Let me get the local snobbery out of the way first. Seaside is the Oregon coast town the rest of us love to call “too touristy,” and I’ll be honest, parts of it earn that. Broadway is wall-to-wall saltwater taffy and the same driftwood coasters you’ll see at every coast town from here to Gold Beach. But writing off Seaside entirely is a mistake I made for years, and I was wrong. There’s a gorgeous 1.5-mile Promenade, one of the best coastal hikes in the whole state right out of town (Tillamook Head), and an arcade scene that turns me back into a 12-year-old. I mean that as the highest compliment.
Seaside sits about 80 miles from Portland, roughly a 1.5-hour drive if Highway 26 behaves. It’s one of the closest beaches on the Oregon coast, which is exactly why half of Portland shows up on a sunny Saturday. Crowded? Absolutely. But if you know where to point yourself, there’s a lot to love here.
The short version
Skip Broadway’s taffy traps and head for the edges. The big four are the Promenade, the Tillamook Head hike, the old-school arcades, and the wide-open beach.
- Walk the Proma 1.5-mile paved walkway right along the beach, best early and nearly empty at 7am.
- Hike Tillamook Headold-growth Sitka spruce, a WWII bunker, and ocean views straight out of town.
- Hit the arcadesFunland skee-ball and the vintage carousel; gold whether or not you’ve got kids.
- Get on the beachwide, flat, and great for kite flying, long walks, and a sunset bonfire.
Walk the Promenade
The Promenade (or “the Prom,” if you want to sound like you’ve done this before) is a 1.5-mile paved walkway running right along the beach. It’s one of the best walks on the entire Oregon coast, and I don’t hand that out lightly.
You pass beach houses, little hotels, and benches that look straight out at the Pacific. The south end hits the Turnaround, this big circular monument marking the end of the Lewis and Clark trail. Genuinely cool piece of history, even with a dozen people eating ice cream cones around it. Go early. My husband and I have walked it at 7am with the whole thing nearly to ourselves, and the light is better then anyway.
Hike Tillamook Head Trail
This is the real reason to come. The Tillamook Head Trail is a 6-mile one-way hike (or 12 miles out-and-back) that connects Seaside to Indian Beach in Ecola State Park. You hike through old-growth Sitka spruce, pass the ruins of a WWII radar bunker, and hit ocean views that genuinely stopped me mid-sentence.
Fair warning though. The Ecola State Park end of the trail is currently closed from landslide damage, so you’ll be doing this as an out-and-back from the Seaside trailhead. Still a solid hike. The trailhead is at the south end of town, and you’ll gain about 1,200 feet. Bring layers, and I mean it. It’s often socked in with fog up top even when it’s sunny down on the sand. This is one of the top hikes on the Oregon coast, period.
My pick, favorite thing to do
The Tillamook Head Trail.
This is the real reason to come. You climb through old-growth Sitka spruce, pass a WWII radar bunker, and hit ocean views that genuinely stopped me mid-sentence. With the Ecola end closed, do it as an out-and-back from the south-end trailhead and bring layers, it’s often fogged in up top even when it’s sunny on the sand.
Hit the Arcades
Here’s where Seaside’s touristy reputation actually pays off. The arcade scene is legitimately fun. Funland is the classic, with rows of skee-ball lanes, claw machines, bumper cars, and enough ticket games to vanish a whole afternoon. A block over, the Seaside Carousel Mall is built around a vintage carousel, with shops ringing the ride.
If you’ve got kids, this is absolute gold. If you don’t have kids, it’s still gold. Nobody is judging you for playing skee-ball at 35. I speak from recent, repeated experience. These places aren’t fancy or modern, and that is the entire point. They’ve still got that old boardwalk energy that most coast towns traded in for boutique candle shops years ago.
My pick, best for families and kids
The arcades.
If you’ve got kids, this is absolute gold. Funland has rows of skee-ball lanes, claw machines, bumper cars, and enough ticket games to vanish a whole afternoon, and the Carousel Mall’s vintage carousel is right around the corner. It’s the old boardwalk energy most coast towns traded in years ago.
