The city of Pacific City Oregon offers a variety of fun activities. From the Pacific City beach to local dining to nearby natural areas and ample places to stay in Pacific City, this cozy beach town is worth a visit.
If you’re looking for what to do in Pacific City Oregon, you’re in the right place! In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about planning a trip to Pacific City, including fun activities, places to eat, and Pacific City accommodations.
Pack your sense of adventure and let’s get into everything you need to know about visiting Pacific City Oregon.
Oregon Coast Pacific City Oregon Overview
Pacific City Oregon is a small and welcoming beach town with a resident population of just over 1,100. Each summer, lots of people enjoy visiting Pacific City for vacation.
Pacific City is about 2 hours from Portland, 1.5 hours from Corvallis, and 1 hour 15 minutes from Salem. As a result, Pacific City makes for a great day trip, but a more immersive overnight stay is also excellent!
Furthermore, there are ample accommodations Pacific City has to offer, including hotels, resorts, RV parks, and home rentals. It’s easy to find a great place to stay in Pacific City.
Pacific City Oregon Map
Things to do Pacific City Oregon
There is no shortage of fun things to do in Pacific City. Check out these Pacific City Oregon activities.
Discover the Amazing Pacific City Oregon Beach
The Pacific City beach is accessible and beautiful. In fact, there is the stunning offshore Haystack Rock (not to be confused with the one in Cannon Beach) and the beautiful Cape Kiwanda (more on that later).
Long story short, it is super fun to walk along the Pacific City Oregon beach and take in the views. In fact, you can walk up to 4 miles one-way along the beach. There is lots of public parking right near Cape Kiwanda and the Pelican Pub. There are also public restrooms.
Local Tip: You can wash off the sand in hot outdoor showers behind the Pelican Pub!
Explore Cape Kiwanda Pacific City Oregon
Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City is an incredible natural area right next to Pacific City, known most notably for a massive sand dune that you can hike up (if you dare!). Don’t worry: the views from the top are well worth the effort.
In addition, there are a variety of other viewpoints of the unique sandstone cliffs and the ocean beyond. Cape Kiwanda is a must-see when you visit Pacific City.
Local Tip: Explore the tidepools at the base of the large sand dune. Careful for sneaker waves! Also, don’t forget to run down the sand dune from the top.
Enjoy Great Food and Drink: Pacific City Restaurants, Cafes, and Bars
There are a variety of great flavors to explore in Pacific City.
Coffee, Cafes, Bakeries in Pacific City
For your morning coffee and pastries, check out Stimulus Coffee + Bakery, Grateful Dead Bakery, Village Coffee Shop, or Cold Water & Coffee.
Restaurants in Pacific City
For lunch and dinner, check out Pelican Brewing (the famous beach-side restaurant and brewery), Ben and Jeff’s Burgers and Taco’s (solid burritos), Doryland Pizza, The Riverhouse Nestucca (excellent sit down dining), or Meridian Restaurant and Bar (dinner with an ocean view!).
Local Brews and Wine
It is a must to try out local beer on tap at Pelican Brewery. Grab a beer and sit outside on their beach-side patio (especially great at sunset). PC Pour is a solid wine bar just a few steps from the beach. Twist Wine Company has an excellent wine and beer selection from local and regional producers.
Get your paddle on: Kayaking Pacific City Oregon
The Nestucca River meanders right through Pacific City and is super fun to explore by kayak or stand up paddleboard. Check out Nestucca Adventures. They have a variety of rental options and are located right on the Nestucca River. This is a great way to spend a few hours and is great for families.
If you brought your own craft, you can launch from Tillamook County Boat Landing or Fishers Point Boat Launch.
Horseback Riding Pacific City Oregon
Another fun family activity is Pacific City Oregon horseback riding on the beach! Check out the highly rated Moes Beach and Trail Rides and Green Acres Beach and Trail Ride.
