
If you do overnight and prefer staying at a cabin or yurt instead of a tent or RV, many state parks along the Oregon Coast can help with that desire, too. In other words, you can spend the day at one park or travel to several in one day and pay NOTHING. One of the best pieces of news regarding Oregon state parks is that most do not charge a fee for day-use.

Many parks are found near or along beaches, providing wading, swimming, tide pooling, fishing, and boating activities for you and your dog. Whether you enjoy camping, hiking, picnicking, bike riding, outdoor photography, even whale watching, state parks along the coast will satisfy your appetite. Oregon boasts 255 state parks, making it one of the best places for outdoor enthusiasts. Bureau of Land Management and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and is also a popular bird watching spot. Several pull-outs allow excellent photo opportunities. The Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area near Reedsport is year-round home to a herd of 60 to 100 Roosevelt elk the animals are visible almost daily due to the rich forage of the area. You might spot various types of birds and mammals, including herons, gulls, and other birds, as well as ground squirrels, tree squirrels, and elk. You can also wildlife watch on your own, with your dog by your side, simply by driving coastal Highway 101. According to, dogs are allowed on some of these adventures. Additionally, guided tours from Northwest EcoTours, also out of Newport, takes people on tidal and forest excursions. Companies like Marine Discovery Tours out of the mid-coastal town of Newport takes boat tours onto the ocean, searching for whales, porpoises, seals, sea lions, bald eagles, and other species. Gray whales can be seen from the shoreline year-round, but a week during winter and another in early spring provide even more opportunities to view these massive migrating marine mammals. The State Parks Department employs a program called Whale Watching Spoken Here, by which volunteers spread out across 24 sites along the coast and engage with and educate visitors about the whales seen along the Oregon Coast. Marine mammals like whales and sea lions are often spotted from observation points along the coastal highway. Various types of wildlife can be found throughout the Oregon Coast, including squirrels like this one at state parks.

Here are ten ways you and your dog can enjoy the Oregon Coast together:

Rocks, waves, and sometimes mist, welcome visitors to Oregon’s Pacific Coast. If you’re looking for a special place to travel with your pup, the Beaver State should be on your list. From trails and beaches to restaurants and lodging facilities, dog-parents find the welcome mat rolled out for their canines. Like Colorado, Oregon is among the top ten states in America noted for its pet-friendliness. Picnic areas, campgrounds, lighthouses, hiking trails and small communities abound along this stretch of road, welcoming visitors – and their dogs – to the majestic Oregon Coast. A highway twists and turns for more than 360 miles north and south. White gulls hover over waves and wade through shallow tidal pools. Sandy beaches expose seashells of varying colors, shapes and sizes. Ocean waves crash against rocky shorelines.
