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Oregon Coast Trip Ideas: Day Trips to Long Weekends

Whether you have an afternoon or a full weekend, we've mapped out adventures to help you make the most of your time on Oregon's Adventure Coast. Browse half-day outings, full-day excursions, and long weekend itineraries built around what matters most to you — your family, your pace, and the season you're visiting.

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A person on a dock holds up a freshly caught Dungeness crab with the bay and forest in the background.

Crabbing and Clamming on Oregon's Adventure Coast

Crabbing & Clamming

Throughout the year low tides provide access to a bountiful resource; clams. And no trip to the Adventure Coast is complete without Dungeness crab, and the best crab are always the ones you bring up yourself from the waters of lower Coos Bay.

A smiling man on a boat holds up a freshly caught rockfish, wearing a South Coast Tours LLC cap.

Saltwater Fishing – Ocean & Bay

Fishing

Variety is the name of the game when it comes to fishing on Oregon’s Adventure Coast! The fun and sport of fishing builds memories of a lifetime. While here, it is worth exploring the different types of fishing, from shore, charter boat, bridge, and even kayak. Here are a few tips for your next fishing excursion.

 black-and-white historic photo shows a crowd and parade with a boat float on Front Street in Coos Bay.

Discover Historic Front Street

Culture & Museums

Hidden in plain sight, Coos Bay’s Front Street was originally a wharf which became the bustling heart of a water-dependent community (then called Marshfield). From the mid-1850s until the 1920s, the south end of the waterfront street (now 101 paralleling the boardwalk) was lined with hotels, drugstores, City Hall, barbershops, cigar and clothing stores that catered to towndwellers and to upriver customers who arrived by boat.

Coquille River Lighthouse, cream with a red base, reflected in a tide pool among dark rocks under cloudy skies.

Southern Oregon Coast Lighthouses

Historical
Lighthouse
Scenic Drives

Lighthouse exploring is an exciting and historic thing for the whole family to do. Oregon’s Coast has a rich history steeped in seafaring. You’ll find 5 of Oregon’s 11 lighthouses within a short driving distance of Coos Bay.

Visitors watch a powerful wave crash against the rocky cliffs at Shore Acres State Park on the Oregon Coast.

Winter Fun On Oregon’s Adventure Coast

Beach
Culture & Museums
Dune
Eat & Drink
Fishing, Crabbing & Clamming
State Parks National Land

Winter steelhead fishing and clamming are popular winter activities on the Oregon Coast, but it doesn’t end there. Watch waves crashing at Shore Acres, visit museums or catch a show at a local theater, tackle the Oregon Dunes or roll the dice at The Ko-Kwel Casino Resort | Coos Bay. Here are some ideas to start planning your wintercation in Oregon’s Adventure Coast:

Three surfers in wetsuits standing on a sandy beach looking out at ocean waves, holding bright orange and grey surfboards at Sunset Bay near forested coastal cliffs.

Sand, Seafood and Surf in Coos Bay

ATV'ing & Motorsports
Beach
Dune
Eat & Drink
Crabbing & Clamming
State Parks National Land

The towns of Coos Bay, North Bend and Charleston, located on Highway 101 in the southern part of the state, are called “Oregon’s Adventure Coast” for a reason. Surrounded by thick forests and perched on an ocean bay, Coos Bay is the gateway to some of the coast’s best outdoor fun.

Smiling man wearing a baseball cap and green jacket, holding a large steelhead horizontally with both hands while kneeling in shallow river water.

Winter Steelhead Fishing Trip Idea

Fishing

Of the many outdoor recreational activities here on Oregon’s Adventure Coast, winter steelhead fishing is undoubtedly a favorite among sportsmen! Coos Bay, North Bend and Charleston have a bounty of incredible fishing options, so we asked a local expert where fishermen can go to find the best winter steelhead fishing.

Five women in helmets pose together on a black off-road UTV in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.

A Girlfriends Getaway on Oregon's Adventure Coast!

