Long Beach Washington is a sleepy, laid-back beach town on the southern coast of Washington State, nestled along the beach just north of the misty forests in Cape Disappointment State Park.
A small and relaxed town on the Long Beach Peninsula during most of the year, Long Beach in Washington State welcomes visitors primarily during the summer months who enjoy lots of fun things to do in Long Beach WA.
The main Long Beach WA attractions are the refreshing beaches, local shops, nearby recreation opportunities, and a generally pleasant ambiance.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the town of Long Beach Washington, including fun things to do, Long Beach WA lodging, and our personal tips.
We (Abby and Logan) visit Long Beach often and always enjoy our time here. We have explored the ins and outs of the quiet town and things to do nearby and feel like we have developed a set of local knowledge.
In this article, we are excited to share our knowledge with you about the fun stuff to do in Long Beach WA so you can make the most of your visit!
Long Beach Washington: Brief Overview
Long Beach in Washington is a sleepy beach town on the southern Washington Coast that is largely supported by tourism and seafood economies.
Complete with a variety of cute shops, flavorful eateries, local seafood, and easy beach access, Long Beach is a great place for a coastal getaway, especially to beat the inland heat during summer.
In addition, there are a variety of fun events at Long Beach which brings the town to life, including the largest kite festival in North America and a crazy 4th of July fireworks show.
Let’s quickly cover the basics of visiting Long Beach, Washington, United States in the next few sections. We’ll add more details later in the article.
Long Beach Washington Map
Use the interactive map below to get your bearings and see where things are that are mentioned in this article. You can also expand the map to view in a new window.
Location of Long Beach Washington
Long Beach is located on the southern part of the Washington coast, just north of the mouth of the mighty Columbia River, a river that has played a significant role in shaping the history of Long Beach and surrounding terrain.
The town is located on Long Beach Peninsula Washington with a few other small towns nearby including Ilwaco (primarily a fishing town) and Oysterville.
The table below shows the travel times from major cities to Long Beach.
| City/Town | Distance | Typical Travel Time |
| Astoria, OR | 20 miles | 30 min |
| Portland, OR | 115 miles | 2 hr 10 min |
| Seattle, WA | 170 miles | 3 hr |
| Tacoma, WA | 140 miles | 2 hr 30 min |
Long Beach Washington Things to Do
Long Beach has developed a growing tourism economy in recent decades, with a variety of local businesses offering services to support recreation, dining, and lodging.
| Activity (Click to learn more) | Description |
| Enjoy the beach! | Enjoy miles of drivable and undrivable beach, with several beach access points and a nice boardwalk. Set up for the day! |
| Discover the town! | Stroll the main streets to discover the local atmosphere, bakeries, restaurants, and shops. |
| Explore Cape Disappointment State Park! | Drive or hike this rugged section of the Washington coastline. Discover views of lighthouses, steep cliffs, lush forests, and expansive ocean. |
| Cruise the Discovery Trail! | Rent a bike and cruise a seemingly endless paved path through the sand dunes of the Long Beach Peninsula. |
| Plan an in-town family activity! | Enjoy the arcade, horseback riding on the beach, putt-putt, ice cream stores, or go-carts, among other activities. |
| Savor the local flavors! | Treat your tastebuds to fresh seafood, baked goods, and other local restaurants. |
Everything You Need to Know About Long Beach Washington
In the following sections, we’ll cover the things to do in Long Beach Washington in more detail.
Enjoying the Beach: Long Beach Washington Beach
The beach along the Long Beach peninsula is…long! In fact, there is about 26 miles of sand, ocean, and dune grass to explore. There are several sections of the beach you can drive on (4 wheel drive recommended), and other sections that are off limits to cars.
There are three main “approaches” that you can use to access the beach. At each approach, you can drive onto the beach or park before you hit the sand. Either way, getting to the beach is easy.
