With one of easiest-to-reach beaches on the Oregon Coast, there’s plenty of room for all visitors on Seaside’s endless swaths of sand. Having a perfect beach day isn’t hard, but a little advance planning and knowing the local rules can take a trip from good to great. Here’s how to set yourself up for a flawless beach vacation in Seaside.

Beach Essentials

A great trip to the beach starts with the right gear. Bring comfy shoes, sunscreen, a jacket and long pants no matter when you visit. Coastal weather can be full of surprises all year long. Winter months can bring surprising stretches of sun, while you can find midsummer fog or rain even on days when communities farther inland bake in the heat.

Then turn your attention to the fun stuff. Bring sand toys for kids and a tennis ball and some waste bags for your pup. The good news is that off-leash dogs are permitted on Seaside’s beach if they’re firmly within your voice control and you clean up after them.

If you forget anything, Seaside has plenty of shops for restocking. The Aspirin Shop, Cotton Club and Under the Big Top offer sunglasses, sand pails, kites and other beach essentials, or head to Beach Puppy to pick up a new leash or toys for your canine friend. 

Where’s the Beach?

Start your visit on the historic Seaside Promenade, a 1.5-mile paved seaside path stretching from Avenue U at the south end to 12th Avenue at the north. Finished and dedicated in 1921, this scenic stretch has been strolled and pedaled for 105 years, and it’s a great way to get your bearings.

Then head out onto the beach itself. The 2.5-mile-long stretch of sand that you see features the cliffs of Tillamook Head to the south and the mouth of the Necanicum River to the north. The south end is also where you’ll find Seaside Cove, a popular beach for surfers with plenty of parking, as well as Painted Rock Beach, where artists donate decorated rocks to commemorate their visit. 

If anyone in your crew uses a stroller or wheelchair — or you’re towing a wagon full of beach gear — use one of Seaside’s year-round Mobi-mat access points at Avenue U or 12th Avenue. These long, tough blue mats create a firm surface through the soft sand to make rolling a cinch. You can also reserve beach-friendly wheelchairs for free. Book a manual beach wheelchair with balloon tires by calling the Sunset Empire Park & Recreation District or a motorized track chair by booking a two-hour slot online — the organization David’s Chair has all the details.

See that bright-yellow tower on Seaside’s shoreline? There you’ll find beach lifeguards with Seaside Fire & Rescue. They’re on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day to keep beach visitors safe.

Beachcomb Like a Pro and Learn to Surf

Low tides are best for beachcombing (check tide tables for timing), especially if you’re hoping to find sand dollars. Seaside is famous for these disc-shaped little invertebrates, which feed on plankton that also sustain the area’s robust population of razor clams. Be sure not to take any living sand dollars, which are purple and covered in fuzzy-looking spines. Feel free to take a few bleached white sand dollars home, though, leaving plenty for other visitors.

Aspiring swimmers are sometimes surprised by the Oregon Coast. The ocean is cold year-round here, and the combination of unpredictable surf and riptides mean anyone who gets in should be a strong and experienced swimmer who has checked the conditions ahead of time. Beginners should consider a guided surf lesson or bodyboarding clinic with a local pro from Oregon Surf Adventures or Cleanline Surf Shop.

And nothing beats watching the sun set over the ocean to the sound of a crackling campfire. Beach campfires are allowed in the dry sand — at least 50 feet from the dune grass and not in driftwood — only if there’s no burn ban in effect. Just remember to douse all embers with water, not sand. For supplies, head to downtown convenience shops like Turnaround Market or Leo’s Corner, or hotels like the Seashore Inn. You’ll find everything you need, from wood and matches to all the s’mores fixings.

No matter how you spend your time on the beach, remember to leave only footprints. Pack up any trash on your way out, then look for one of the town’s public trash cans adorned with cool Seaside-themed artwork created by residents.