Create Courage Adventures

Oregon Coast Vacation in Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach, Oregon is known for its beauty, iconic rock formations, and of course, being a filming location for the hit ’80s movie, “The Goonies.” It’s one of the best Oregon Coast towns to visit, a fantastic Oregon Coast attraction and the perfect weekend getaway from Portland, Seattle, Salem, and any nearby town. Honestly, if you want to travel to the Oregon Coast for anything from a family vacation to a couples getaway, Cannon Beach is a great option.

How to Get to Canon Beach

Portland to Cannon Beach – The drive from Portland to Cannon Beach isn’t too bad and will only take you about an hour and a half depending on traffic. The easiest way to get to Cannon Beach from Portland is to take Highway 26 West all the way to the 101 South.

Seattle to Cannon Beach – Four hours is all you need to get from Seattle, Washington to Cannon Beach depending on traffic. You start on the 5 South freeway, head to the 30 West, and finally Highway 101 South.

Salem to Cannon Beach – The fastest way to get to Cannon Beach from Salem, Oregon is to head up to Portland via the 5 North freeway then cut across to the 26 West and finally the 101 South. This will take you about two hours and fifteen minutes depending on traffic. If you want a more scenic drive, with an added twenty minutes or so, take the 22 West to Highway 101 North. This way will take you along the Oregon coast with all its beauty.

Haystack Rock, a Famous Oregon Coast Attraction

Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach is a huge Oregon Coast attraction. At 235 feet tall, this basalt beauty is one of the best-known symbols of the Oregon Coast in general and an image you see on every Oregon Coast Travel Blog out there (including this one!) At low tide you can explore vast tidepools and walk all the way to the rock itself. Tufted Puffins, Bald Eagles, Brown Pelicans, Common Murres, and many other birds are abundantly present on and around Haystack Rock depending on the season making this location a Pacific Northwest birdwatchers dream come true.

Where to Park in Cannon Beach for Haystack Rock

Parking can be a challenge, especially in Summer months. We like to visit in the Winter or Spring to beat the crowds. Oregon Coast beaches aren’t sunbathing beaches anyways. The best place to park for quick access to Haystack Rock is on South Hemlock Street near the intersection with Viewpoint Terrace. From there, you will see wooden stairs (pictured) leading to an adorable trail with placks describing wildlife and geology of the area. Unfortunately, there aren’t many spots to park here so you may need to park down the street and walk. A great thing about Cannon Beach is that Haystack Rock is so tall you can see it from almost anywhere. (This does not include South Cannon Beach which is quite a walk away from the rock.) We just parked at our motel and walked toward the rock following the circling birds.

Tufted Puffins in Cannon Beach

When you visit Cannon Beach, bring your binoculars! Starting in April and going through July, you can see Tufted Puffins nesting on Haystack Rock. In fact, Haystack Rock is known to be the best access to Tufted Puffin birdwatching in the Pacific Northwest! These adorable and quirky birds only nest in a few places in Oregon so it is a real treat for Oregon Bird Watchers and those, like me who appreciate biodiversity and conservation to be able to see them in their natural habitat.

Please note: like many lava formed rocks and islands on the Oregon Coast, Haystack Rock is a state-protected marine site and an Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Many groups in Cannon Beach protect Tufted Puffins by spreading awareness, especially to tourists. For this reason, there are some rules in Cannon Beach such as no fireworks EVER, no shining lights up on Haystack Rock, and other sound restrictions. Unfortunately, noises and lights can confuse chicks and adult nesting puffins leading to injury. As always, leave no trace in this beautiful sanctuary.

Cannon Beach Lodging Options

Where to stay in Cannon Beach is an important question! There are various hotels if you want to splurge such as The Ocean Lodge and Hallmark Resort and Spa. Cannon Beach camping in tents or RVs is also an option, especially in warmer months at The RV Resort Cannon Beach. Cannon Beach features many Airbnb choices that are a great option for family travel or group travel to the Oregon Coast.

