Your Guide to the Dog-Friendly Oregon Coast: Astoria to Cannon Beach on the 101
Seattle to the Oregon coast is one of my favorite road trips, and my dog agrees. It's about a three-and-a-half hour drive down from Seattle to Astoria, and once you hit the coast, the trip goes by quick. The stretch from Astoria down to Cannon Beach is the real highlight of the trip: the road hugs the Pacific the whole way, and most beaches along it let dogs romp leash-free as long as they're under voice control. Here's how I'd spend it.
Start in Astoria
After the drive down, let your dog stretch out at the fully fenced Warrenton Dog Park at Eben H. Carruthers Memorial Park, which has separate areas for large and small dogs, plus waste bags and fresh water on site.
For food, my favorite is The Green Door. It's a great first stop after a long drive.
Fort Stevens State Park
Fort Stevens is a 4,300-acre park with beach access, trails, and a military museum, and dogs are welcome throughout, though they need to stay on leash. The must-see is the Wreck of the Peter Iredale, a ship that ran aground in 1906 and is still sitting in the sand. It's an easy, flat walk and a great photo op with your dog. If you want to camp here overnight, note there may be an added pet fee, so call ahead.
Sunset Beach
Just south of Fort Stevens, this spacious, drive-on beach lets dogs run off-leash. A good, lower-key spot to let your dog stretch out before the next leg of the drive.
Seaside
A fun mid-point stop, and dog-friendly through and through. Walk the Seaside Promenade, a 1.5-mile paved boardwalk along the oceanfront, or let your dog run off-leash on Seaside Beach for round two.
Ecola State Park
One of the most scenic stops on the drive, sitting right between Seaside and Cannon Beach. Dogs are welcome on leash on the trails and at the viewpoints. Ecola Point is the easiest and most photographed, with views of Haystack Rock and the coastal mountains. There's a $5–10 day-use parking fee per vehicle.
Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach has a reputation as one of the most dog-friendly coastal towns in Oregon, and once you're there, it's obvious why. The beach itself is the big draw, home to Haystack Rock, and dogs are welcome to walk the sand with you. After a long drive from Seattle and a full day of exploring, this is a great place to let the trip slow down.
For food, grab something from Sea Level Bakery. It's become a non-negotiable stop for me every time I'm in town. And no trip to Cannon Beach is complete without a corn dog from Pronto Pup, a local institution since the 1930s. For dinner or a drink, Public Coast Brewing is also a solid dog-friendly stop for a pint and a bite after a day on the beach.
Where to stay
My pick here is Beaches Inn. I stayed there recently with Mac and loved it. Plenty of room for him to stretch out, and we even had frogs and elk wandering through the yard. It's a good option if you want your dog (or you) to have more space.
If you'd rather break up the drive and stay in Astoria instead, Motel 6 never charges a pet fee, or if you want something nicer, the Astoria Riverwalk Inn and the Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa both welcome dogs. The Cannery Pier even sends up a basket of pet treats along with a dog bed, water dish, and waste bags.
A few practical notes before you go
Know before you go. Fort Stevens and Ecola both require dogs on leash, no exceptions. Sunset Beach and Seaside Beach are more relaxed and allow off-leash play as long as your dog is under voice control.
Bring your own water. A lot of the beaches on this list don’t have working fountains.