Oregon’s original beach resort since the 1800s. The Promenade since 1921. The world’s largest relay race ends here. And the best hike on the north coast begins just south of town.
The Promenade — Built 1921
From Portland — Oregon's Closest Major Beach
World's Largest Relay Race — Finishes Here
Lewis & Clark Salt Works — Still Here, Still Free
Our Pick — Storms, Light, No Crowds
North Coast Surf Break · Full Wetsuit Required
Hand-Pulling Taffy Since 1897
Clark Said It Was the Best View He'd Ever Seen
Seaside · Cannon Beach · Astoria · All Within 30 Min
Seaside doesn’t pretend to be anything it isn’t. It’s the classic Oregon beach town — the one where Portland families have been coming for generations, where Broadway Street is lined with arcades and taffy shops, where the Promenade stretches a mile and a half along one of the widest, flattest beaches on the coast, and where the whole point is to have fun at the beach.
Other towns on the Oregon Coast might be quieter or more polished. Seaside is the one where the beach is the point — wide, flat, accessible, and just 90 minutes from Portland. It’s also where the Lewis & Clark expedition made salt, where the world’s largest relay race ends every August, and where a genuinely world-class coastal hike starts at the south end of town.
The Prom is the spine of Seaside — a 1.5-mile concrete walkway running along the oceanfront, separating the beach from the town. Walk, jog, bike, or roll along on a rented surrey while the Pacific stretches out beside you.
Built in 1921, the Prom connects everything — the Seaside Aquarium (one of the oldest on the West Coast, opened 1937, harbor seals are the stars), the Lewis & Clark Salt Works, and viewpoints stretching from Tillamook Head to the Clatsop Plains. Sunrise on the Prom is magical and uncrowded — walk the full length before the town wakes up. Sunset draws everyone.
At the western end of Broadway where the road meets the Prom. The circular traffic loop has been a gathering spot since the 1920s. At its center: the Lewis and Clark Monument, a bronze statue by Stanley Wanlass. The view from here — straight out over the beach to the ocean, Tillamook Head rising to the south — is one of the most photographed scenes on the Oregon Coast.
Wide, flat, and firm-packed — ideal for walking, biking, kite flying, sandcastles, and volleyball. No sea stacks or rocky headlands. The Cove at the south end is the local surf break. Lifeguards in summer near the Turnaround — one of the few lifeguarded beaches on the coast. Razor clamming during open season.
Funland has been here since 1931 — bumper cars, video games, the full boardwalk experience. The Seaside Carousel Mall has a beautiful indoor carousel. Phillips Candies has been hand-pulling saltwater taffy since 1897 — this is a Broadway institution worth the stop even if you don’t have a sweet tooth. Yes, it’s touristy. That’s the point. Broadway is the beating heart of a town built around having fun at the beach.
Seaside Brewing Company occupies the old Seaside city jail at Broadway and Highway 101 — craft beers brewed with Pacific Northwest rainwater, original jail cells still visible. Sisu Brewing in the Times Theatre building doubles as a cinema — catch a movie with a pint. Two of the better brewery experiences on the north coast, half a block apart on Broadway.
Across the Necanicum River on the east side of Broadway — Seaside’s oldest neighborhood. Quieter, more residential. Fairweather House & Gallery, boutiques, antique shops. Cross the river and the whole energy shifts from beach-town buzz to a gentler, lived-in character. An undervisited part of town worth a wander.
At the south end of town, at the base of Tillamook Head. Waves that work for beginners and intermediates, more protected than open-coast breaks. Full wetsuit required year-round — the water is cold. Cleanline Surf rents boards and wetsuits and offers lessons. Best in fall and winter swells. Even non-surfers find watching from the Prom satisfying.
Most visitors come to Seaside for the beach. The ones who come back talk about Tillamook Head. See our Oregon Hiking Guide.
Begins at the south end of Seaside and climbs through dense old-growth Sitka spruce and western hemlock up and over the 1,000-foot headland that separates Seaside from Cannon Beach. The full traverse is 6 miles one way. The forest is cathedral-like — mossy, layered, and genuinely beautiful.
Clark’s Viewpoint — where Captain William Clark wrote in January 1806 that he beheld “the grandest and most pleasing prospects which my eyes ever surveyed.” The coastline unfolds in both directions. A mile offshore: Tillamook Rock Lighthouse (“Terrible Tilly”) — built 1881, operational until 1957, and infamous for the miserable conditions its keepers endured.
About four miles from the trailhead: the remains of a World War II radar bunker hidden in the forest — a concrete structure the size of a school bus, now moss-covered. Part of Oregon’s coastal defense network watching for Japanese aircraft.
Out-and-back to Clark’s Viewpoint and the Tilly overlook: ~8 miles round trip. Budget 4–5 hours. Free parking at the end of Sunset Boulevard. Bring layers — the headland catches weather from every direction. The trail is damp even in summer.
The full 6-mile one-way traverse ends at Ecola State Park in Cannon Beach. Arrange a car shuttle or arrange a pickup — a spectacular way to connect the two towns.
