Seaside Travel Guide
City Oregon coastal town with Promenade and beaches
Oceanfront promenade and salt‑air restaurants anchor this Oregon Coast town; visitors come for broad sandy beaches, the Seaside Aquarium, kite‑flying on the shore, seasonal boardwalk stalls and cycling along the scenic Coast Trail.
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Why Visit Seaside? #
A compact Pacific Coast escape where broad sandy beaches and pastel cottages set a relaxed tone. The walkable Promenade and the Seaside Aquarium bring family-friendly charm, while turn-of-the-century Broadway with beachside cafés serves up fresh Pacific Northwest seafood and clam chowder. Summers have an energetic street-fair atmosphere and a raucous New Year’s Polar Bear Plunge. Nightlife stays low-key, making it a good choice for travelers who want seaside rhythm without big-city crowds.
Best Things to Do in Seaside
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Seaside Bucket List
- Seaside Promenade - Walk the Seaside Promenade along the oceanfront boardwalk, with shops and beach access.
- Seaside Aquarium - Visit Seaside Aquarium on the Prom to see local sea life and feeding demonstrations.
- Seaside Carousel - Ride the Seaside Carousel at the Carousel Mall, a restored 1920s wooden carousel.
- Ecola State Park - Explore Ecola's coastal trails, quiet coves, and viewpoints accessible by short hikes.
- Hug Point - Visit Hug Point's sandstone cliffs and seasonal waterfall, reachable at low tide.
- Fort Stevens State Park and Peter Iredale - Explore Fort Stevens, its beach campground, and the rusting Peter Iredale shipwreck.
- Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock - Drive to Cannon Beach to view Haystack Rock and tidepool habitats.
- Astoria - Visit Astoria for the Astoria Column, maritime museum, and Victorian downtown streets.
Best Time to Visit Seaside #
Head to Seaside in summer for mild, dry weather and long daylight; fall and winter bring powerful Pacific storms that are spectacular for photography but wet and windy.
Best Time to Visit Seaside #
Seaside's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Mediterranean - Warm-Summer Mediterranean climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 3°C to 20°C. Abundant rainfall (1920 mm/year), wettest in December.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 10°C and lows of 3°C. Heavy rain (280 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 3°C. Heavy rain (225 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 3°C. Heavy rain (205 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (143 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 7°C. Regular rainfall (92 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (37 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (38 mm).
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September
September is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm).
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October
October is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 6°C. Significant rainfall (155 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Heavy rain (290 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is the coolest month with highs of 10°C and lows of 3°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (300 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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How to Get to Seaside
Seaside, Oregon is a small coastal town best reached by road from a nearby hub. The main commercial gateway is Portland International Airport (PDX); Astoria Regional Airport (AST) is a small local option with limited service.
Portland International Airport (PDX): Portland is the main gateway for Seaside. Driving from PDX to Seaside is about 85-95 miles and typically takes 1.5-2 hours by rental car; expect rental rates roughly $40-100/day depending on season and vehicle. Taxis or rideshares from PDX are available but expensive (roughly $150-$250 one way) and similar in travel time.
Astoria Regional Airport (AST): Astoria Regional is the much smaller local airport (Warrenton/Astoria) with limited scheduled or charter service. If you can land here, a taxi or local car service to Seaside is about 20-30 minutes and typically runs in the $25-$45 range.
Train: Amtrak serves Portland (Union Station). From Portland you usually transfer to a rental car or regional bus to reach Seaside - there is no direct national passenger-train service into Seaside itself. Travel time from Portland to Seaside by car is 1.5-2 hours.
Bus: Regional bus connections are limited. Intercity coach services (Greyhound/independent carriers) occasionally run routes to north‑coast towns; local transit is provided by Clatsop County Transit for shorter hops around Astoria/Seaside. Fares on local county routes are inexpensive (typically a few dollars); intercity coach fares vary by operator and season.
How to Get Around Seaside #
Seaside is very walkable around the downtown Broadway area and the Promenade; many visitors stroll between shops, the beach and the arcade. Biking is also easy for short trips, but expect to pay for parking during the summer high season if you drive. Regional travel is easiest by car; Sunset Empire Transit provides seasonal bus links to nearby towns like Cannon Beach and Astoria for a few dollars. Taxis are limited outside peak season, so plan ahead for late-night rides.
Where to Stay in Seaside #
- Shilo Inn Seaside Oceanfront Hotel - Basic oceanfront rooms, family-friendly.
- Inn at Seaside - Comfortable, central location near shops.
- Seaside Towne Hotel - Quiet, full-service mid-range option.
- The Seaside Oceanfront Suites - Spacious suites with ocean views.
Where to Eat in Seaside #
- Pig 'N Pancake - Longstanding breakfast spot, pancakes and omelettes
- Dooger's Seafood & Grill - Family-friendly seafood with ocean views
- Seaside Brewing Company - Local beers and pub-style plates
- Kelly's Bakery - Fresh pastries and morning coffee
- The Turnaround Grill - Casual breakfasts with harbor views
- Sea Star Gelato - Gelato and light sweet treats
Breakdown of cuisine types found across Seaside's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
Nightlife in Seaside #
Nightlife in Seaside is low-key and family-friendly, with a handful of bars, pubs and seasonal live-music nights rather than a club scene. Summer brings more evening events and busier bar patios, but off-season the town quiets down.
Shopping in Seaside #
Downtown Broadway and the Promenade concentrate most of Seaside’s shops - souvenirs, beachwear and a few galleries. Small independent boutiques and seasonal tourist shops are the norm; you won’t find a large mall but you will find plenty of seaside souvenir options.
