Oregon Coast on the Cheap

So the Adventure Begins…

Last year my sister-in-law mentioned that she wanted to go to the Oregon Coast. Since then I have had a burning desire to get up there for a trip!

With our fifth wedding anniversary coming up we had the perfect excuse to go, only one problem. We had no money. Then one day I stumbled across round trip tickets to Portland for $96. They were meant for me, I was sure of it. So I did what any self-respecting person would do; I bought two plane tickets and never looked back.

In this post I will talk about how we spent less than $1000 on our five day trip to Oregon. Hopefully, you will not only get some epic ideas for your own trip to Oregon, but will see that a little gumption and creativity can go a long way in helping you travel more.

Covid-19 Disclaimer: This post was written in 2019 before all the fun of Covid-19. Before you plan your trip be sure to check the Oregon State Health Department website and the Travel Oregon website for the most up-to-date Covid-19 information. Happy travels!

Table of Contents

Where and When to Go

Flights and Car Rentals on a Dime

Places to Stay on the Cheap

All the Things to Do, See, and Eat

Gear to Bring

Oregon Coast on the Cheap

The majority of the information I am going to provide to you is focused on the Oregon Cost. However, we also spent some time in the Columbia River Gorge. That information has been included as well.

My one recommendation is that if you are going to be in Oregon for only 5 days pick just one destination: either the coast or Portland/Columbia River Gorge. Trying to do both in five days is a little much. My vote would be for the coast. Believe me, you won’t regret it!

Where and When to go

The Oregon Coast is one large expanse of land, running 363 miles from northern California to the border of Washington. There are many, many places you can go on the Oregon coast. For this post we are going to focus on the north coast area, namely the area surrounding the infamous Cannon Beach.

Dustin and I traveled to Oregon August 20-24, 2019. This was due to Dustin’s school schedule, with that week being the only break he had between semesters. However, the best time to travel to the Oregon coast is early fall, September thru mid-October. Not only will you beat the summer crowds, but the coast experiences a “second summer” with nice warm temperatures.

Flights and Car Rentals on a Dime

As we all know half the battle to cheap travel is finding affordable air fare. While driving is often more affordable than flying, sometimes (like us) you don’t have the luxury of time that a road trip requires.

However, while flying is convenient it brings with it another associated cost: car rental. To mitigate those costs, let’s talk about where you can find the best deals:

Cheap Airfare

For our plane tickets, I found a killer deal from Flights From Home. She posts cheap flights from Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City. We were able to get our tickets for $96 apiece and they were none stop flights! She has some amazing deals so if you live in the west I would definitely recommend following her on Instagram @flightsfromhome.

Other sites to look at for cheap fares are:

STA Travel: If you are under the age of 26 or a full-time student this is the best place to look for killer deals!!

Skyscanner: This is not a booking site but a search engine that helps you find the cheapest flights. Another fun feature it has is the “Everywhere Search”. It allows you to type in your home airport and travel dates and it will find all the cheap flights leaving from your area.

Google Flights: Google Flights is especially nice if you have flexible travel dates. Once you enter your destination it will bring up the different fare prices by the day of the week. It makes finding cheap flights super easy! Thank you Google!

Cheap Car Rentals

If your plan is to fly into Portland and spend time on the coast then you are going to need a rental car. The dilemma is, that can add up quickly. When I looked into a five day car rental from the airport it was $391.63?! With a budget of only $1000 there was no way we could spend almost half of it on a car rental.

So what did we do (and what should you do)? We got a car rental from an Enterprise located in downtown Portland. Why?! Because Portland has awesome public transportation. It was easy and cheap to jump on the TriMet ($5 per person one way) at the airport and head downtown to our car rental. Granted we had to walk 10 min to the Enterprise but it makes for a good story, right?!

With us renting our car downtown we only spent $164.74. That is a savings of $226.89. Totally worth the 10 min walk in my book!

You will obviously want to look for the best rate but here are a couple of car rental sites in Portland that are close to TriMet stations:

Enterprise Car Rental: 1623 W Burnside Street (4 min walk)

Enterprise Car Rental: 445 SW Pine Street (5 min walk)

Hertz Car Rental: 330 SW Pine Street (5 min walk)

Enterprise Car Rental: 611 E Burnside Street (10 min walk)

Once you find your smokin deal you can use TriMet’s Trip Planner to figure out how to get there via public transportation.

Places to Stay on the Cheap

Here is where the story gets interesting. Due to my procrastination, by the time I got around to planning the trip, all the affordable accommodations were taken. The cheapest place I could find was $150 a night. Multiply that by 4 and there goes our entire budget.

When I realized my error I was super distraught, but Dustin had a great idea. He suggested we just camp while we were in Oregon. We have the gear and figured we could fit all of it in one checked bag.