Seaside’s Lewis & Clark connection goes deeper than the statue at the Turnaround. In the winter of 1805–06, while the Corps of Discovery was camped at Fort Clatsop (15 miles north, near Astoria), the expedition desperately needed salt to preserve food. A detachment set up a salt-making operation near the south end of what is now the Promenade, boiling ocean water around the clock in five kettles to extract salt.
The Lewis & Clark Salt Works — a reconstructed stone furnace on the original site — is still there, tucked into a quiet residential neighborhood at the south end of the Prom. Free to visit. Takes about 15 minutes. Most tourists walk right past it.
When word arrived of a beached whale near present-day Cannon Beach, Clark took 12 men over Tillamook Head to barter for blubber and oil. Sacagawea insisted on joining — one of the rare moments in the expedition’s journals where she asserted her own wishes. “Ecola” — the Chinook word for whale — gives Ecola State Park its name. Our Astoria guide covers Fort Clatsop in detail.
A reconstructed stone furnace where the Corps of Discovery boiled seawater for salt in the winter of 1805–06. On the original site. Free, open year-round, takes 15 minutes, and most tourists walk right past it. One of the most overlooked historic sites on the Oregon Coast.
Seaside’s food reputation is “beach town food.” That’s selling it short. See our Oregon Food & Drink Guide.
A Seaside institution. Big portions, fresh seafood, no-frills coastal dining. The seafood platters and fish and chips are reliable and satisfying.
Family-owned on Broadway since 1983. Excellent clam chowder. The razor clams and sautéed shrimp are cooked with care by people who’ve been doing this for 40+ years.
Doesn’t look like much from outside, but locals know it has some of the best food in town. Exactly the kind of place tourists walk right past — which is why regulars like it.
The spot for a sit-down dinner that doesn’t involve seafood. Fresh pasta, lasagna, carbonara. A nice change of pace after days of chowder.
Fresh Dungeness crab, smoked salmon, and catch to prepare yourself. First stop if you’re in a vacation rental with a kitchen.
Full espresso bar plus breakfast and lunch. Vegan and gluten-free options. The kind of place where you see the same locals every morning — always a good sign.
Seaside Brewing Company — in the old city jail on Broadway, original cells visible, brews with Pacific NW rainwater. Sisu Brewing — Times Theatre building, good beer plus a cinema. Two distinct brewery experiences within a block of each other.
Book early for summer weekends, Hood to Coast (August), and the volleyball tournament. Seaside has the broadest range of lodging on the north coast. See our Oregon Lodging Guide.
Several hotels and motels line the Prom’s inland side with direct beach access. The most Seaside-specific experience — wake up, step across the Prom, be on the beach. Book months ahead for peak summer.
Within walking distance of every restaurant, arcade, and brewery on Broadway. Most practical base for exploring the full length of town on foot. Wider range of prices than the oceanfront properties.
Seaside has a strong vacation rental market — cottages, condos, and houses. Full kitchens save significantly on meals, and many have beach or estuary views. Best for families and longer stays.
Hood to Coast (late August) and the Beach Volleyball Tournament (also August) fill Seaside months in advance. If your dates overlap with either event, book immediately. Room rates spike significantly during these weekends.
See our Oregon Events & Festivals Guide for the full state calendar.
The world’s largest relay race — 199 miles from the summit of Mt. Hood to the finish line on Seaside Beach. Over 1,000 teams run through the night. The whole town turns into a celebration. Even if you’re not running, the finish-line energy is infectious.
One of the largest amateur beach volleyball tournaments in the world. Hundreds of nets, thousands of players. The wide, flat beach is made for this — no better natural venue on the coast.
One of the largest fireworks displays on the Oregon Coast. The beach fills up, and the show over the ocean is spectacular. One of the most consistently attended events on the north coast.
A smaller but well-regarded spring event featuring diverse jazz and blues acts from regional and national artists. Kicks off the spring season before the summer crowds arrive.
Far north end of town where the Necanicum River estuary opens to the ocean. Walk north from 12th Avenue along the beach, past the dunes toward the estuary mouth, and the crowds evaporate. Half a mile of beach to yourself. At low tide, one of the best spots on the coast for intact sand dollars. Bring binoculars — bald eagles, ospreys, great blue herons, and migrating shorebirds work the estuary.
Tucked at the south end of town near Ocean Vista Drive and Avenue W — a public path leads through a gap in the bushes to a beach covered with hundreds of painted rocks. The tradition started decades ago and grew into an ever-growing collection of names, dates, memorials, and love notes. Described as “a cross between a cemetery and a family photo album.” Surprisingly emotional and free. Bring your own painted rock to add.
Rent a kayak at Wheel Fun Rentals near the convention center. Paddle north up the Necanicum River into the estuary, where town sounds disappear and wildlife takes over — river otters, coho salmon during spawning season, bald eagles. Paddle at slack tide (about 30 minutes before high tide) for best conditions. One of the most peaceful experiences available in Seaside.
Most people visit the Promenade in the afternoon and evening. Sunrise on the Prom is magical and uncrowded — walk the full 1.5 miles before the town wakes up, watch the light change over the ocean, and have the entire stretch essentially to yourself. The surf fishers will be out; everyone else will be asleep. The best free experience in Seaside.
