NW Getaway: Newport, Oregon

Although I’ve visited the Oregon coast a handful of times, I’ve never made my way to Newport, Oregon, so we decided to plan a trip this summer. It’s about a 2½-hour drive, making it an easy getaway for even just a weekend. We packed a lot into our two-day stay, although families could plan to stay for more time to fully experience this part of the Oregon coast. Read on for recommendations on planning your own trip to Newport, Oregon. 

The Beach – Newport, Oregon

The beauty and calm of the beach is one of the biggest reasons people come to visit. However, the Oregon coast is famously cold compared with beaches closer to the equator. I remember visiting the Oregon coast in the summer when I was a child and being surprised to wear a sweatshirt and long pants at the beach. Now, we know it’s part of the deal, and it can actually feel cozy and comfortable. Of course, don’t forget sunscreen, but kids are often more covered than they would be in swimsuits. 

The beach at Newport was just a short walk from our hotel, and it was easy to get to. Our hotel was ideally located for easy beach access. We were able to play in the sand and go for walks, and on the second day, the sun even peeked out for a little while and we got to put our feet in the ocean. Being at the ocean always feels like coming home. We found ourselves staying for hours, playing in the sand and enjoying the beautiful views. 

Across from The Allred Hotel, where we stayed, there is a paved ramp that takes you right down to the beach, and that is where we enjoyed the beach most of the time. The ramp is pretty steep but not steep enough to be tough for kids to walk up and down, or to bring a wagon if you would like. It was an easy walk to and from the hotel. 

What to Do – Newport, Oregon

Aside from, of course, the beach, which is reason enough to plan a trip, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is a major draw.  We spent a morning at the aquarium and had a wonderful time. The aquarium has both indoor and outdoor sections, so be prepared for the weather. 

We enjoyed a few live keeper talks where they fed the otters and the turkey vulture and learned a lot about them. The seals were also very active, and we saw them dive multiple times. There were many volunteers around that could answer questions or provide interactive experiences. Right after we saw the otters feed, a volunteer came out to show an otter pelt so everyone could feel it.  

The outdoor exhibits included the sea otters, harbor seals and sea lions, the turkey vultures and a seabird aviary. They also have a playground for kids outdoors.  

Indoors, we were able to see a huge variety of sea creatures. In the Passages of the Deep exhibit, we were able to experience underwater walkways through a reef, the halibut flats and finally, a shark tunnel. This section was a big hit, and everyone loved how close they could get to the sea creatures. 

In the Rocky Coast exhibit, we were able to visit the touch pool, see a giant octopus, sea stars and more. In other indoor galleries, we were able to see a coral reef tank, jellyfish and a new exhibit Amazon Basin, which is open May 2026-January 2028. Visiting the aquarium was a highlight of our trip to Newport. 

After visiting the aquarium, we popped right over to the historic bayfront, where we grabbed lunch and walked around for a little while. We didn’t visit the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse since it was pretty foggy on the day we had time to go, but plan to visit some other time. 

On our way home, we decided to stop at Depoe Bay and Lincoln City to see a bit more of the coast. Both of these cities are pretty close to Newport and were on our drive back, so we decided to check them out. In Depoe Bay, we stopped at the whale watching center, which has a nice lookout. We didn’t see any whales but spotted some seals. We also walked around a bit here and checked out some souvenir shops.  

After that, we stopped in Lincoln City and ate at Pig ‘N Pancake, which also has a Newport location. Of course, we had to try the pancakes, which did not disappoint. They have a large menu suitable for many diets, and a kids menu as well. 

Where to Stay – Newport, Oregon

We stayed at The Allred, which opened in 2025. The hotel and the room were beautiful and felt cozy, clean and upscale. There are two sections of the hotel. One section has classic rooms, which were recently updated and the entrance to each room is located outdoors. The boutique section of the hotel was newly built and the entrance to each room is located indoors and is attached to the lobby. The Allred also offers a few standalone vacation homes right across from the hotel for those who may want a larger space. 

Our room was a boutique room, so it was in the indoor area of the hotel and felt very new. It was comfortable and spacious with a large bathroom and a kitchenette area. We loved staying here and would absolutely stay again. Each room has a balcony with ocean views.  

The on-site pool was a big hit with kids who love to swim. As we know, the ocean in Oregon can be too cold for little ones to swim in, so getting their “kicks” out in a hotel pool was the way to go. We spent time in the pool each day and loved it. They also have a hot tub and a sauna for adults. The pool is next to the classic rooms, so guests do need to walk outside to reach it. 

The sister hotel to the Allred is Hallmark Resort Newport, which we also walked around to check out.  The Hallmark was also located right next to the beach and each room also had ocean views. I always like to check reviews of hotels before I stay there, and both of these places were among the top-reviewed in the area.  

When we went with family, some of us stayed at The Allred and loved it, while others in our extended family opted to get a Vrbo vacation rental further up Nye Beach. Nye Beach was very close to our hotel and there are many vacation rentals available in addition to hotels. 

Where to Eat – Newport, Oregon

Georgie’s at the Hallmark Resort Newport was a wonderful family restaurant. The restaurant is popular for its beautiful ocean views and its diverse menu. They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner so you can go for any meal that aligns with your beach schedule. We ate here for dinner on our first night, and I ordered the fresh black cod. It was delicious. Other family members ordered the fish tacos, fish and chips, the kid’s sliders and kids grilled cheese. Everyone was happy with their meal.  

 They also have an extensive kids menu, which is great for all of the picky eaters out there. They also offered a coloring and activity page for kids which was great to help everyone pass the time as we waited for our food. One other offering they have is a gluten-free menu for those who need it. I’ve attended many dinners with friends and family members who have celiac disease and sometimes it can be hard to choose a restaurant since not everyone can accommodate a gluten-free guest. Having a special menu that is gluten-free is very helpful for those who need it.  

The Allred Bites + Bar was in our hotel near the lobby, where they had a menu of curated plates and drinks. It had a beautiful view at The Allred’s lovely new lobby. We ate here for breakfast twice and dinner once. It also has a kids menu for both breakfast and lunch/dinner. For breakfast I had a veggie breakfast bowl, and I liked it so much I got it both mornings. They also offer sides of sausage, bacon, eggs or vegetables for those who may want a snack or a smaller breakfast. In addition to their menu, they have a coffee bar on-site where you can grab a warm beverage and a pastry.  

For dinner, expect small- to medium-sized plates with offerings such as fish tacos, sliders, seafood ravioli, fries and more. The kids menu offers grilled cheese, kids burgers and other options for children. A large drink menu is also available. One nice feature of Bites + Bar is that it offers seating on both the first and second floors for lunch and dinner, giving guests a variety of views. Breakfast is only available on the first floor.  

We also ate at Mo’s in the Newport Bayfront area and loved it. It’s a classic Newport restaurant with “world-famous” clam chowder. I can agree that their clam chowder was phenomenal. We also got shrimp skewers and fish tacos that were amazing. They also have a kids menu here. While we were at the Bayfront, we also took in some views, and as it is a working bay, we saw many workers transporting fresh seafood into trucks.  

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Newport and found it to be an easy and memorable Oregon coast getaway.

Read the September 2026 Issue