Rockaway Beach Oregon offers a picturesque town along one of Oregon’s most stunning beaches. The town has been delighting visitors with its beachfront charm since it was established in 1909, though the arrival of the a steam train railroad made the 88 miles journey from Portland much easier and cemented Rockaway Beach as one of Oregon’s premiere seaside vacation spots.

The Beach

Rockaway Beach offers seven miles of Oregon coast beach that is flat and easy to stroll, including many popular beach activities such as kite flying and beach bonfires. Nearby old growth forests provide hiking trails and a nature preserve. Boats depart daily for fishing excursions, both in the ocean as well as the lakes and ponds near Rockaway Beach. Two magnificent sea stacks called Twin Rocks stand out in the ocean, 88 feet in height. The erosion opening through one of the stacks is 35 feet in diameter. The adjacent town of Rockaway Beach, popular for shopping and dining, offers an impressive array of annual festivals, including a Fourth of July parade, a Christmas tree lighting, and a pirate carnival. Some festivals also consist of fireworks over the water.

Oregon Map

Little Red Caboose

The growth of Rockaway Beach was heavily influenced by the railroad, booming significantly after a steam train line made travel between Portland and Rockaway Beach much easier in the early twentieth century. The town’s Little Red Caboose has been permanently established as the Chamber of Commerce’s visitor’s information center as homage to the town’s relationship with the railroad. Nowadays, visitors can experience early rail travel with Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad. Choose between a Coastal Excursion ride between Garabaldi and Rockaway Beach, or splurge for the elegant dinner train along Tillamook Bay and Nehalem Bay.

Tillamook Cheese Factory

Tillamook Valley, just east of Rockaway Beach Oregon, has a long history of creameries and farms. In 1909, several of these creameries formed the Tillamook County Creamery Association as a way to monitor and maintain their way of life and the quality of their dairy products. The association consists of over 100 dairy farms today, and the Tillamook Cheese Factory sends its superior products throughout the United States. Tours of the Tillamook Cheese Factory have become one of the most popular attractions in Oregon. These free and self-guided tours are easy to fit into any schedule, and they include many tasty samples. The factory is open every day of the year, except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Rockaway Beach Hotels

Rockaway Beach Oregon offers an array of lodging options for guests, including over 100 vacation rentals and 300 hotel rooms. One of the most popular establishments is the Sea Haven Motel and Guest House (pictured), only one block from the sands of Rockaway Beach. The six rooms of this non-smoking motel include LCD televisions equipped with cable access, DVD players, and free wireless internet access. Each room also has its own kitchenette, fully stocked with appliances, dishes, flatware, cookware, and basic condiments. The grounds of the Sea Haven offer outdoor picnic tables, gas barbeque grills, a crab cooker, a boche ball court, and a fire pit with its own marshmallow and hot dog forks. The Sea Haven is pet friendly.