Skip to content

Seaside Stories

King Tides Safety and Viewing in Seaside

December 17, 2019 | by Josh Garhofer

King Tides on Oregon’s North Coast (photo by Don Frank)

** Story updated for the 2023/2024 King Tides **

King Tides come each year to Oregon. As one of the most easily accessible beach towns in the Pacific Northwest, Seaside is popular destination for the annual phenomenon. Understanding these powerful tides and following safe viewing practices are key elements for a fun and memorable visit.

What Are King Tides?

A King Tide – known as a perigean spring tide in the scientific community – occurs when the new or full moon is closest to the Earth. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this combination of gravitational force and the rotation of the planet creates a tidal flooding of the coastline. This phenomenon is both naturally occurring and predictable… and can make for some spectacular viewing from a safe distance.

The 2023/2024 spring tides will occur on:

November 25-27, 2023

December 13-15, 2023

January 11-13, 2024

February 8-10, 2024

Seaside’s many beachfront properties are a good bet for your King Tides visit. See our Stay page for a city-wide lodging directory and sort by Oceanfront/view rooms.

Necanicum Estuary during King Tides (photo by Dick Edwards)

For a deeper dive on the King Tides experience, check out the Oregon Tides Photo Project, an ongoing effort since 2011 to invite visitors and locals alike to photograph areas impacted by the King Tides. Users are encouraged to share their images on social media using the hashtags #kingtides and #orkingtides.

** Please exercise extreme caution when near the beach as King Tides bring unusually high water levels and even experienced tidal explorers can be caught by surprise. It is not advisable to drive through flood waters, which may be deeper than it appears and carry unseen debris. **

See our Seaside Tide Tables page for detailed predictions.

Learn more about viewing King Tides in Seaside here.

and so much more!

The War Years in Seaside

Blimp patrols were a common feature in Seaside during World War II.

Learn More
Eat Your Way along the North Coast

Seaside is now the starting point for the self-guided North Coast Food Trail that travels south to Neskowin and includes more than...

Learn More
Boogie Nights

A look at Seaside's old dance hall and skating rink

Learn More
I’ll See You at the Nat

A brief look at Seaside history of Natatoriums

Learn More
The Whole Clam Family

Family clamming on Seaside's beach is a tradition that literaly goes back thousands of years.

Learn More
Seaside Elk

I was driving into Seaside, along Highway 101 South, and had just passed the Circle Creek Campsite on the left, when I noticed several cars parked off the side of the road.

Learn More
Beauty and the Beach (and a Photo Bomb)

The sundial in Seaside has been around since the 1940s - you can check it out on the promenade today.

Learn More
A Chinook Fishing Tale

Chinook Salmon Fishing in and Around Seaside Oregon

Learn More
Savor Oregon Wines at Seaside’s Tasting Rooms

In autumn, when the coastal air turns brisk and blustery, you can uncork and unwind in downtown Seaside with other wine lovers for...

Learn More
Great Breakfast Spots in Seaside

Osprey Cafe Breakfast! It’s the most important meal of the day. And when you know where to go, it can also be the most delicious...

Learn More
Buffleheads: Oregon Coast’s Silliest Part-Time Residents

Buffleheads in Seaside, Oregon rivers in winter.

Learn More
Seaside Guide to Beachcombing

With one of the longest, sandiest, and most spacious beaches on the Oregon Coast, Seaside is the perfect spot to go looking for tr...

Learn More
The Seaside Estuary makes an ideal spot to go bird watching along the Oregon Coast.
Where to Go Birding in Seaside

Seaside may be a small town, but it’s a big destination for birds, and as a result, birdwatchers hitting nearby spots on the Ore...

Learn More
Trying to take flight during a wind storm on the beach in Seaside, Oregon.
Tides and Tide Tables: What You Need to Know

If your winter beach vacations to date have required sunscreen, then you clearly have not experienced a magical Seaside day in Jan...

Learn More
Promenade Meandering

Strolling on the promenade in Seaside is a time-honored tradition on the Oregon Coast

Learn More
Beach Blanket Bingo

Going back to the early 1960s, we look at beach culture.

Learn More
Fall in Seaside

Experiencing the changing seasons in Seaside

Learn More