The Beach Itself
Seaside’s beach is wide, flat, and honestly beautiful. It’s great for kite flying, long walks, and just sitting and watching the waves. The beach itself doesn’t care about the souvenir shops behind it. It’s the same wild Pacific that you’ll find at any Oregon beach.
Bonfires are allowed in designated areas (check with the city for current rules). A sunset bonfire is one of the best free things you can do on this whole stretch. One favor though. Bring your own wood from the grocery store rather than gathering driftwood. Future you, and the beach, will thank you.
Where to Eat in Seaside
Skip the tourist traps on Broadway. Seriously, just keep walking. Here’s where locals actually eat:
Osprey Cafe is the local favorite, and it isn’t on the main drag, which is exactly why it’s good. Solid breakfast and lunch, reasonable prices, and you won’t be wedged next to someone wearing an “I Survived Seaside” t-shirt.
Tsunami Sandwich Company is exactly what it sounds like. Unpretentious sandwiches that are actually good. Perfect for grabbing lunch before a hike or a beach afternoon. Don’t overthink it.
Walk to Gearhart
Here’s a secret that isn’t much of a secret anymore. Walk 15 minutes north on the beach from Seaside and you’re in Gearhart, which is basically the anti-Seaside. Quiet, residential, gorgeous beach, no arcades, no taffy. Just houses, dunes, and ocean.
This is where Portland people quietly stay when they come to this stretch of coast. If you want the north coast without the crowds, Gearhart is your answer. Stop by McMenamins Sand Trap pub while you’re there (yes, it’s attached to a golf course, and yes, the food is good). It’s one of those charming Oregon coast towns that flies completely under the radar.
Day Trip or Overnight?
Seaside works beautifully as a day trip from Portland. About 1.5 hours each way via Highway 26 (the Sunset Highway). You can pair it with Cannon Beach, just 15 minutes south, for a full coast day. That’s honestly the ideal plan. Arcades and the Promenade in Seaside, then Haystack Rock and galleries in Cannon Beach.
If you’re staying overnight, my advice is to book in Gearhart or Cannon Beach instead of Seaside itself. Quieter night, and you’re still minutes from everything Seaside has. For a bigger Oregon coast road trip, you could also add Astoria (30 minutes north) and make a full weekend of it.
For more ideas up and down the coast, here’s our guide to the best things to do at the Oregon coast. Bringing the pup? Read up on dogs on Oregon beaches first. And if you’re still mapping the drive, see exactly how far the Oregon coast is from Portland with our full driving guide.
FAQ
Is Seaside, Oregon worth visiting?
Yes, but walk in with the right expectations. If you’re after a quiet, quaint beach town, Seaside isn’t it. But if you want a fun, energetic coast town with a great beach, an excellent paved promenade, solid arcades, and one of the best coastal hikes in Oregon starting right from town, it’s absolutely worth the trip. Just skip Broadway’s tourist traps and explore the edges.
How far is Seaside from Portland?
Seaside is about 80 miles from Portland, roughly 1.5 hours to drive via Highway 26 (the Sunset Highway). It’s one of the closest Oregon coast towns to Portland, which is exactly why it’s popular. On summer weekends, plan for closer to 2 hours thanks to traffic. Learned that one the hard way.
Is Seaside or Cannon Beach better?
Different vibes entirely. Seaside is the lively, family-friendly, arcade-and-taffy town. Cannon Beach is the quieter, artsy, gallery-and-wine town with Haystack Rock. Most locals will tell you Cannon Beach is “nicer,” and they’re not wrong. But Seaside has its own charm if you’re not trying to be too cool for skee-ball. Honestly, the best move is to visit both, since they’re only 15 minutes apart.
Seaside gets a bad rap from us Oregon locals, but I secretly love the arcades. What’s your take? Drop a comment below. Until next time, Antonina.
Quick Tips
- It's one of the best walks on the entire Oregon coast, and I don't say that lightly.
- If you don't have kids, it's still gold.
- Bonfires are allowed in designated areas (check with the city for current rules).
- Bring your own wood from the grocery store rather than gathering driftwood.
- Skip the tourist traps on Broadway.
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