If you’re looking for an Oregon Coast Road Trip that includes:
Welcome. You’re in the right place.
This trip started in Tacoma and took us through Cannon Beach, down Highway 101, into the Redwoods, and back via Eugene with a first-time dog flight thrown in for fun.
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Quick Itinerary Breakdown
What This Trip Taught Us
If you want the full breakdown, keep reading the rest of our posts. Because each stop deserves its own moment.
There are two ways to do the Oregon Coast, and both are equally valid. You can commit to the full drive and map out your stops like we did, or you can pick a place like Cannon Beach and let that be the entire trip. Honestly, Cannon Beach alone is enough. It has everything you need for a reset without requiring you to overthink anything.
This trip was always meant to be the full coast, but Cannon Beach was our starting point, and it set the tone immediately. We made our way down from Tacoma, usually stopping in Vancouver at Bleu Door Bakery because carbs are essential to survival. This time we attempted to be adventurous and cut over earlier for a “scenic” route toward Astoria, which I still maintain was unnecessary. I stand by going through Portland.
Once we arrived, we checked into Surfsand Resort and immediately headed to the beach because when the Oregon coast gives you sun in February, you respect it. Low tide was out, Haystack Rock was doing its dramatic thing, and Tilly was fully thriving on her long lead. The beach is wide, walkable, and somehow manages to look good in every type of weather. Kira was in her element taking photos from every possible angle and composition.
After a full day of playing in the water, we learned about sneaker waves the next morning. Tilly and I were out walking, minding our business, when a wave suddenly surged way farther than any of the others and touched her ankle. Her ankle. After she had spent the entire previous day running in the water like she owned the ocean, this was apparently unacceptable and deeply offensive.
In fairness, sneaker waves are no joke. They are larger waves that come in unexpectedly, even when everything looks calm, and they can reach much farther up the beach than you anticipate. They are strong enough to knock you off your feet and pull you in. There had been a warning that day, which we did not know, but we do now.
That moment officially created Safety Supervisor Tilly. From then on, she was hyper aware of the ocean and made it her mission to ensure we were not making poor decisions.
Cannon Beach also introduced us to elk immediately upon arrival. Just casually, right on the side of the road. Later, a shop owner told us she walks with an umbrella in the mornings because elk can be aggressive toward dogs and wander through town. I had not considered that elk might have strong opinions about Tilly, and I still don’t have a plan for what I would do if one approached us with attitude.
Dinner our first night at Driftwood Restaurant & Lounge brought everything full circle for me. I had been there years ago with my dog Indy during one of the hardest times, and somehow ended up with the same waitress. We recognized each other, shared the story again, and yes, we both cried. Again. Strangers joined in. Again. It was one of those moments that reminds you how deeply dogs connect people.
And if you go, and your waitress has been there 11 plus years, tell her Emily and Tilly say hi and then tip her well. She deserves it. Cannon Beach continues to prove that it can stand entirely on its own as a trip. Everything after it was incredible, but it never needed the rest of the itinerary to feel complete.
