Oregon Coast Lighthouses

Discover the Best Oregon Coast Lighthouses: Itinerary along the Pacific Coast

This site may contain affiliate links. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

The Oregon Coast is certainly one of the most suggestive in all the United States, even if it is not particularly beaten by tourist routes. To add charm to the coasts that overlook the Pacific Ocean there are the inevitable lighthouses that will allow you to take unforgettable photos.

A bit like the lighthouses of New England, here too, it is worth taking some time out from your itinerary along the American west coast to visit these picturesque places in a context where nature is still almost uncontaminated.

Oregon Coast Lighthouses Map

Cape Meares Lighthouse

Oregon Lighthouses Tour

First lit in 1890, over the years it was managed by families until the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department took over the now inactive lighthouse area. It’s the shortest lighthouse in all of Oregon (only 12 feet high), and that’s perhaps what helps make it particularly fascinating.

How to get there: The lighthouse is located within the Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint & National Wildlife Refuge which can be accessed every day of the year from sunrise to sunset. Whether you’re coming from the north or the south, the fastest way to get to the Cape Meares Lighthouse is to drive along the US-101 to the town of Tillamook. From there you will need to take US-131 and go through the towns of Netarts and Oceanside, where you will then take the Cape Meares Loop until you notice signs to turn left to enter Cape Meares Lighthouse Drive, which will take you all the way to the lighthouse parking lot.
How to visit: the lighthouse is open to the public and admission is free. However, it can only be accessed during the summer (May to early September) at the following times:
  • Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m
  • Friday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (extended weekend hours apply during June, July and August only)

In the event of bad weather, the lighthouse will be closed, however, please check the official website in advance to avoid unpleasant surprises.

While you’re here, don’t miss a visit to the famous Octopus Tree, technically a huge, peculiar-shaped Sitka spruce tree that resembles a giant upside-down octopus. Also, don’t miss the opportunity to see some great views of the coastline and the Three Arch Rocks from the vantage points near the parking lot.

Where to stay: the closest towns to the lighthouse are Cape Mears, Netarts and Oceanside. You can find all the accommodations in the area by clicking on the link below.

Find a hotel in the area

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

lighthouses oregon

From one of the shortest lighthouses, we move on to the lighthouse which, at nearly 100 feet tall, is known to be the tallest along the entire Oregon coast. After being built in Paris, and transported to Oregon, it began operations in 1873 and continues to this day with its maritime signaling work. It is located north of Newport within the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area which, as you might guess from the name, offers unique views to those who come here.

How to get there: If you are coming from the south you will have to pass Newport on US-101. Before entering the small town of Agate Beach, you will have to turn left and take the NW Lighthouse Drive at an intersection with traffic lights where directions are shown to the lighthouse. From here you can reach the parking lot of the Interpretive Center (a kind of visitors’ center) and, a little further on, the parking lot of the lighthouse itself (beware, however, that in this second parking lot there are limited parking spaces).

How to visit: this lighthouse is open to the public but it is possible to visit it only by guided tours with rangers. These are available at varying times depending on the time of year:
  • Winter season (November through June): only 16 people per tour. In order to reserve your place, you will have to go to the interpretive center from 10 a.m. (the opening time) where the number of tours available each day is displayed, according to staff numbers.
  • Summer season (July to September): tours depart daily and you can book more conveniently three months in advance through this website.

In the event of bad weather, tours will not be possible. Tours are approximately 45 minutes long, and to enter the park, you will need to pay a ticket that costs $7 per vehicle. If you have an America The Beautiful parks pass, you can enter for free even if the area is not managed by the National Park Service.

However, please check with the Bureau of Land Management, which manages the park, for any changes in the program at this link. Fun fact: this lighthouse was used for the horror movie The Ring as a location for the Moesko Island Lighthouse.

Where to stay: the towns near the lighthouse are Agate Beach and Newport. You can find hotels in the area by clicking on the link below

Find a hotel in the area

Heceta Head Lighthouse

oregon coast lighthouses to visit

One of the most popular and photographed lighthouses on the Oregon coast. Used since 1894, it attracts many tourists looking for the perfect souvenir photo each year, due to its architecture and surroundings. The lighthouse, now fully automated, is also famous because it is the most “powerful” in the state. Its light in fact can be seen 20 miles off shore.

The building that was once the keeper’s house is now Heceta Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast which competes for the record of one of the most spiritually haunted places in the nation. In fact, the legend says that the tortured soul of Rue, the wife of one of the lighthouse keepers, still wanders the rooms of this house. Her arrival would be anticipated by a strong scent of flowers appearing from nowhere.