If camping sounds super awesome to you I will give you all the details. Even if you don’t have camping gear don’t fret, there are options to rent gear.

If camping is not your cup of tea then I have listed some affordable places to stay near Cannon Beach (just remember to book early!)

Camping

The best thing about camping is how beautifully cheap it is. Remember how I said that at the time I was making reservations there was nothing cheaper than $150 a night? Well once we switched gears to camping I was able to book all our sites, for the whole week, for only $146. I don’t know about you, but that makes my little frugal heart sing!!

There are a couple of places you can camp along the North Coast that are near Cannon Beach:

Wright’s For Camping

Nehalem Bay State Park

Sea Ranch RV Park & Stables

We chose to camp at Nehalem Bay State Park mostly due to availability and price. Here are the things I liked and disliked about Nehalem.

Likes

As far as locations go, Nehalem Bay State Park is close to a lot of beautiful attractions, hikes and beaches. It also has its own beach that you can walk to from the campground, plus showers and flush toilets.

Dislikes

The main thing I didn’t like about Nehalem Bay State Park was how small the campsites are. I think it is an Oregon State Park thing, because the other state park we stayed at near Multnomah Falls also had TINY sites. We didn’t spend a lot of time at our campground but if you have loud neighbors, that like to stay up late, it can be not so fun!

VRBO

I am a huge fan of VRBO over hotels because you can buy groceries for breakfast and lunch and cut down on cost. Below are some nice VRBOs I found in the North Coast area. If you want to make it even cheaper invite some friends to come along and split the cost.

This cute little house is only $70/per night. It has 1 bedroom/1 bath.

This little cottage is only $86 per/night. It has 1 bedroom/1 bath.

This gray house is only $92 per/night and it has two bedrooms/two baths. Great for two couples to share!

“Salt House” is only $108 per/night. It has 2 bedrooms/2 baths and is newly remolded. Another fun one for friends to share.

All the Things to Do, See and Eat

Now we get into the good stuff!!! When Dustin and I were planning our trip I was bound and determined to spend as little as possible on accommodations, flights and car rental so we could have plenty of money for awesome activities and tasty food. Two of my most favorite things! Below is our trip itinerary plus some additional recommendations.

Day One

We landed in PDX at 9:30 am on Tuesday morning. Once we picked up our luggage, we caught the TriMet red line and headed to our car rental. We then headed out of Portland towards the coast.

Along the way we stopped at Cornelius Pass Roadhouse for lunch. It is located in Hillsboro, OR and is right off the freeway. Of all the food we ate on the trip this was probably our most favorite meal. Their fries are to die for, it is reasonably priced, and as a former farming homestead there are lots of fun old buildings to checkout.

From there we headed down the street to Wal-Mart and to pick up groceries for our trip. We purchased snacks, breakfast food and ingredients for sack lunches. We spent about $60 on groceries and could have gotten by on less if we had chosen cheaper snack options.

From there you can head straight to the coast which is about an hour and 20 min drive or you can take a more scenic route. Since we couldn’t check into our campground until 4 pm we chose to take the scenic route.

We drove down through Tillamook State Forest and even stopped for a hike at one of the campgrounds along the way.

As we exited Tillamook State Forest we happily found ourselves right by the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Definitely a good pit stop with their tasty cheese samples, self-guided factory tour and famous ice cream.

From there we had a scenic drive up the coast to the Cannon Beach area. It was a relaxing way to start the trip and I am so glad we took the detour.

When we arrived in Manzanita (which is the city nearest Nehalem Bay State Park) we stopped at the Manzanita Market to get some sandwiches from their deli and to buy some firewood.

After setting up camp and eating dinner we ended up spending the evening exploring the Nehalem Bay State Park beach. Enjoying the salty air, cold water and sunset was a wonderful way to end the first day of our trip.

Day Two

On the second day of the trip we dedicated our time to exploring Ecola State Park. This is a must see and at only $5 per vehicle for entrance there is no reason to pass it up.

Day two was our rainy day of the trip so we didn’t have to fight crowds. But if you are going to be visiting Ecola State Park on a sunny day, I would recommend getting there early. Parking is limited and it is a popular destination.

The first recommended stop in the park is Ecola Point. This is the most southern point of the park and it the closest to the park entrance. From Ecola Point you can see Crescent Beach to the south and Terrible Tilly (Tillamook Rock Lighthouse) to the north. There is also a grassy area with picnic tables that makes a great lunch spot in good weather.

Some things you can do at Ecola Point are:

Hike to Crescent Beach: It is about a 1.25 mile hike from Ecola Point to the beach. The hike and the beach are breathtaking and everything you would imagine the Oregon Coast to be.

Hike to Indian Beach: I was told that this hike is also amazing. Unfortunately part of the trail washed out in 2017 and so it was closed when we were there. Be sure to check to see if it is open if you get a chance to visit.

