Major city · United States
Pacific City
Give Pacific City one night, two if you want the dory boats and Cape Kiwanda at sunrise: it is a small beach town, not a base for the whole coast.
Pacific City is a village of about 1,000 people on the Northern Oregon Coast, built around a dune-backed beach, a sandstone headland at Cape Kiwanda and a fleet of flat-bottomed dory boats that launch straight off the sand. There is no airport and no rail; you arrive by car on US 101. Most travellers stop for one night between Tillamook and Lincoln City, or use it as a weekend base from Portland.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (driest, warmest); May and Oct for fewer people
- avoid Nov–Mar (rain, wind, some closures)
- Airports
- PDX · SLE
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Pacific City911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Tillamook County non-emergency sheriff503-842-2561
- Oregon State Parks info line800-551-6949
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Pacific City, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyA low-crime small town; the real hazards are ocean and road.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 503-842-2561 Tillamook County non-emergency sheriff · 800-551-6949 Oregon State Parks info line
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportPDX Portland International (About 2 h 15 min by car via US 26 and OR 6 to US 101; the usual gateway).
- Getting aroundA car is effectively required: US 101 runs through town, and the beaches, refuge and state parks are 5–15 min apart by road.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–5
- Sit-down mealGrocery run for two, one dinner$25–40
- BeerPint at the brewpub$7–9
- Budget bedRV site with hookups, a night, per roomUS$55
- Mid-range bedMotel or inn double room, a night, per roomUS$190
- High-end bedMotel or inn double room, a night, per roomUS$320
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$150 · High US$260
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- PDX Portland International (About 2 h 15 min by car via US 26 and OR 6 to US 101; the usual gateway) · SLE Salem Municipal (McNary Field) (Small field, limited commercial service; check before relying on it)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Feb
Avoid
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Mar
Avoid
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Apr
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
May
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Jun
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Jul
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Aug
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Sep
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Oct
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Nov
Avoid
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Dec
Avoid
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Best: May–Oct. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)), coolest Jan (3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C) low), wettest Jan (20 rain days), driest Jul (5). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Pacific City: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
20 rd
Feb
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
17 rd
Mar
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
19 rd
Apr
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
16 rd
May
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
13 rd
Jun
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
10 rd
Jul
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
5 rd
Aug
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
6 rd
Sep
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
8 rd
Oct
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
15 rd
Nov
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
20 rd
Dec
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
20 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is effectively required: US 101 runs through town, and the beaches, refuge and state parks are 5–15 min apart by road. Parking at Cape Kiwanda fills on summer weekends — arrive before 10:00. Walking works inside town and along the beach; there is no local bus service.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area
goDoor to door: 5–10 min
Drive or walk to the day-use parking off Cape Kiwanda Drive
The dune climb takes 15–20 min; go early for the light and the empty sand.
Bob Straub State Park
goDoor to door: 10 min
Drive south across the Nestucca spit, then park at the beach access
Free; long empty sand spit, good for a walk at low tide.
Clay Myers State Natural Area at Whalen Island
goDoor to door: 20–25 min
Drive north on US 101, then Sandlake Road
Short loop trail through estuary forest; mud boots after rain.
Sitka Sedge State Natural Area
goDoor to door: 20 min
Drive north on US 101 toward Sandlake
Free; flat trails over dunes and wetland, no facilities.
Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge
goDoor to door: 15–20 min
Drive south on US 101 to the refuge viewpoints
Free, open sunrise to sunset; best in winter for geese, bring binoculars.
Tillamook
goDoor to door: 35–40 min
US 101 north, about 25 mi
Cheese factory, air museum and the main grocery run for this stretch.
Lincoln City
goDoor to door: 35–40 min
US 101 south, about 25 mi
Bigger town for supplies, restaurants and casino; useful on a rainy day.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Cape Kiwanda / beachfront
Walk to the dune, the brewpub and the beach; the priciest and the first to fill in summer.
Pacific City town centre on Brooten Road
Shops, cafés and the road junction; 5–15 min walk to the sand.
Shorepine and the south side
Vacation rentals with private beach access; you need a car for everything.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $90–140 excl. bed
- Mid
- $140–220 excl. bed
- High
- $220+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel or inn double room1 × 1 night × US$190 | US$190 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$150 | US$300 |
| Rental car, one day, midsize1 × US$80 · check | US$80 |
| Fuel, Portland round trip, about 200 mi1 × US$30 · check | US$30 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$63 |
| Trip total≈ US$347 per person per day, bed included | US$693 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax is added at checkout in Oregon? No — Oregon has no sales tax. Figures exclude flights and car rental.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–5 |
| Brewpub burger or fish and chips | $18–28 |
| Pint at the brewpub | $7–9 |
| Grocery run for two, one dinner | $25–40 |
| State park day-use parking | Free at the parks listed here (check) |
| Motel double, summer weekend | $180–320 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Sneaker waves and strong currents on the whole Oregon coast: never turn your back on the surf, and keep children off driftwood logs.
- The Cape Kiwanda dune is loose sand with a steep drop on the ocean side; the fence line is there for a reason.
- Cell coverage is patchy south of town and in the Nestucca Bay area.
- Summer lodging books out weeks ahead; walk-in rooms in July and August are unlikely.
- Coastal fog and rain arrive fast — carry a shell even on a clear morning.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Tillamook County non-emergency sheriff
- 503-842-2561
- Oregon State Parks info line
- 800-551-6949
Pocket card
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Pacific CityPacific City
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Tillamook County sheriff, non-emergency503-842-2561
- Oregon State Parks info800-551-6949
Embassy
No consulates on the Oregon coast; nearest are in Portland. US visitors: your embassy is in Washington, DC.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- PDX → Pacific City by car: about 2 h 15 min, roughly 100 mi (check)
- Pacific City → Tillamook by car: about 35–40 min, 25 mi
- Pacific City → Lincoln City by car: about 35–40 min, 25 mi
Say or show
- Where is the beach access? — Where is the beach access?
- Is there parking here? — Is there parking here?
- How far to Tillamook? — How far to Tillamook?
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Pacific City. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jun–Sep (driest, warmest); May and Oct for fewer people · avoid Nov–Mar (rain, wind, some closures) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 7 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for PDX: last sensible departure time, rental-car desk hours, overnight rung at a PDX airport hotel.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Cape Kiwanda, town centre, Shorepine spit, Whalen Island.
- Place pages with verified hours and fees (Cape Kiwanda, Bob Straub, Clay Myers, Sitka Sedge, Nestucca Bay) and eat pages with last orders.
- Storm and fog fixtures so coastal driving days can go green or be swapped for Tillamook.
Sources
Ask about Pacific City
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