Seaside, OR, Perfect Day Trip Itinerary
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Seaside is the Oregon Coast’s ultimate resort town. The swing sets on the beach are rarely unoccupied. The main drag is ice cream shops, candy stores, and carnival games. Swan-shaped paddle boats bumble up and down the Necanicum River. Among Oregon locals like myself, the town is a little polarizing. It’s more of a bustling family vacation spot than a place to contemplate the ocean in solitude. I visit the coast often and, while Seaside isn’t one of my go-to destinations, I’ve always enjoyed trips there. The atmosphere is cheerful, and the scenery is impressive enough to retain its charm despite the crowds. Here’s how to spend a great day in Seaside, Oregon.
When to visit Seaside
Winter is a calmer scene in Seaside
Summer is by far the most popular time to visit Seaside. Rain is less frequent, and temperatures are usually mild and cool, even when heat waves hit inland areas. It’s also the busiest season. With such an easy drive time from Portland, Seaside gets very crowded from around May to October.
I prefer visiting between fall and spring when it’s less hectic. My pictures are from the winter and reflect the quieter atmosphere. Winter also means more variable weather. It’s a time to come with rain gear and a sense of flexibility. Lodging in Seaside tends to be a good value year-round, but the prices are lower from fall through spring.
Day trip itinerary
Breakfast and coffee
Seaside Coffee House
Seaside has many cute coffee shops and cafes. If you’re visiting as a day trip, you might leave Portland at 8 AM and arrive around 9:30 AM. Coffee o’clock, in other words. Seaside Coffee House is a great stop for something quick and easy. The coffee drinks and delicious pastries are a convenient to-go breakfast when you’re eager to get to the beach. On drizzly days, it’s a cozy place to wait out the rain. Think squashy armchairs, fresh-cut flowers, and homemade knitwear decorating a pillar. Or, for a filling sit-down breakfast, check out the Osprey Cafe, only a block from the beach on the south end of the Seaside Promenade.
Seaside Promenade and Beach
Seaside Promenade
The heart of Seaside is the Promenade, a 1.5-mile paved walkway along the western edge of town. If you’re visiting as a day trip, it’s the perfect introduction to the area. Every block has a beach access trail that crosses the strip of low, grassy dunes on the way to the ocean. Walking south, you’ll see Tillamook Head towering in the distance.
Seaside Beach and Tillamook Head
As you make your way down the Promenade, you’ll have the beach in sight from start to finish. On the other side are hotels and beach houses. Around the halfway point, a statue of Lewis and Clark commemorates the end of their journey. It’s a figurative endpoint. They explored past Seaside. An interesting bit of history is a little farther south. Look for a sign next to the Promenade pointing to the Salt Works, where members of the Discovery Corps collected ocean salt to preserve supplies for their return journey.
Lewis and Clark statue on the Seaside Promenade
Besides hotels, businesses are few on the Seaside Promenade. I always want it to have a restaurant patio. No such luck since Maggie’s on the Prom closed. One restaurant overlooks the ocean, Mo’s Seafood and Chowder. The other non-hotel business is the Seaside Aquarium, which I’d skip. It’s pretty run-down. The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport is a much better experience.
Seaside Beach
The main appeal of the Seaside Promenade is the easy stroll along the beach. Benches are frequent. At any point, you can leave the paved walkway and head down to the sand. Seaside Beach is broad, even during high tide. It’s perfect for sandcastles, kites, and long strolls. A fun way to explore is to walk to the end of the Promenade, then return on the beach.
Walk down Broadway Street
Broadway Street
One of the charms of Seaside is its walkability. Once you’re on the Promenade, most of the town's main attractions are nearby. Starting from the Lewis and Clark statue and walking east on Broadway Street, you’ll find all the shops, restaurants, and tourist attractions absent from the oceanfront. The vibe is retro carnival meets family vacation. It smells like burgers, fries, ice cream cones, and cotton candy. Between the snack shops are bumper cars, arcade games, and laser tag. A block from the Promenade is the Seaside Carousel Mall, which is exactly what you’re picturing. Nearby, a bridge passes over the Necanicum River, where you might spot a shorebird or two. In summer, Wheel Fun Rentals rents kayaks, paddleboards, and swan-shaped paddleboats.
Necanicum River
At this point in the day trip, it’s around lunchtime. Broadway Street has plenty of restaurant options, especially if you like pub food and seafood. I don’t eat seafood, but Finn’s Fish House has a good reputation. It’s on the upscale side, and might be better to save for dinner. Seaside Brewing has the best patio. Sisu Brewing Co has a cool location in a historic theater building. If you’re up for a short detour from Broadway Street, The Stand has good Mexican food.
Explore the coast
Ecola State Park
For the rest of the day, the itinerary will be more flexible. You’ve seen the highlights in Seaside and have some time to explore. My favorite part of a day trip to the Oregon Coast is getting out of town and visiting the parks. The most spectacular views near Seaside are in Ecola State Park, only a 15-minute drive south. The main viewpoint at Ecola Point overlooks Cannon Beach and Terrible Tilly, an offshore lighthouse. From here, you can drive to easy beach access at Indian Beach or tackle one of the hiking trails, like the short but rugged trek to Crescent Beach. Parking at Ecola State Park requires the Oregon State Park Pass ($10/day).