Catch a wave: Go Surfing at Pacific City
As surfers ourselves, we have surfed at Pacific City many times. It is one of many great places to surf in Oregon. Surfing is so much fun and we highly recommend trying it at least a few times in your life.
Local Tip: You can take surf lessons in Pacific City at Moment Surf Company, which also does rentals as well.
Explore Bob Straub State Park
Bob Straub State Park is a beautiful section of the Oregon Coast just south of Pacific City. This park is excellent for easy beach access, long walks on the beach, exploring sand dunes, and hiking. We love this park and feel it is a quintessential Oregon Coast beach area.
Drive on McPhillips Beach
Enjoy the ability to drive on the beach at McPhillips Beach. One of the limited areas on the Oregon Coast that you can drive, McPhillips beach is a lesser known gem where you can get away from the more popular Pacific City beach. Of course, make sure you have 4 wheel drive and are comfortable with beach driving.
Book a Pacific City Dory Fishing Guide
One of our favorite memories in Pacific City is booking a dory fishing guide. Pacific City dory fishing is a commercial livelihood of many fisher folk. Some of them offer guiding services that take you out fishing and crabbing on the boat. This is a great family activity especially if there is an angler in the group.
Dory boats launch from the beach and come in on the beach as well, which is super fun to see and even more fun to experience for yourself. We had a great time with Joe Hay from Haystack Fishing and would recommend his company to others! He even processed all the fresh fish and crab we got, then packaged it up for us. So great!
Shopping in Pacific City Oregon
Although Pacific City is a small town, there are still some great options for Pacific City Oregon shopping. Check out the following options for shopping in Pacific City Oregon.
| Shop | Description |
| Moment Surf Company | Surf shop with surf gear and clothing. |
| Library Thrift Shop | Small town thrift shop equals fun picking! |
| Lucky Beach Boutique | Women’s clothing boutique store. |
| Ritual97135 Apothecary & Candelarium LLC | Home goods, jewelry, raw stones, candles, soaps, clothing, etc. |
Places to Stay in Pacific City
In between all those fun activities, you’ll need a place to rest your head. There are a variety of lodging Pacific City Oregon options. You can choose between hotels, resorts, RV parks, and home rentals when choosing from Pacific City Oregon places to stay.
Inn at Cape Kiwanda Pacific City Oregon
Located within a short walk from the beach and right next to restaurants and a cafe, the Inn at Cape Kiwanda is centralized in an ideal location for exploring Pacific City.
Settle into rooms with ocean views within walking distance of the Pelican Pub, Stimulus Coffee + Bakery, and other places to eat. With a 4.5 star rating on Google, Inn at Cape Kiwanda is a favorite of many visitors.
Surf and Sand Inn Pacific City Oregon
Surf and Sand Pacific City Oregon (also referred to as Sand and Surf Pacific City) is a highly rated, reasonably priced, and longstanding (since 1940s) option for lodging in Pacific City.
The rooms are cozy and clean. In addition there are a few cafes, restaurants, and shops nearby, as well as a 5 minute walk to the beach. As a result, Surf and Sand Inn is one of the best places to stay in Pacific City.
Headlands Lodge Pacific City Oregon
If a more upscale option is calling your name, look no further than Headlands Lodge (often shortened to Headlands Pacific City).
Complete with beachside rooms, an ideal location, a restaurant, fitness center, spa, yoga studio, outdoor hot tub, and dog-friendly accommodations, Pacific City Headlands Lodge has everything you could ask for and more.
Keep in mind: you might also hear Headlands Lodge referred to as “the Cottages at Cape Kiwanda Pacific City Oregon” or “Pacific City Cape Kiwanda Cottages”.
Hudson House Bed and Breakfast Pacific City Oregon
A short 6 minute drive in the countryside outside of Pacific City, Hudson House Bed and Breakfast feels more like staying at your grandma’s house than a hotel in that it is a quaint old house run by an amazing woman named Irma.