See our Best Time to Visit Oregon guide. Getting here: ~80 miles from Portland, roughly 90 minutes via Highway 26. 15 minutes south of Astoria, 15 minutes north of Cannon Beach.
Crowds thin, light turns golden, Seaside takes on a quieter personality. Temperatures drop into the 50s. Hiking the Tillamook Head Trail is excellent in fall. Restaurants are easier to get into. Storm watching from the Prom is dramatic and beautiful. The best combination of access, character, and value.
Peak season. Highs in the mid-60s to low 70s, most sunshine, longest days. Broadway buzzing, events calendar full. Book well in advance — especially Hood to Coast and volleyball weekends in August. Parking gets tight; arrive early or park east on Broadway and walk. The full Seaside experience.
Seaside gets ~80 inches of rain per year, and most falls in winter. But winter has its own appeal: storm watching, uncrowded beaches, king tides, and the cozy indoor pleasures of Broadway’s restaurants and breweries. Whale migration (December–January southbound, March northbound). Lowest hotel prices of the year.
Transitional season with gradually improving weather. Jazz & Blues Festival in April. May and June can be beautiful with fewer crowds than summer and increasingly long days. Wildflowers on Tillamook Head. Whale migration northbound through May.
Seaside is on the North Oregon Coast — rain is a reality in every season except midsummer. Pack layers and a rain jacket even in July. When the sun comes out — and it does, regularly — the coast is unforgettable. The moody weather is part of the character, not a reason to stay away.
Seaside, Cannon Beach, and Astoria — three completely different personalities, all within 30 minutes of each other.
Fun, family-friendly, affordable. Arcades, the Promenade, wide flat beach, taffy, Hood to Coast finish line. The classic Oregon beach town.
Haystack Rock, galleries, Ecola State Park, tide pools, boutique shopping. Quieter, more polished, photographic. 15 minutes south on Highway 101.
Victorian mansions, the Astoria Column, Fort George Brewery, maritime museums, Fort Clatsop, the Goonies. Gritty, historic, genuinely fascinating. 30 minutes north.
Base yourself in Seaside (central location, best range of accommodations and prices). Day 1: Seaside — beach, Broadway, Tillamook Head, Salt Works. Day 2: Cannon Beach — Haystack Rock, Ecola State Park, galleries. Day 3: Astoria — the Column, Maritime Museum, Fort George, Fort Stevens.
About 80 miles, roughly 90 minutes via Highway 26 through the Coast Range. Seaside is the closest major beach town to Portland and one of the most popular day trips and weekend getaways in Oregon.
Seaside is arguably the best family beach destination on the Oregon Coast. The wide flat beach is safe and accessible, Broadway Street has arcades and activities for all ages, the Seaside Aquarium is a hit with kids, and the Promenade is perfect for biking and walking together. Summer brings lifeguards to the main beach — uncommon on the Oregon Coast.
Different vibes entirely. Seaside is the lively, family-friendly beach town with arcades, a boardwalk-style Promenade, and a wide sandy beach. Cannon Beach is quieter, more upscale, with art galleries, Haystack Rock, and a more contemplative atmosphere. They’re 15 minutes apart, and most visitors enjoy both. Our Cannon Beach guide covers the differences in full.
Yes. The Cove at the south end of town is the primary surf spot, with waves that work for beginners and intermediates. Cleanline Surf rents boards and wetsuits and offers lessons. The water is cold year-round — a full wetsuit is essential. Best in fall and winter swells.
The world’s largest relay race — 199 miles from the summit of Mt. Hood to the finish line on Seaside Beach. Over 1,000 teams run through the night and finish in Seaside the following day, usually in late August. The whole town celebrates. Book lodging months in advance if your visit overlaps with this weekend.
The main beach and Broadway Street get busy on summer weekends, especially during Hood to Coast (August) and the Beach Volleyball Tournament. Arrive early for parking. For quieter beach time, walk north from 12th Avenue toward the estuary, or visit midweek. September has summer weather with noticeably thinner crowds.
Yes to both. Crab pots off the 12th Avenue bridge over the Necanicum River. Razor clamming on the main beach during open seasons — check ODFW for current dates and regulations. Rent gear from local shops. You’ll need an Oregon shellfish license.
A hidden gem at the south end of town — a public path near Ocean Vista Drive and Avenue W leads to a beach lined with hundreds of painted rocks left by visitors over decades. Names, dates, memorials, love notes, messages of hope. Free, emotional, and one of Seaside’s best-kept secrets. Bring your own painted rock to add.
Oregon Coast Guide →
Cannon Beach Guide →
Astoria Guide →
Oregon Coast Road Trip →
Oregon Hiking Guide →
Oregon Beaches Guide →
Oregon Tide Pools →
Oregon With Kids Guide →
Oregon Breweries Guide →
Oregon Food & Drink →
Oregon Lodging Guide →
Oregon Camping Guide →
Best Time to Visit Oregon →
Oregon Events & Festivals →
Plan Your Trip to Oregon →
Seaside, Cannon Beach, Astoria — the complete regional guide.