The second stop you will want to check out is the Indian Beach Day Use Area. You can drive (or hike – if trail is open) over to it.

Things to do at Indian Beach:

Stroll on Indian Beach: It is a quick walk from the parking lot down to Indian Beach. There are tide pools you can explore during low tide. You will want to check the tide tables before your visit.

Clatsop Loop Trail: This hike is 2.8 miles long. It is part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. You can find the trail head on the south side of the Indian Beach parking lot. It winds through a Sitka spruce forest up to Hiker’s Camp. Once you get to Hiker’s Camp you can continue on for a short distance to an overlook where you can see the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse. To make a complete loop you will then follow the Oregon Coast Trail along the coast back to the parking lot.

Tillamook Trail Head: If you are looking for a longer hike, from Hiker’s Camp you can hike an additional four miles to North Tillamook Head Trail parking area in Seaside.

After spending the day at Ecola State Park we headed to Cannon Beach. We spent the evening drying off, getting some dinner and exploring the town. Some ways you can spend your evening after exploring Ecola State Park are:

Activities

Cannon Beach Book Company: Who doesn’t enjoy browsing through an inviting book shop?!

Bonfire on the Beach: Fires are permitted on Cannon Beach; however, it is illegal to burn driftwood. You can get supplies at Mariner Market.

Hug Point State Park: Located near Cannon Beach it is an awesome place to explore tide pools and caves. Once again don’t forget to check the tide tables before heading over.

Short Sands Beach via Cape Falcon: If you aren’t hiked out you can check out Short Sands Beach in Oswald State Park. There is no entrance fee and it is only about 1.7 miles round trip. We ended up doing this hike after exploring Cannon Beach and fell in love!

Food

My cousin who frequently travels to Cannon Beach recommended the below restaurants. She also cautioned that most restaurants have a midweek day that they are closed, so plan accordingly.

Tom’s Fish and Chips: Dustin and I ate here and thought it was tasty. It is a fast food restaurant so the prices are cheap and they have great fish and burgers.

The Irish Table: This restaurant is a little more pricey than Tom’s. My cousin recommended the Vegetarian Shepherds Pie. In the mornings they open as the Sleepy Monk Coffee Shop. It is a great place to sit on the porch and have delicious cup of hot chocolate or coffee.

Lazy Susan: If you are staying near Cannon Beach and looking for a breakfast place this is the place to eat.

Cannon Beach Chocolate Cafe: They have delicious milkshakes, cookies and handcrafted chocolates. Dustin, who is an ice cream connoisseur, said it was the best chocolate milkshake he has ever had!

Day Three

This was our beach day. Now many people will tell you that you don’t go to the Oregon Coast to swim, surf or bodyboard, but I beg to differ. With the right kind of equipment you can have a TON of fun at the beach.

Dustin and I really wanted to try surfing lessons, but due to our budget it just wasn’t in the cards. However, if you have a little extra change I would highly recommend checking out Oregon Surf Adventures.

What we ended up doing was going bodyboarding. We rented bodyboards, wet suits, booties, and gloves at Cleanline Surf Company in Cannon Beach. Our original plan was to go to Cannon Beach and bodyboard there, but they recommended going to Indian Beach or Short Sands Beach. Since we hiked to Short Sands Beach the night before and saw how beautiful it was, we decided to go back. Plus it is FREE 🙂

If you hike from the Short Sands Beach trail head (vs. the Cape Falcon trail head) it is only about 1 mile. There is even a paved trail from the east parking lot, if you want to bring your beach wagon or stroller.

If you aren’t up for bodyboarding or surfing I would still recommend Short Sands Beach as a place to spend the day at the beach.

Sadly for us the end of day three, was the end of our time on the coast. Due to my procrastination I was unable to get a campsite for the weekend, so we spent the rest of our trip in the Columbia River Gorge. We were seriously so sad to leave and if I could have done it over again we would have spent our entire time on the coast.

Recommendations

For those of you that are smart enough to get accommodations for the whole week on the coast, here are some additional activities and sights you can see:

Horseback Riding on the Beach: Did you know there is a stable at Nehalem Bay State Park!? Who hasn’t always dreamed of horseback riding on the beach? Um, yes please!!

Fort Steven State Park: About a 30 min drive from Cannon Beach you can see the historic shipwreck, of The Peter Irdale.

Dig for Razor Clams in Seaside: Seaside has some of the best clamming beaches on the coast. Try some fresh razor clams for dinner!

Astoria, OR: About a 40 min drive north of Cannon Beach is Astoria. You can go to the Columbia River Maritime Museum, Oregon Film Museum (especially if you are a Goonies Fan), and Astoria Column.