How to get there: to reach the lighthouse, which is part of the Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint area, coming from the south you will have to drive on US-101, passing the city of Florence and, once you have crossed the Cape Creek Bridge, take the stretch of Cape Creek Road on the right that goes down to the coast, where you will find a large parking lot. From here you can walk to the lighthouse. If you are coming from the north, before reaching the Cape Creek Bridge, you will find a road on your right that will lead to the same parking lot.
How to visit: you can visit Heceta Head Lighthouse at different times depending on the time of year:
  • from June to September: daily from 11am to 5pm
  • from March to May and for the month of October: Friday to Monday from 11 am to 3 pm
  • from November to February: depending on weather conditions

You can check the official website for any schedule changes. A $5 payment is required when parking your car and you will need to leave the receipt on your dashboard as proof of payment.

Where to stay: in addition to the already mentioned bed and breakfast, the closest towns to the lighthouse are Florence and Heceta Beach. You can check the facilities nearby by clicking on the link below.

Search for a hotel in the area

Umpqua River Lighthouse

Umpqua River Lighthouse

This lighthouse is known to give visitors two reasons to visit it at two different times of the day. During the day, you can visit the lighthouse itself, while in the evening, the spectacular play of light is the main attraction. The Umpqua River Lighthouse emits a particular red and white light that is reflected on the nearby trees and thus creates a particularly suggestive atmosphere.

A historical fun fact: this was the first lighthouse along the Oregon coast. Its construction dates back to 1857 but unfortunately a phenomenon of erosion, due to the river that flowed nearby, caused its complete destruction only a few years later in 1861. The lighthouse you see today is the one that was rebuilt in 1894. Unlike all the others, it was placed inland and not close to the coast. That’s why today the Umpqua River Lighthouse no longer serves as a naval signal but only as a historical location.

How to get there: the Umpqua Lighthouse State Park is located just south of Winchester Bay and, driving along the usual US-101, before or after the town (depending on your direction), you will find directions to reach the lighthouse, which is very close to the Highway.
How to visit: the Umpqua River Lighthouse also has a museum near the lighthouse that is open seasonally during the months of May through October. During this time, tours for the lighthouse run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at a cost of $3 for adults and $2 for children.

During the off-season there are special openings, usually on weekends, but please check the official website to be sure.

Where to stay: the main accommodation facilities are located in Winchester Bay and Reedsport. You can check availability by clicking on the link below.

Search for a hotel in the area

Cape Blanco Lighthouse

Cape Blanco Lighthouse oregon

Built in 1870 on a beautiful headland at the westernmost point of the Oregon coast, from where you can dominate the entire surrounding area. Today it is part of Cape Blanco State Park and is one of the best spots in this area for whale watching.

How to get there: If you are coming from the south you have to drive on US-101 and about 4.3 miles after passing the town of Port Orford, you will have to turn left along Cape Blanco Road until you reach the lighthouse.

Coming from the north you will have to pass the small cluster of houses in Sixes and after about 1 mile, you will come to the junction with the Cape Blanco Road.

How to visit: you can take tours of the lighthouse during the months of April through October every day of the week, except Tuesdays, from 10am to 3:30pm.

Tours cost $2 for ages 16 and up, while they are free for those under this age group.

Where to Stay: Cape Blanco Lighthouse is located in a somewhat isolated area. The only nearby towns are Port Orford to the south and Bandon to the north. You can find the main accommodations in the area by clicking on the link below.

Search for a hotel in the area

The other lighthouses

tillamook lighthouse oregon

Obviously the lighthouses included in this article are not the only ones along the Oregon coast. Describing them all, however, would have been an almost impossible task, so in addition to the five already mentioned, you will find many others. As an example, there is the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, not open to the public, which is located on a small island off Seaside, as well as the lighthouse of Cape Arago built off Gregory Point, also not open to the public. One of the most particular from an implementation point of view is certainly Yaquina Bay Lighthouse where the lighthouse itself is part of the same housing structure.


Our Tip:
Looking for accommodations for your trip from California to other parts of the Southwest? Read our guide that contains reviews of hotels and strategic tips for finding accommodations near major attractions: Where to Stay: Our Tips for the SouthWest Area

Warning: Operating hours can change and closures for extraordinary events can occur, so we strongly suggest to check the venues official websites.

Avatar photo
Filippo Nardelli

I have a degree in History of North America and have always been fascinated by the United States.

Related posts

17-mile drive best stops

17-Mile Drive: Pebble Beach’s scenic road in California

The 17-Mile Drive is a paid scenic American road that will allow you to discover, among other things, some of California’s most beloved beaches. As you drive along it, you’ll ...
Stand By Me filming locations

Where Was Stand by Me Filmed? Map and Directions

From the distant 1986 to the present day, the popularity of “Stand by Me” has traversed entire generations unscathed, and the reception has always been so favorable that it has ...
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor trails

Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor: Natural Bridges and Impressive Sea Stacks

It’s well-known that the Oregon coast is a true natural gem, which is why it has earned a spot on the list of the “7 Wonders of Oregon.” Today, we’re ...
Things to do in Port Townsend

Discover Port Townsend, the Elegant Town of Fort Worden

Far from mass tourism, the delightful and elegant Port Townsend is located on the northeastern tip of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. The beautiful town is situated where the ...

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.