Local Tip: A particularly interesting part of the beach is just north of Cape Disappointment State Park where rocky cliffs meet the beach and ocean. This area is called Beard’s Hollow and you can park a short walk away or drive/walk on the beach via the Seaside Approach.
You should also check out the boardwalk that connects the Bolstad approach and Sid Snyder approach right next to Long Beach, which is our go-to route after picking up some fresh doughnuts (more on that later).
Local Tip: Within Cape Disappointment State Park, Waikiki Beach (10 minutes south of Long Beach) is a great beach for kids. There is lots of driftwood for building forts, bathrooms nearby, and a nice viewpoint. This beach is also more protected from the wind and can’t be driven on.
Driving on the beach Long Beach Peninsula
You can only drive on certain parts of the Long Beach Peninsula, and some parts are closed depending on the time of year.
You can drive on these parts of the beach anytime of the year:
- Oysterville approach to Bostad approach
- Seaview approach to Beard’s Hollow
In addition, you can drive on these parts between Labor Day and April 15th:
- Bolstad approach to Seaview approach
- Oysterville approach to Leadbetter State Park
As always, respect these rules and follow the signs you see on the beach. To learn more about driving on the beach, visit the official Long Beach Peninsula webpage.
Explore Cape Disappointment State Park Washington
Just south of Long Beach, at the mouth of the mighty Columbia River, rests the raw and rugged Cape Disappointment State Park.
Cape Disappointment Washington is a memorable natural area is the most southern tip of the Washington Coast, and offers visitors beautiful hiking trails, two impressive lighthouses, expansive coastline views, welcoming beaches, and even a highly rated campground (more on camping options later).
In addition, there are historic military structures that you can explore at Cape Disappointment State Park. It is super interesting to explore these structures and learn about their purpose in the past.
There are lots of fun trails to explore at Cape Disappointment. See the trail map below. We recommend driving to the main trail heads and deciding what looks best for you.
Local tip: You must have a Discovery Pass to access Cape Disappointment. You can purchase a day pass or an annual pass.
Bike the Discovery Trail
The Discovery Trail is a paved path that starts just north of Long Beach, and runs south about 5 miles until it reaches Cape Disappointment State Park.
It is super fun to cruise through the sand dunes and watch the beach grass sway in the wind. We recommend you go south from Long Beach and see if you can make it to Cape Disappointment State Park!
Of course, you can pop out to explore the beach anytime you want! Overall, this is one of the best ways to experience the Long Beach Peninsula.
Local Tip: Check out Beachin Bike Rentals and Tsunami Cycle for bike rental options.
Explore Leadbetter Point State Park
This swampy marshland is a unique landscape to explore. Inhabiting the north end of the Long Beach Peninsula, Leadbetter Point State Park separates Willapa Bay from the expansive Pacific Ocean.
There is a nice loop trail that lets you explore this interesting landscape and become familiar with the tip of the Long Beach Peninsula.
Local Tip: Don’t be surprised if part of the trail is flooded. In fact, the last time we were there we could not do the entire loop because the trail was under 2 feet of water!
Things to do in Town: Long Beach Activities
When you’re not exploring the natural areas near Long Beach Washington, take some time to explore the town itself, which families will find especially accommodating. There are lots of fun activities to explore, regardless of the time of year.
We encourage you to explore Long Beach on your own, and discover it for yourself. However, these are some fun things you might want to add to your list.
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth at Dylan’s Cottage Bakery
This classic bakery is a must-stop when you visit Long Beach. We never miss a chance to enjoy their delicious Apple Fritters, Peanut Butter Dogs, and other amazing baked goods when we are in town.
Your only problem will be having to decide which type of donuts or pastries to get, as there are lots of choices.
Local Tip: We recommend the Apple Fritters, which are dangerously tasty. They also do excellent filled doughnuts like their delicious Peanut Butter Dogs.