This memorable and unique bed and breakfast near Pacific City Oregon is homey, relaxing, and worthy of its highly rated reputation. Consider staying at the Hudson House, to get off the beaten path of places to stay in Pacific City Oregon.
Anchorage Motel Pacific City Oregon
Anchorage Motel is an affordable and highly rated motel Pacific City is lucky to have. There are restaurants and the beach is a short 5 minute walk away.
This family owned motel has clean rooms stocked with basics and is a great option for families. They even have pet friendly rooms.
Cape Kiwanda RV Park Pacific City Oregon
The Pacific City Cape Kiwanda RV Park is an all-in-one accommodation option, offering RV sites, van and tent sites, cottages, cabins, and amenities such as a swimming pool, hot tub, putting course, and bike rentals.
Cape Kiwanda RV Park is also centrally located near the beach, restaurants, and a cafe. This is a great option for those with RVs wanting to stay in a great location with lots of amenities.
Pacific City Oregon Thousand Trails
The popular Pacific City 1000 Trails is a one-stop-shop for RVers visiting Pacific City. In fact, visitors enjoy amenities like a pool, billiards game room, pickleball, mini golf, and more.
In addition to RV sites, they also have cabins, yurts, and cottages, some of which are pet friendly. Keep in mind it is a 6 minute drive to Pacific City proper, but the beach is within walking distance.
Other Tips Planning Your Visit to Pacific City
If you have heard anything about the Oregon coast, it’s that it can be beautiful; that is, when it is not raining or windy.
Summer on the Oregon Coast is typically the best time to visit, as the weather is actually pretty sunny, although you should still expect wind, and rain is still possible. That said, there are often nice days during spring and fall, though they become fewer and farther between during winter.
Pacific City Oregon FAQ
Is Pacific City Oregon worth visiting?
Of course! There are so many fun things to do in Pacific City, including exploring the beach, hiking the Cape Kiwanda sand dune, or enjoying a beer at the beachside Pelican Brewery.
What is Pacific City known for?
Pacific City Oregon is known for easy beach access, impressive oceanside views, excellent restaurants and cafes, lots of accommodation options.
Is Lincoln City or Pacific City better?
Both are great! You will have to visit both and decide for yourself. Lincoln City is larger and has more restaurants, shops, and accommodation options.
Is Pacific City Oregon a good place to live?
Pacific City is a small town on the Oregon Coast, which means rainy and windy winters which can be tough. That said, sunny summers and a laid back vibe are appealing to many.
Can you see Haystack Rock from Pacific City?
There is a rock called Haystack Rock that you can see from the beach at Pacific City. It is quite an impressive site to witness, especially as the sun sets behind it.
What is the best month to visit the Oregon coast?
The best time to visit the Oregon Coast is in the summer when the weather is more fair and exploring the outdoors is more enjoyable. That said, accommodation is more affordable in the off-season, but expect frequent windy and rainy days.
Can you drive on the beach at Pacific City?
You can drive on McPhillips Beach, just north of Pacific City.
Are there 2 haystack rocks in Oregon?
Yes! There is a haystack rock at Cannon Beach and one at Pacific City! They are both equally impressive, but the one at Cannon Beach is closer to the beach.
What river runs through Pacific City Oregon?
The Nestucca River runs through Pacific City. It has opportunities for kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, and hiking.
How big is Pacific City?
Pacific City has a population of about 1,300 people in 2023. That said, Pacific City is a small town and feels like it. Keep in mind, tourism is a big industry in Pacific City Oregon, and many people visit during the summer months.
Conclusion
Hopefully you found this article helpful when planning a visit to Pacific City Oregon. We love visiting Pacific City and usually make it out there at least once a year. If you haven’t visited already, plan a trip to Pacific City!
If you are coming from Portland, consider visiting other beaches near Portland. There is so much to explore on the Oregon coast.
