Winter brings a different kind of beauty to the Oregon Coast. The beaches grow quieter, the Pacific becomes more dramatic, and the occasional burst of sunshine is a welcome surprise. It's a season for storm watching, beachcombing, cozy fires, and slowing down. Along Highway 101, between Lincoln City and Newport, you'll find plenty of reasons to embrace the season and discover a different side of the Central Oregon Coast.

Start in Lincoln City

With seven miles of beach, Lincoln City rewards wandering, even in winter. Bundle up for a brisk walk along the shoreline, where wide-open stretches of sand offer plenty of room to roam, especially for four-legged companions. Watch the waves roll in, breathe in the fresh ocean air, and warm up afterward beside a fire. Between passing storms, clear winter days can offer spectacular ocean views and peaceful stretches of beach.

Keep an eye out for Finders Keepers, Lincoln City's beloved tradition in which locally made glass floats are hidden along the shoreline throughout the year. Find one, and it's yours. It's a little treasure hunt that makes a winter beach walk even more memorable.

Make Surfland Hotel your home base for a relaxed coastal escape, with ocean views and inviting spaces to gather after a day outside. Or settle into The Coho Oceanfront Lodge, where panoramic Pacific views, a welcoming wine social and signature beach firepits make returning to the hotel part of the experience.

Winter is also a great time to linger a little longer. Turn a weekend into a longer coastal getaway with Surfland's Stay 3 Nights and Save 15% offer; dates and restrictions may apply.

Follow Highway 101 to Newport

Head south on Highway 101 toward Newport, making the drive part of the adventure. Stop in Depoe Bay, where winter waves crash against the rocky shoreline and migrating gray whales may be spotted offshore. Take your time exploring the viewpoints and coastal communities along the way.

At Inn at Nye Beach, winter weather makes the hotel's oceanfront infinity spa especially inviting. Heated to 104 degrees, it offers a front-row seat to the Pacific while you soak above the shoreline. There's something memorable about slipping into warm water while the cool ocean air surrounds you.

For a romantic winter retreat or special occasion, Ocean House is an intimate eight-room bed-and-breakfast overlooking Newport's Agate Beach. Breakfast in the morning, afternoon cookies, and an evening wine reception create a welcoming setting for anniversaries, birthdays, or a quiet getaway for two.

Winter days in Newport offer plenty to discover beyond the beach. Explore the Oregon Coast Aquarium, wander the Historic Bayfront, visit Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, or spend an afternoon browsing the shops and galleries of Nye Beach.

Winter is also one of the most delicious times to visit the Oregon Coast. Fresh Dungeness crab comes into season, and cold-water oysters are a coastal favorite. For a memorable meal, stop at Local Ocean Seafoods on Newport's Historic Bayfront, where seafood sourced from local fishing boats takes center stage. Enjoy Dungeness crab cakes, fresh oysters, or a warming seafood stew while watching the working waterfront just outside the windows.

Experience Oregon's King Tides

For one of winter's most dramatic natural events, plan your getaway around the Oregon King Tides, November 23–27 and December 22–26, 2026.

These exceptionally high tides transform familiar stretches of coastline and offer a striking look at the power of the Pacific. Watch from a safe, elevated viewpoint—or make an oceanfront hotel your observation point while the waves put on the show.

During King Tides, stay off beaches and low-lying coastal areas and follow local safety guidance. Lincoln City also suspends Finders Keepers float drops during King Tide periods, making the days before and after a better time for glass-float hunting.

Discover the Coast in Winter

Winter reveals a different side of the Central Oregon Coast. Hunt for a glass treasure in Lincoln City. Follow Highway 101 south. Soak above the Pacific in Newport. Celebrate something special at a cozy B&B, or simply watch a winter storm roll in from somewhere warm.

Choose one town for a weekend—or make the drive part of the adventure and experience both. Between Lincoln City and Newport, winter may be one of the best-kept secrets on the Oregon Coast.