Check out the Cranberry Museum
While certainly not the most impressive thing you’ve seen in your life, the Cranberry Museum is a fun local place to check out! The soil and climate of the Long Beach Peninsula creates suitable conditions for growing cranberries.
They have a self-guided walking tour that lets you explore the cranberry bogs. The Cranberry Museum is managed by the Pacific Coast Cranberry Research Foundation, which is a non-profit organization involved in cranberry research and education.
Local Tip: Try some cranberry ice cream in their gift shop!
Beat Your High Score at the Funland Family Fun Center
Funland Long Beach is an arcade with a variety of games and also lazer tag. If you have a kid that likes arcades, don’t miss a chance to stop by. Plus, we could all benefit from an hour or two in an arcade every now and again.
Horseback Riding on the Beach
Have you ever been horseback riding on the beach? If not, this is a great chance to experience it! There are two main companies that offer beach horseback riding: West Coast Horse Rides and Long Beach Family Horse Rides.
Putt-Putt and Go-Karts
Calling all putt-putters and go-karters! There are two putt-putt courses in Long Beach and one go-kart track.
Ice Cream Shops
There are several tasty ice cream shops in Long Beach to try out: Scoopers Market and Sweet Phees are both excellent choices.
Catch a Movie at the Neptune Movie House
We can’t get enough of this small-town movie theater. You can expect a welcoming ambiance and affordable prices.
In fact, we wish we had a movie theater like this where we live in Central Oregon! Overall, we highly recommend Neptune Movie House.
See the World’s Largest Frying Pan
Hold your clams! There is an incredibly large frying pan in Long Beach. While it is quite large (14 feet long with the handle and 9 feet 6 inches wide), it probably isn’t actually the world’s largest frying pan, but who knows for sure! It is fun to see a bit of character in the town.
Catch Dinner: Go Clamming
Razor clams are a popular food you can forage for in Long Beach Washington. They are best eaten fried or in a clam sauce. You can only clam during certain times of the year called clam tides. When the tide brings clams into shore and can be found in the sand of the beach as the tide goes out.
- Get equipment: Head to Dennis Company Ace downtown to pick up a clan gun, a net and maybe even a pair of waders depending on how wet you are ok with getting.
- Check for clam tides: Check online for clam tides. You want to arrive at the beginning of the clam tide. There are only so many clams and the people of the peninsula love clamming.
- Follow regulations: Make sure you have your clamming license and don’t keep more than your limit of clams. Learn more at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife webpage.
Drinking and Dining Long Beach Washington
You won’t go hungry when looking for Long Beach Washington restaurants. There are lots of fresh seafood including crab, oysters, and clams. There is also good Thai, Mexican, and American food.
Restaurants in Long Beach
| Restaurant | Description |
| The Depot | Classy American and seafood. A nice sitdown family dinner. |
| Malai Thai | An excellent and reliable Thai restaurant. We think every town should have one. |
| Castaways | A relaxed American and seafood restaurant. |
| Lost Roo | A family friendly American restaurant. |
| Patty’s Fish Tacos | Highly rated fish tacos! Don’t miss them. |
Bars, Breweries, and Beer in Long Beach
| Location | Description |
| Long Beach Tavern | A classic small town bar with karaoke and pool tables. |
| Worlds End Public House | Tasty pub food and local beer on tap. |
| Salt Hotel Pub and Grub | Salt is a hotel in Ilwaco that also has a restaurant and bar. They have classic pub food and cocktails. |
| North Jetty Brewing | A local brewery that has been in operation since 2012. Their taproom is a nice place to hang out and also has trivia. |
Coffee, Cafes, and Bakeries Long Beach
| Location | Short Description |
| Dylan’s Cottage Bakery | A longstanding bakery with a variety of delicious baked goods, though we end up getting the reliable apple fritter every time. |
| Long Beach Pie Lady | The place to go when you want homemade pie and cinnamon rolls. |
| Ebb Tide Coffeehouse | An excellent coffee house in Ilwaco (10 minutes from Long Beach) that feels like someone’s living room. There are lots of games to play and great coffee! |
| The Great Escape | A drive through coffee shop in Long Beach. Great place to pick up your morning brew. |
| 42nd Street Cafe and Bistro | A laid-back cafe serving breakfast and dinner. Overall, a great sit down restaurant. |
Events in Long Beach WA
Long Beach WA hosts its share of events that bring people together.
