The Oregon Coast just landed on a global must-see list for 2026

BBC Picks Americas Most Public Shoreline

The BBC just named the Oregon Coast one of the 20 best places to travel in 2026.

Out of all the beaches in America, this 363-mile stretch earned a spot alongside Abu Dhabi and Montenegro.

The reason comes down to one thing California and Florida cannot offer: every single grain of sand belongs to the public. A 1967 law made sure of that, and now the rest of the world is paying attention.

A Motel Fence Started Everything

In 1966, a Cannon Beach hotel owner put up driftwood logs and signs blocking part of the dry sand for his guests only. Oregonians were furious.

Governor Tom McCall flew a helicopter to the beach with scientists and reporters, then pressured lawmakers to close a loophole in existing law.

On July 6, 1967, he signed the Beach Bill, which made all 363 miles of Oregon coastline public property from the vegetation line to the sea. No other state has anything like it.

Highway 101 Earns Bucket-List Status

The coastal highway runs 370 miles from the Columbia River Gorge down to the California border. BBC called it one of the country’s best road trips.

You pass through small fishing towns every 20 miles or so, with sea stacks rising from the surf and fog rolling over evergreen forests.

The route has more state parks per mile than anywhere else in America, and pull-offs with ocean views appear around almost every curve.

11 Lighthouses Still Stand Watch

Oregon’s lighthouses were mostly built between 1870 and 1896 by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. Yaquina Head near Newport is the tallest at 93 feet and still works as a navigation aid.

Heceta Head has the strongest beam, visible 21 miles out to sea, and the old keeper’s house is now a bed and breakfast.

The strangest is Tillamook Rock, nicknamed Terrible Tilly, sitting alone on a basalt sea stack a mile offshore where no one can reach it anymore.

20,000 Whales Swim Past Each Winter

Gray whales migrate from Alaska to Mexico starting in mid-December, and about 30 per hour pass Oregon’s coast during peak season.

The state usually runs Whale Watch Week from December 27 through 31, with volunteers stationed at 14 spots to help visitors spot the spouts.

Another 200 or so resident whales skip the full migration and hang around Oregon all summer, feeding close to shore where you can see them from the cliffs.

Haystack Rock Rises From the Tide

The 235-foot sea stack at Cannon Beach formed about 17 million years ago from lava flows that originated in Eastern Oregon.

At low tide, you can walk right up to it and explore tide pools full of sea stars, anemones, and crabs. Tufted puffins nest on the rock from April through August, and it draws roughly 350,000 visitors a year.

You might recognize it from The Goonies, Kindergarten Cop, or Point Break.

Portland Now Has a Beach Shuttle

In May 2025, the North Coast Express launched as a weekend shuttle connecting Portland to the coast.

It leaves from Beaverton’s Sunset Transit Center on Fridays through Sundays and stops at Seaside, Cannon Beach, Astoria, Rockaway Beach, and the Tillamook Creamery.

Round-trip tickets cost about $35, and the bus has WiFi, charging ports, and restrooms. The goal is to cut traffic and carbon emissions while making the coast accessible to people without cars.

Beach Wheelchairs Roll Out for Free

Oregon has been adding accessibility features up and down the coast.

Mobi-Mats, which are non-slip pathways made of recycled polyester, now cover hundreds of feet of sand at beaches in Seaside, Lincoln City, and Newport.

Free beach wheelchairs with oversized tires are available in more than a dozen towns.

A nonprofit called David’s Chair also supplies motorized all-terrain track chairs that can cross sand independently at locations from Gold Beach to Manzanita.

Local Seafood Stays on the Docks

The Oregon Ocean Cluster is working to keep freshly caught fish and crab on local plates instead of shipping it all elsewhere.

Restaurants along the coast increasingly buy direct from fishing boats in ports like Newport and Astoria. The BBC highlighted this commitment to local seafood as part of why Oregon made the list.

When you order Dungeness crab or fish and chips in a coastal town, there is a good chance it came off a boat that morning.

EV Chargers Now Line the Route

One reason the BBC picked Oregon over California was the coast’s growing sustainability efforts.

Sustainable Travel International noted the expanding network of electric vehicle charging stations along Highway 101, which now makes it practical to drive the whole coast in an EV without range anxiety.

The state has also been investing in shuttle services and bike routes to give visitors alternatives to driving altogether.

California Gets More Visitors, But Oregon Got the Nod

Oregon’s coast sees far fewer tourists than California’s famous beaches. But that was part of the appeal for BBC’s editors.

They were looking for destinations that balance tourism with environmental protection and community support.

Oregon checked every box: public access guaranteed by law, sustainable transportation options, accessibility upgrades, and locally sourced seafood.

Philadelphia was the only other American destination on the list.

The Coast That Belongs to Everyone

The BBC called Oregon’s shoreline a mix of strength and beauty, with wave-pounded beaches backed by dense forests and lonely lighthouses poking through the fog.

What makes it different from every other coast in America is not just the scenery. It is the fact that all 363 miles of it belong to you, whether you are a billionaire or a broke college student.

That was the promise Tom McCall made in 1967, and nearly 60 years later, it still holds.

Visiting the Oregon Coast, Oregon

The Oregon Coast stretches 363 miles from Astoria in the north to Brookings near the California border, all accessible via Highway 101.

The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay is open year-round.

Beach access is free everywhere, and parking at state parks requires an Oregon Pacific Coast Passport or day-use permit, which costs around $5 to $30 depending on the pass type.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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