Columbia River Gorge

As I mentioned we ended up spending the tail end of our trip at the Columbia River Gorge. If you have time to check out the Columbia River Gorge while in Oregon here are some recommendations:

Accommodations

We stayed at Ainsworth State Park which was only 5 minutes from Multnomah Falls. If you end up camping there be sure to bring ear plugs. There is a lot of highway and train noise throughout the night.

Activities

Drive the Historic Columbia River Highway: It is a beautiful drive and a great way to see the Columbia River Gorge area. Make sure to check out Portland’s Women Forum Scenic Viewpoint and Vista House.

Wahkeena Falls Loop Trail: This is a 4.6 mile loop that begins at the famous Multnomah Falls. If you plan on getting to Multnomah Falls early (like 7 am) then you can find parking right at the base of the falls. We got there at 7 am on a Friday and there was only one other car there. When we finished the loop at 10 am it was a zoo!

Waterfall Corridor: Right along the Historic Columbia River Highway are tons of waterfalls to check out. Unfortunately, some are closed due to the Eagle Creek Fire in 2017. However, the following are currently open: LaTourell Falls, Shepperd’s Dell Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horsetail Falls to Poneytail Falls only.

Beacon Rock State Park: This is actually across the bridge in Washington but it was super cool. You will have to pay tolls to go across the bridge ($2 each way) and pay $10 to enter Beacon Rock State Park, but then you can hike the core of an ancient volcano and take in amazing views of the Columbia River Gorge.

Bonneville Fish Hatchery: A fish hatchery might not sound that exciting but it is actually really cool. You get to see giant sturgeons and if you go in the fall you can see adult salmon spawning. It’s really neat and free to the public.

Food

Sugarpine Drive-In: For an affordable, tasty lunch/dinner option you will want to hit up Sugarpine Drive-In. Please be aware they are only open Thursday-Monday and close at 7 pm. Parking can be tricky on weekends so your best bet would be to hit them during the week.

Tad’s Chicken n’ Dumplins: Right off the Historic Columbia River Hwy Tad’s Chicken n’ Dumplins is an easy stop. It is more on the pricey end, but has a really unique ambiance. While we were there we heard it is currently for sale, so you might want to check before you go.

Lake Taco: If you love authentic Mexican food than I would recommend the drive to Lake Taco. It was seriously delicious!

Locks of Dogs & Treats: If you are looking for a place to cool off with some ice cream I would recommend checking out Locks of Dogs & Treats. They will let you do two flavors in a one scoop cone.

Gear to Bring

Here are the essential items you will need to bring so you are equipped for the weather on the coast. Please be aware that some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.

Water Proof Jacket

This Columbia windbreaker is comfortable and waterproof. Mine was a life saver on our rainy day!

Water Proof Hiking Boots

Teva Arrowhead shoes are an awesome option for all the hiking you will be doing. I like mine because they are waterproof and comfortable, but not as bulky as my hiking boots.

Other Essentials

You will also want to be sure to bring sunscreen, long pants, long sleeve shirt, fleece jacket (for layering), and sunglasses.

Camping

If you decide to be adventurous and camp like us, here is what we packed to fit everything into one checked bag:

4 Man Backpacking Tent

We chose to pack our backpacking tent due to weight and bulk. It was a little tight, but with it being a 4 man tent we were able to fit our queen size air mattress.

Soft Cooler

This cooler collapses flat like a bag so it was easy to put into our suitcase. It also worked really well. It kept our food nice and cold, fit all our food for the whole week and now that we are home takes practically no room to store.

Collapsible Roasting Sticks

You can’t go camping and not roast marshmallows! These collapsible sticks made it easy for us to make sure we had the necessary equipment to make that happen.

Day Pack

I love my Cotopaxi Del Dia Daypack because it compresses down to a small size for packing, is comfortable to wear, and has a spot to put your water bladder. It was perfect for all the hikes we did!

Other Essentials

In addition to the above we packed our air mattress, air pump, double sleeping bag, backpacking pillows, water bladder, and quick-dry towels.

What if I don’t own Camping Gear?

If you don’t currently have camping gear, no worries! You can rent a car camping kit from REI. Even with the cost of the rental gear it is still cheaper to camp than staying in a VRBO or an AirBNB.

Final Thoughts

The Oregon Cost was amazing. All I can say is we can’t wait to go back! As a recap here is how much money spent on our trip:

Flights + Checked Baggage Fees ($30 both ways)	$253.20
Accommodations	$146
Car Rental	$164.74
Gas	$52.03
Food	$233.24
Activities	$108
TOTAL	$957.21

If $1000 for a trip still feels like a stretch you can look at 1) taking a shorter trip, 2) reducing how much you spend on food and activities, or 3) set aside money when you get your tax return, Christmas bonus, or birthday money. Just remember, where there’s a will, there’s a way!

Happy travel friends!!

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