Washington State International Kite Festival
Long beach is fortunate to host the Washington State International Kite Festival, which is the longest running and largest kite festival in North America!
Often referred to as “Kite Festival Long Beach WA”, participants and onlookers gather for a full week of kite-related festivities on the Long Beach Peninsula. It is so fun to see the sky and beach full of colorful kites.
Overall, the Washington State International Kite Festival is a great time to plan a summer getaway to Long Beach.
Long Beach Razor Clam Festival
Get a taste of the local flavors and commerce at the Long Beach Razor Clam Festival. Complete with a variety of fun events, this is a great way to learn more about local businesses.
Check out the beer garden, vendors, food trucks, Clam Chowder contest, razor clam digging lessons and live music!
July 4th
Long Beach knows how to throw a 4th of July firework show. We have never seen more fireworks at once than at Long Beach on the 4th of July. No joke!
Each year, people bring dangerous amounts of fireworks and the beach becomes packed with cars and people. As the sun sets, the pops and bangs start and continue for hours into the night.
The people there take their fireworks so seriously, that you can hardly tell when the official Long Beach fireworks show stops and normal people’s fireworks begin.
If you like a fireworks show, make plans to visit Long Beach for the 4th! Be aware, the whole event can be pretty intense.
Sandsations: Sand Sculpting Festival
On a more mellow note, the Sandsations Sand Sculpting Festival is a wholesome way to spend some time in Long Beach.
Talented sand artists showcase their temporary works of art before the beach reclaims its sand to a natural state.
Lodging Long Beach Washington Places to Stay
In between adventures, you’ll need a place to rest your head. An overnight stay in Long Beach will allow you to extend your visit and enjoy a more immersive experience.
Fortunately, there are many excellent options for places to stay in Long Beach Washington, including hotels, home rentals, campgrounds, and RV parks. Let’s explore Long Beach WA accommodations.
Long Beach Hotels Washington State
In this section, we’ll cover the best of Long Beach WA hotels. These hotels in Long Beach Washington State are a great way to make the most of your time in Long Beach. In addition, there are a variety of options for beachfront hotels Long Beach WA.
When thinking about Long Beach hotels in Washington, consider the distance from the beach, on-site amenities, the distance to town as well as the general vibe.
Boardwalk Cottages
A highly rated accommodation option in Long Beach, the Boardwalk Cottages are the go-to of many visitors. With a clean, modern vibe, these welcoming cottages come in different sizes, ranging from studios to a three-bed townhouse with a full kitchen.
Did we mention there is also a sauna? As a sweet touch, they even bring fresh pastries from the Cottage Bakery to your door!
In addition, Boardwalk Cottages is an Adrift Hospitality property and guests can utilize the amenities at Adrift Hotel + Spa, which includes a heated pool, spa, and bike rentals.
These amenities and the beach are just a block away, making Boardwalk Cottages a great option for all visitors including families (even dogs are permitted).
Worldmark Long Beach
Want to be right on the beach? Consider the impressive Worldmark Long Beach which offers ocean views right from your room.
Furthermore, there is a large outdoor pool and hot tub, a game room, and a gym. This is a great option for families as all the amenities you could need are in one place.
Sou’wester Historic Lodge & Vintage Travel Trailer Resort
Looking for something with a bit more character? Check out the Sou’wester Historic Lodge & Vintage Travel Trailer Resort. While it is a mouthful to say, we usually just call it the vintage trailer park when we drive by towards the beach.