Ecola State Park is at the north end of Cannon Beach, an Oregon Coast town with a very different feel from Seaside. It’s more artsy and upscale, less like a carnival. The stunning beach has interesting sea stacks. The centerpiece is Haystack Rock, an impressive offshore monolith and favorite seabird hangout.
Or, you could stick close to Seaside for the day. Depending on the ages and interests of your group, other potential destinations are the Captain Kid Amusement Park (more for families, less expensive) or the High Life Adventure Park ropes course (kids or adults, more expensive, open seasonally). If, like me, you love finding the quieter corners of town, check out the hidden gems section below.
Dinner and sunset in Seaside
When I take a day trip to Seaside, I like to stay for dinner, both to avoid the worst of the Portland traffic on the drive back and to watch the sunset. Honestly, though, sunsets on the Oregon Coast are hit or miss. Many evenings are too cloudy to see much besides a slowly darkening gray. When it’s at least somewhat clear, the Promenade and Seaside Beach are stunning places to watch the sun go down over the Pacific.
Seaside Promenade
As with lunch, Finn’s Fish House, Sisu Brewing Co, or Seaside Brewing are good destinations for dinner. I’d also add Nonni’s Italian Bistro to the list. Or, you could stop at Camp 18 on the way back to Portland. This quirky spot is part restaurant and part logging museum. You can’t miss the old logging equipment out front as you drive on US-26.
Patio at Seaside Brewing
Where to stay in Seaside
If you’ll be in Seaside for longer than one day, it’s a great place to find a deal on lodging. The town has many hotels, and prices are much lower than in Cannon Beach. Rooms are cheapest in the winter, but tend to stay fairly reasonable during peak tourist season.
Ebb Tide Oceanfront Inn has affordable rooms on the Seaside Promenade. It’s within a block or two of Broadway Street. Breakfast is included. It has a pool and a hot tub.
The Seashore Inn also has a great location on the Promenade in the heart of the action. Pool, hot tub, and breakfast included. Half the rooms overlook the beach.
The Ashore Hotel is a cute boutique hotel in the center of town and close to Seaside Beach. Continental breakfast, pool, and on-site wine bar.
Hidden gems in Seaside
Seaside Cove
Seaside Cove
Seaside Cove is at the south end of Seaside near Tillamook Head. It won’t be deserted, and perhaps calling it a hidden gem is overstating things, but I’ve found it to be a more peaceful alternative to Seaside Beach along the Promenade. It’s a surfing spot that’s also a decent place to look for seabirds. Unlike Seaside Beach, it’s rocky rather than sandy, and you can find some tidepool life at low tide. It has a parking area and public restrooms.
Anemones at Seaside Cove
Necanicum Estuary
Little Beach on the Necanicum Estuary
The Necanicum River empties into the Pacific Ocean at the north end of Seaside. It feels more like being in nature than in a resort town. Parks around the Necanicum Estuary offer some of the best wildlife watching around Seaside, especially for shorebirds and seabirds. Anywhere you can see the estuary has birdwatching potential. The Necanicum Estuary Natural History Park is a good place to start.
Gearhart
Elk in Gearhart
Gearhart is the small community immediately north of Seaside. The main event here is spending time by the ocean, which is a quieter experience than in most Oregon Coast towns close to Portland. The only touristy thing is McMenamins, which has a hotel, restaurant, and golf course. Roosevelt elk enjoy spending time in Gearhart. I’ve seen them walk down the road, tramp through front yards, and graze on landscaping. Keep a respectful distance if you see them. Watching them from the car is ideal.
Packing list for a Seaside day trip
Camera
Kite
Layers, including a waterproof rain jacket. I like these for women or men.
If you visit on a nice day, Seaside Beach is a great place to spread a beach blanket.
Rainy day plans in Seaside
Broadway Street
On any day trip to the Oregon Coast, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan in case of rain. Fortunately, Seaside has enough indoor activities to lend flexibility to the itinerary.
Visit the shops on Broadway Street. They have a lot of beach town kitsch, but also enough variety to keep things interesting. Salt water taffy, alpaca wool sweaters, books, porcelain carousel horse figurines, and so on.
Check out the arcade games and carnival rides at the Seaside Carnival Mall and Funland Arcade.
The Seaside History Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday. Exhibits feature artifacts related to the history of the Seaside area, some dating back as far as 700 BC.
Catch a movie at the Seaside Cinema.
Buy a book at Beach Books and bring it to a coffeeshop.
Parking and logistics
Public parking in Seaside is free. Look for parking lots on the north and south ends of the Seaside Promenade, as well as street parking in town. It’s easy to find a spot in the winter, but it can be challenging in the summer. Most hotels include parking. If you’re visiting as a day trip in the summer, I’d suggest arriving early for the best chance of finding a spot. The Seaside Promenade has public restrooms in several places, including underneath the Lewis and Clark statue.
Getting there
Seaside is an easy day trip from Portland. Take US-26 W to US-101. Then, make a slight right to head north on US-101. Continue on US-101 for about 3 miles, and you’ll be there. The drive from Portland takes about 90 minutes.
Enjoy your trip to Seaside!
With love,
Emma
Explore nearby
Take a day trip to Cannon Beach.
Take a day trip to Manzanita.
Find more Lewis and Clark history at Fort Clatsop.
Visit the most picturesque towns on the Oregon Coast.
