48 Hours in Oceanside, Oregon: The Perfect Weekend Itinerary

Two days is all it takes to fall for Oceanside, Oregon. This compact stretch of the Three Capes Scenic Loop packs a hidden tunnel beach, a historic lighthouse, one of the country's oldest wildlife refuges, a cheese factory and a calm tidal bay into a drive short enough that you'll spend more time exploring than in the car. Here's how to spend a perfect 48 hours.

Day 1

Morning — Arrival & Check-In Plan to arrive in Oceanside by late morning. After the roughly two-hour drive from Portland, check in to your room, drop your bags, and take a few minutes to get oriented — if you've booked an ocean-view room, this is a good moment to spot Three Arch Rocks from your balcony before heading out.

Afternoon — Tunnel Beach & Oceanside Beach Head straight for the beach. Walk north along Oceanside Beach toward Maxwell Point, and look for the tunnel entrance carved into the base of the cliff. Bring a phone flashlight for the dark middle stretch, and take your time on the other side at Tunnel Beach, where sea stacks and tide pools make for an easy hour of exploring. Afterward, walk back along the main beach, watching for Three Arch Rocks offshore — bring binoculars if you have them.

Evening — Sunset & Dinner Blog / SEO Content Marketing Oceanside faces almost due west, which makes it one of the better sunset spots on this stretch of coast. Grab dinner at one of the town's small cafes, then find a spot on the beach or your room's balcony to watch the sun go down over the water.

Day 2

Morning — Cape Meares Lighthouse & the Octopus Tree Start the day with the short drive north to Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint, about 10 minutes from Oceanside. Walk the easy, paved 0.2-mile path down to the Cape Meares Lighthouse, the shortest lighthouse on the Oregon Coast, standing atop a 217-foot cliff. From the parking area, take the short trail the other direction to see the Octopus Tree, an unusual, multi-trunked Sitka spruce believed to be several hundred years old. The viewpoint here also offers a great elevated look at Three Arch Rocks.

Midday — Tillamook Creamery From Cape Meares, it's about a 20-minute drive to the Tillamook Creamery in the town of Tillamook. Tour the self-guided viewing area to see cheese production in action, then stop for lunch and, of course, ice cream before heading back toward the coast.

Afternoon — Netarts Bay Head back through Oceanside to Netarts Bay, just a few minutes south. The bay's calm, shallow water is a good spot for an easy kayak paddle, a beginner-friendly crabbing trip, or simply a slower-paced walk along the shoreline — a nice contrast to the open-ocean beaches from the day before.

Evening — Wind Down or Extend the Trip Head back into Oceanside for a final dinner and a last walk on the beach. If you have the flexibility, this is also a natural point to extend the trip south along the Three Capes Scenic Loop toward Cape Lookout State Park and Pacific City before heading home.

Where to Stay for This Itinerary

This itinerary works best from a home base within walking distance of Oceanside Beach, so you're not driving back and forth for every stop. Three Arch Inn sits just steps from the beach and the Tunnel Beach trailhead, with full kitchens in select rooms for an easy breakfast before heading out, private balconies for sunset, and pet-friendly options if your travel companions have four legs.

Packing Tips

Closed-toe shoes for the tunnel and tide pools at Tunnel Beach A phone flashlight or small headlamp for the tunnel passage Binoculars for wildlife viewing at Three Arch Rocks Layers — coastal weather shifts quickly, even in summer A tide chart, since Tunnel Beach access depends on tide timing