ATV'ing & Motorsports
Beach
Culture & Museums
Eat & Drink
Scenic Drives
Shopping
State Parks National Land

Take a long weekend & discover Oregon’s Adventure Coast with your best friends.

Smiling angler in a fishing kayak holds up a large lingcod, with rocky, forested cliffs behind him.

Kayak Fishing On The South Coast

Fishing
State Parks National Land

Kayak fishing in Oregon is enjoying a surge in popularity. Beginners and families can find a friendly learning curve with a slow troll for trout or casting for bass on one of Oregon’s scenic lakes.

Three hikers with backpacks walk along a sandy ridge overlooking a lake in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

ATV'ing & Motorsports
Dune

The majestic dunes are one of our favorite attractions on the Southern Oregon Coast because they give visitors plenty of opportunities to find relaxation and adventure.

A family of four smiles while holding clams they dug up on the mudflats at low tide.

A Weekend of Fishing – and so much more – on Oregon’s Adventure Coast

Eat & Drink
Crabbing & Clamming
Fishing

Follow the adventures of our author and his beautiful family as they discover the variety of fishing, crabbing and clamming options in Coos Bay, North Bend & Charleston!

A massive wave crashes against cliffs with a rainbow overhead at Shore Acres State Park.

Charleston to Bandon Tour Route

Beach
Lighthouse
Scenic Drives
State Parks National Land

A short spur off the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, this Route showcases a glorious stretch of coastline that includes six state parks, two National Wildlife Refuges and America’s first National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Man wearing waders and a baseball cap standing waist-deep in a lake, casting a fly fishing line with a dense green pine forest in the background.

Fresh Water Fishing Options – By Body of Water

Fishing

Lake, river and stream fishing are popular pursuits. Early summer and late fall salmon runs offer the best chances for a great catch and hearty sportsmen will enjoy the challenges of winter steelhead fishing.

Historic curved corner building in downtown Coos Bay with flower baskets and streetlamps.

Historic Walking Tour of Coos Bay

Culture & Museums
Historical

What now makes up the central district of Coos Bay was called Marshfield until 1944 when residents voted to change the name to Coos Bay to match the name of the Bay itself. Follow this Historic Walking Tour for a look back at the origins of the largest city on the Oregon Coast.

North Bend Boardwalk archway silhouetted against a sunset over Coos Bay.

One-Day Travel Itinerary: A Perfect Adventure in North Bend Oregon

ATV'ing & Motorsports
Dune
Eat & Drink
Historical
Shopping

North Bend Oregon may very well be the best kept secret on the Oregon Coast. Situated on the north bend of the Coos Bay (hence its namesake) this gem of a community is home to beautiful beaches, eclectic stores, antique shops, music, theatre, friendly locals, nightlife, restaurants, majestic sand dunes, the historic McCullough Memorial Bridge and much much more.

McCullough Bridge's steel arches reflected in tidal flats at sunset.

Historic Walking Tour of North Bend

Culture & Museums
Historical

Take a walking tour of the historic sites that shaped the city of North Bend, incorporated in 1903 by Louis Simpson with the vision of imitating San Francisco.

Cape Arago's forested cliffs curving around a rocky cove and coastline.

Explore the Cape Arago Beach Loop

Beach
Lighthouse
Scenic Drives
State Parks National Land

The Cape Arago Beach Loop is a wonderful way to experience a variety of natural Pacific Coast beauty in a number of settings. This loop will take you to beaches and state parks where you can take in the breathtaking vantage points and see the famous seals and sea lions on the Oregon Coast.

A couple watches the sunset next to a parked motorcycle on the beach at Sunset Bay State Park.

Scenic Drives Around Our Area

Scenic Drives
Lighthouse
State Parks National Land

You came for adventure. You might not always think of an afternoon drive, or a casual moonlit evening outing as adventure, but if you do it here, you will. From urban lights, to sunsets or moon-lit ocean backdrops, to inland rivers and parks, a part of your adventure can be just cruising around.