Oregon Coastline Road Stops

A lighthouse, beaches, fish and chips. What more could a girl ask for on a day out?

Before we started the RV Life, the Oregon Coastline was on my list of places to see. It did not disappoint. We began in Brookings, Oregon, on May 1st and ended at Fort Stevens on May 31st, 2023. It was cold, 50s to 60s, rainy, sunny, and some of the most gorgeous coastlines I have ever seen.

We are not hikers or have to try every restaurant along our travels. We are older and stick to a pretty tight budget. Most of our visits are what we can see close to roadsides. And, since we do not tow a vehicle, we are limited to places that can accommodate our small Class C, which is perfectly fine for us. For us, full-time RV life is more about location and experiencing places where people live.

Port Orford is a colorful coastal town I didn’t see enough of and is definitely on the let’s go back and explore list. We drove down Highway 101 and spotted the Crazy Norwegian restaurant. It was the fish and chips sign that caught our eye. One thing when it comes to the British folk, fish and chips are a go-to takeaway. We Americans have a hard time replicating the dish, and we’ve tried a lot of fish and chips, hoping for a home run. Nothing came close until we stopped at the Crazy Norwegian. The result: HOME RUN!

We had to park up the block at the end of a house-lined street since the parking lot was small and packed. It is a popular place. We ordered takeout, and we had an incredible view. Why sit in a crowded, noisy restaurant when you have a view like this?

The Umpqua Lighthouse and Winchester Bay

While camped at the Umpqua Lighthouse State Park in Reedsport, Oregon, we drove to see the lighthouse and explored the coastline at Winchester Bay. Reedsport is close to the Oregon Dunes. It is an extremely popular place along the shoreline for the OHV crowd. It was not our scene, and finding a park that didn’t allow OHVs was tricky. Nothing against them at all. It is the perfect place to go if you are into a hobby sport. But we like quiet, and we have reactive dogs.

The state park is quiet, but one complaint about the campground is one trash dumpster. We camped in spot A4, close to the entrance. The dumpster was located at the bottom of the hill. Meaning it was a steep climb back up! UGH. I like the park and would stay there again, but I will pick a spot more in the park so I don’t have to climb that hill.

The Umpqua River lighthouse was the first lighthouse along the Oregon coastline. It is located close to the Coast Guard barracks. You can tour the area by appointment; there isn’t a schedule. You can donate, and a volunteer will guide you or a group. It is one of the few lighthouses you can climb to the top. Standing at 65 feet. It seemed small, but I don’t know what I was expecting.

The lighthouse overlooks the dunes. We could hear the OHVs going around down in the treeline along the shoreline. We drove down to the campground located on the beach. Full of families enjoying their summertime sports.

Winchester Bay, Oregon

The Umpqua River Lighthouse Museum was closed on the day of our visit. We stopped near the pier you can walk down. Dogs are allowed on the small beach area. We walked around and spotted some seals in the distance. We spent a few hours there enjoying the sunshine after days of rain and clouds. We made some sandwiches and had an afternoon cup of coffee. We sat there watching the seals bob in and out of the water and soaked in the incredible view we had during our lunch stop that day.

Our month-long journey along the Oregon Coastline was my favorite for our first season. I have memories that will last a lifetime. I felt at peace. We didn’t do much by “trendy RV life” standards, but we never do. I was relaxed and took in the places and environment I am blessed to visit. I am grateful for the life we have the opportunity to live.

Next week, I will share our time in Tillicum Beach. I know I’ve written about it before. I’ll share more about the campground and our experiences.

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