Full-day adventure · Oregon

Portland to Tillamook, Cannon Beach & Astoria day trip

The big north coast day

Cheese and ice cream, iconic sea stacks, and Columbia River views. Three coastal favorites in one ambitious day.

Time
About 13 hours
Driving
6–7 hours driving
Best time
June–September
Updated
$4 USD

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Haystack Rock and Cannon Beach from Ecola Point
Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · April 2019 photograph; cropped to fit.
Suggested times, not bookings

Your day at a glance

  • 7:45 amLeave Portland for Tillamook
  • 10:00 amTillamook Creamery: cheese, exhibits and ice cream
  • 11:30 amDrive north toward Cannon Beach
  • 1:00 pmCannon Beach: lunch and Haystack Rock
  • 3:00 pmOptional Ecola viewpoint, or drive straight to Astoria
  • 4:15 pmAstoria Column
  • 5:15 pmAstoria riverfront and an early dinner
  • 6:15 pmReturn to Portland on US 30
Highlights

Worth the trip

  • Tillamook Creamery
  • Cannon Beach & Haystack Rock
  • Astoria Column & riverfront

What’s in the guide

Matching HTML and PDF guides, detailed stop guidance, rules, practical pitfalls, a route map, Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps links, weather alternatives and phone instructions. See an example guide →

Plan for the conditions

Expected seasonal weather

From June to September the north coast is mild and comparatively dry: NWS 1991–2020 normals for Astoria put July and August highs near 67–69°F and lows near 54°F, with about an inch of rain a month; June and September are a little cooler and wetter, at about 2½ inches. Morning fog or low cloud is common in summer and can hang over the beaches while inland is sunny, and afternoon wind is common. By October highs drop to about 61°F, rain returns (about 6.7 inches on average) and the first fall storms can bring strong gusts and rough seas. November to February is wet, windy and dark early, with highs near 49–54°F and about 7 (February) to 11 inches of rain a month. A sheltered Tillamook stop can feel very different from windy Cannon Beach or the exposed Column hill, so check each town, not only Portland. These are seasonal expectations, not a forecast for your travel date; check the NWS forecast and alerts before you go.

Admission and parking are separate. Check current conditions before departure.

A good day, in the bag.

Your guides

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