouse

The Cape Meares Lighthouse is one of the most popular stops along the Pacific Coastal Drive. You will have the chance to get up close to the Fresnel lens at this lighthouse. This is perfect if you have any budding scientists in your family. When you are taking in the views of the water from the lighthouse, you must keep an eye open for the whales. Spring and fall are the best times for whale watching in Oregon. But you never know when a whale will be there at other times of the year.

Tillamook

Do you find that your family is always hungry when you are taking road trips? It won’t be any different during a road trip along the Pacific Coastal Drive. Thankfully, Tillamook will have you covered! You can easily visit Tillamook Creamery for a ton of deliciousness. Your entire family can fill up on cheese, ice cream, and yogurt during your visit. Don’t forget to bring a cooler with you, too, so you can take all that yumminess home, as well as some butter and sour cream!

Cape Perpetua

Cape Perpetua is considered part of the Oregon State Park system. You can easily drive to the Devil’s Churn area to see the views of Thor’s Well and so much more. However, I recommend doing at least one of the hikes this area is famous for.

Sea Lion Caves

Sea Lion Caves are considered the largest sea cave in the US. You will see a plethora of sea lions in this area during your visit. While you can see sea lions all up and down the coast, as you make the Pacific Coastal Drive, this is the best spot. This is why I always recommend it to families who are considering doing the Pacific Coastal Drive.

These are the six best stops along the Pacific Coastal Drive. You can place each one of these on your family getaway in Oregon itinerary. However, I can recommend even more for you to see and do in this area when I plan your vacation in Oregon.

So, are you ready to plan a vacation in Oregon and see these stops along the Pacific Coastal Drive?

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