During our Oregon trip, we drove from Portland to Cannon Beach for a stay on the coast. We stopped in Tillamook for a tour and lunch, stayed in a room with perfect views of Haystack Rock, and spent our time hiking, exploring the shops, and enjoying the beach.
If you’re planning a similar trip, here’s how we spent our time, including the stop we made before arriving in Cannon Beach.
From Portland to Cannon Beach—with a Stop in Tillamook
We left Portland and made our way to Tillamook Creamery. We did the self-guided tour and had lunch (the mac and cheese is incredible) before continuing to Cannon Beach. It was a nice way to break up the drive and fit another Oregon experience into our trip.
Note: Tillamook isn’t on the most direct route from Portland to Cannon Beach, so this was an intentional detour. If you’d like to include it, leave time to enjoy your stop before continuing north along the coast.
For us, it worked well as part of our travel day. We could explore the creamery, have lunch, and then head to our hotel for the next part of the trip.
Our Stay at Hallmark Resort & Spa
We stayed at Hallmark Resort & Spa, and our room was one of the highlights of our visit. It overlooked the beach and had great views of Haystack Rock from our balcony, and we had a jetted tub right in the room.
Having that view made the room feel like part of the trip instead of just a place to sleep. We could go out and explore, then come back and still enjoy the coast from our room.
I also loved how convenient the location was. We could leave our car at the hotel and walk into town for shopping and meals without worrying about parking. Freshly baked cookies were waiting in the lobby each afternoon, along with coffee and tea. The hotel even sold firewood and s’mores bundles, making it easy to enjoy an evening on the beach. Those little touches made our stay feel extra special.
If you’re booking a similar stay, pay attention to the specific room description. It was an upgrade, but we loved the combination of the beach view and the in-room jetted tub, so those are details I’d look for again.
Making a Beach Fire at Sunset
One evening, we purchased a firewood bundle from the front desk and made a fire on the beach at sunset. The hotel provided chairs we could carry down to the beach and return afterward, and we brought along some wine to enjoy by the fire. It grew chilly as the sun went down, but the fire kept us warm. By the time it was dark, little campfires dotted the beach.
One of my favorite memories from the trip!
If you’re visiting Cannon Beach, I’d leave at least one evening open to enjoy the sunset. And if you’re hoping to build a beach fire, check the current local rules and fire restrictions first. Even though the hotel provides a book of matches, another fire starter may be necessary. We had a hard time getting our fire started, and ended up getting help from another beach goer!
Hiking at Ecola State Park
The hike at Ecola State Park was the thing Garrett had been looking forward to most (he likes to go on a hike for his birthday every year).
We chose to do the Indian Beach Trail hike because we wanted to see a different part of the coastline. It is a 4.1 mile hike with 773 feet of elevation gain and took us about 2 hours to complete. We try to keep a quick pace so it was definitely a workout with an incredible payoff at the end! It was a nice balance to our time at the resort and walking around town.
There’s also a fun movie connection: Ecola Point within the park was a filming location for The Goonies.
After our hike, we treated ourselves to a late afternoon snack and some beers at Public Coast Brewery back in town.
I’d give yourself enough time to enjoy the hike and the beach without rushing to another activity afterward. Before your visit, check the Ecola State Park website for current trail conditions and access information.
Exploring the Shops in Cannon Beach
We also spent time walking through town and stopping in the various shops. There was quite a variety with everything from traditional souvenir shops, to galleries, specialty food and chocolate stores, to higher end clothing stores.
We didn’t have any agenda, just browsing and stopping into wherever caught our eye!
This is worth leaving room for in your plans. Between the beach, a hike, and walking through town, we had plenty to do without filling every hour with a scheduled activity.
I’ll share the restaurants and cafés we visited in a separate “Where We Ate in Cannon Beach” post.
What I’d Pack for a Similar Trip
For a stay that includes hiking, shopping, and an evening on the beach, I’d focus on comfortable clothes and layers. A few things I’d include:
- A rain jacket to keep handy while exploring.
- Comfortable walking shoes for browsing the shops and walking through town.
- Shoes with good traction for your planned hike.
- A warm sweatshirt or jacket for sunset on the beach.
- A small backpack for water and extra layers.
- A swimsuit, if your room has a jetted tub or you plan to use the hotel’s pool or spa facilities.
Packing for several different activities doesn’t have to mean bringing a completely different outfit for each one. Pieces you can layer and wear more than once make it easier to keep things manageable.
What Made Our Stay Memorable
When I think about our trip to Cannon Beach, I think about the view of Haystack Rock from our room, the thick morning fog giving way to bright, sunny afternoons, people enjoying the beach during the day with their kites or playing frisbee with their dogs, our sunset beach fire, and the hike Garrett had been anticipating.
The Tillamook stop added another experience to our drive from Portland, and once we arrived at the coast, we had a mix of exploring and time to relax.
For a similar getaway, I’d start with a few things you’re most excited about and leave some room around them. Having time to wander through a shop or stay on the beach a little longer was part of what made this trip enjoyable.
Until the next trip,
Kris
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