This self described “hodgepodge of accommodation types” includes over thirty vintage travel trailers, folksy cabins, lodge suites, and RV/campsites.
The property is cozy and welcoming, featuring fire pits, a peaceful garden, and picnic tables. There is a porch market that sells local wine, beer, and handmade souvenirs and the lodge itself is equally as delightful as the rest.
As if that wasn’t enough, they also have a “garden spa” and sauna as well as a dedicated tea trailer and wellness trailer. Talk about relaxing!
As you can tell, this historic lodge and vintage trailer resort is great for those looking for a relaxing and memorable stay. Keep in mind this is in Seaview, a few minutes down the road from Long Beach proper.
The Fireside Inn
Resting just north of Long Beach, the Fireside Inn brings the heat with electric fireplaces in each room, which is a homey addition to an already welcoming and clean room.
There is also a picnic area outside which is a nice spot to hang out when you’re not at the beach which is just a short walk away. You can tell the owners pride themselves on good service and cleanliness. Overall a solid option for lodging at Long Beach Washington and is canine friendly.
Adrift Hotel
The Adrift Hotel is beachside very close to the town of Long Beach, which makes its great location hard to beat. Furthermore, it is right next to Pickled Fish, a restaurant with large windows overlooking the beach and ocean.
In addition, Adrift has its own distillery which is a plus for cocktail lovers (who isn’t?). The hotel itself has a pool, a spa (with massages…), frequent live music, and modern rooms.
Overall, Adrift Hotel is hard to beat if you like a tasting room, a restaurant, and the beach right next to the hotel!
Inn at Discovery Coast Long Beach WA
The Inn at Discovery Coast is the closest place you can stay to the actual beach. As a result, the ocean views from the rooms are likely the best among all options for Long Beach WA lodging.
With complimentary bike rentals, access to the Adrift Spa (via same company ownership), a sauna and close access to the Pickled Fish restaurant and Adrift Distillery, this is another great option for Long Beach WA hotels on the beach.
Airbnb Long Beach WA
Short term home rentals are another great option for Long Beach WA lodging. These are some of the best options for Long Beach WA vacation rentals. All of these are highly rated Long Beach WA vacation house rentals.
| Airbnb | Description |
| Ocean Front View | Located right on the beach in between the two main approaches. A great option for a whole house. |
| Seagull Soirée Beach Condo | A condo with an excellent beachside location. |
| Ocean Condo | Another great option for lodging in Long Beach WA. |
Campgrounds and RV Parks in Long Beach WA
Cape Disappointment State Park Campground
The official state park campground of Cape Disappointment State Park offers both first-come, first-served biker campsites as well as standard, and hookup sites that accommodate setups of 45 feet or less. In addition, there are also yurts and cabins.
The campground is located right alongside the beach and arranged in a way where the sites feel more private than most campgrounds. The dense forest and underbrush is pleasant to be immersed within.
This campground is the most southern campground on the Washington Coast and is a short drive from Ilwaco and Long Beach. Of course, Cape Disappointment is incredible to explore. In fact, you could definitely spend a week here and not see everything.
Thousand Trails Long Beach
The Thousand Trails Long Beach is a good option for RVers with a membership. The location is great: a short walk from the beach and in between Long Beach and Cape Disappointment.
Amenities include a hot tub, seasonal swimming pool, volleyball, and a playground, among others. In addition to RV sites, there are tent sites and yurts.
Sandcastle RV Park
Sandcastle RV Park is a small facility located just north of Long Beach. This local business is highly rated, and offers full hookup sites, laundry services, internet, as well as nice grass and picnic tables.
Conclusion
We hope you found this information helpful when looking at planning a visit to Long Beach Washington. We have visited Long Beach for many years and are grateful to be able to share our tips with other visitors. We hope you have an amazing time in Long Beach WA!
If you’re curious to explore more, check out our other articles about the Washington Coast and the Oregon Coast. If you’re located in Portland, you might be interested in the best beaches near Portland.