What we like to do is support locals through staying in Cannon Beach Motels. Our favorite Motel is the Sea Breeze Court. This motel has been family-run since 1965 and is currently run by the nicest young couple you will ever meet! We asked for a quiet room because I am unfortunately a very light sleeper. We were extra surprised when they provided us with not only a wonderfully quiet room but also one with a great balcony where you can see Haystack Rock! They have studios, one and two bedrooms available with a stocked kitchen at great prices. I will make a full post about this but for now, please check out their website for all information and pricing.

Restaurants in Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach restaurants are plentiful and delicious overall. We, of course, asked locals starting with the couple running our motel. I also search Tripadvisor like a madwoman to discover the tastiest meal. Below are a couple of our favorites. (None of these locations paid me to include them; this is purely from honest experience because my taste buds can’t be bought!)

Breakfast- Everyone recommended the Lazy Susan for breakfast. I am so glad we listened to their recommendations! The whole-grain waffles were to die for piled high with fruit and whipped cream! They also had many healthy options making this a great place for those who are on a meal plan, like me. I would say this is the best place for breakfast in Cannon Beach. Ask for the table in the corner window to feel extra cozy.

Lunch- This one may be obvious for Oregon Coast locals but Pelican Brewery Cannon Beach is as amazing as everyone says! Something about their cheesy mashed potatoes just changes a person (ok a little dramatic but they are really good!) My husband gets excited about their flight of beers so he doesn’t have to make any decisions, he gets all the best ones including seasonal favorites. The line at Pelican Brewers is usually pretty long at dinner so we go for an early lunch and even then, we mostly just go eat at the bar to avoid the wait.

Dinner- This one took some real sleuthing skills on our part. After asking countless locals, checking Tripadvisor and checking Yelp, we discovered that Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters turns into one of the best restaurants in Cannon Beach starting at 5:30pm most evenings. It’s called The Irish Table. I will admit The Irish Table is a bit pricy but totally worth it. The vibe is relaxed yet classy with a full Irish menu. Again they offer both low-calorie meals and decadent splurges. Beware that it fills up quickly especially in warmer months so call ahead to get on the waitlist. You can only make a reservation if you have four or more adults eating.

Coffee Shop- Yes this is a category for me! Cannon Beach Coffee shops do not disappoint especially on windy winter mornings. I like the Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters (see above for their night time restaurant, The Irish Table.) However, my favorite spot is Insomnia Coffee Co. They have an amazing selection of coffee and tea. The whole place is as relaxing as a friend’s living room with eclectic local art, polaroid pictures of friendly staff, and even eco-friendly options like reusable straws and mugs. This Oregon Coast coffee shop screams “Welcome to the Pacific Northwest!”

Things to do in Cannon Beach Oregon

After you have gone tide-pooling, birdwatching, eaten and checked out a beautiful sunset, there are even more things to do in Cannon Beach! To stick with the wildlife theme, you could go whale watching or search for local Roosevelt Elk who come out to graze periodically. Also, Cannon Beach shopping is a real treat with many mom and pop shops lining streets. South Cannon Beach has a great playground for families traveling with kids.

Hug Point, a Local Secret Shhh…

If you drive about seven minutes south of Cannon Beach you will find a local secret, Hug Point. Hug Point has impressive caves, tidepools, sandy beaches, and even a natural waterfall. It is a travel blogger or photographer hot spot in Oregon. Make sure you keep your eyes open for the turn-off or you could drive right by the small sign saying “Hug Point.” After you park, go down the steep-ish steps and to the right to see the caves and waterfall.

Have you been to Cannon Beach? What did you think? I hope my post helped you plan your Oregon Coast Trip whether it was a day trip to the coast or an Oregon family vacation, I hope it turned out great! Please let me know in the comments. Subscribe to this blog below to stay updated on all our adventures in the Pacific Northwest! Remember, “Goonies never say die!”