Charming Newport, Oregon: Restaurants, lodging, beaches + attractions

If you’re looking for an Oregon Coast town that has it all, you’re about to find it! Newport, Oregon is one of the Oregon Coast’s most popular destinations for good reason. This town’s identity as a fishing and crabbing harbor helps it stand out from other communities. Then there are so many Newport, Oregon attractions!

Did I mention the beaches?

If you’re wondering what to do in Newport, I’ve highlighted the best activities and attractions below. But that’s not all. I’ve basically collected all the info you need to make this Oregon Coast vacation unforgettable.

In this guide to Newport, Oregon, you’ll find out about:

• The best attractions and things to do in Newport, including the Oregon Coast Aquarium
• Nearby hikes
• The most gorgeous Newport beaches
• Newport, Oregon restaurants (oh my goodness the seafood!)
• Hotels and other lodging
• And more!

If—somehow—you’re still on the fence about reading all about this Oregon Coast town, keep scrolling down. You’re in for a treat—i.e. photos of adorable sea otters! Squee!

Get ready to learn all you need to know to take a Newport, Oregon vacation.

What to do in Newport, Oregon

If you’re looking for Newport, Oregon activities, you’re in luck! That’s because there are so many fun things to do in this Oregon Coast town.

You’ll never feel bored or at a loss for what to do—especially with the below recommendations of activities. Read on to learn about all these Newport, Oregon activities:

• Oregon Coast crabbing
• Newport Farmer’s Market
• Newport, Oregon hikes
• Oregon Coast Aquarium
• Downtown Newport and the Historic Bayfront
• Hatfield Marine Science Center
• Aquarium Village
• Oregon Coast murals

Get ready to have fun with these fun things to do in Newport, Oregon.

Oregon Coast Crabbing

If you want to go crabbing on the Oregon Coast, you can rent a boat and traps, then head out into the water. You don’t have to, though: Crabbing in Newport makes it easy.

In fact, Newport is nicknamed the Dungeness Crab Capital of the World!

Simply rent or buy crabbing traps (aka crab pots), then head to a crabbing pier in Newport. You can park in the public parking area near Rogue Brewery, then walk to the public pier in South Beach. (Other crabbing spots are in the Historic Bayfront—look for Abbey Street Pier or Bay Street Pier.) Add bait, tie the crab pot to something along the pier, and wait about 45 minutes. Pull up the pot to check what you’ve caught!

You can also charter a boat to take you crabbing out on the water.

When is Crabbing Season in Oregon?

So you’re interested in crabbing on the Oregon Coast. Great! You’ll probably be wondering: When is crabbing season in Oregon?

You can crab year-round in Oregon. You can set out crab pots and traps from jetties, piers, and bays in any month. That said, the fall is typically the best time to catch crab because they’ve put on more meat.

When it comes to ocean crabbing for Dungeness, the season closes from October 16 to November 30.

Note: You’ll need a valid and current shellfish license to go crabbing. You’ll also need a tool to measure the crab you catch so you keep only ones that are large enough.

Newport Farmer’s Market

When I travel, I love to eat local—and one way to do that is to shop at farmer’s markets. Newport, Oregon is no different!

The Newport Farmer’s Market is open outdoors seasonally on Saturdays. You can find produce (you’re in luck if you come during strawberry season! Buy all the Hood strawberries you can), honey, eggs and more. You’ll also find prepared food, coffee and espresso stands, and locally made gifts. Sure, you can buy a mass-produced souvenir, or you could bring home a memento crafted by a local artisan.

Newport, Oregon Hikes

I love hitting the trails, so it’s no surprised I’m eager to tell you about Newport, Oregon hikes!

Hatfield Marine Science Center Estuary Trail This paved trail takes you around Newport Bay. It’s not exactly a strenuous hike, but you’ll have a chance to see the bay at a slower pace than you would driving by. Park in or near the Hatfield Center. 1.1 miles.

Yaquina Head Natural Outstanding Area This beautiful area on the north end of Newport offers several very short hikes in Newport. You can walk from the parking area at the visitor’s center to Cobble Beach and then to the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. Read my full article on the Yaquina Head Natural Outstanding Area for more details.

Devils Punchbowl Drive 15 minutes north of Newport to get to Devils Punchbowl. Most folks park and admire this natural rock formation from above. But if you go at low tide, you can get down to the beach and then walk inside the collapsed cave. Find out how by checking out my post on hiking Devils Punchbowl.

Oregon Coast Aquarium

A trip to Newport, Oregon isn’t complete without a visit to the Oregon Coast Aquarium! The aquarium became famous in the mid-1990s because it was home to Keiko, the orca from the movie Free Willy. Keiko was later, well, freed, and the aquarium is still well worth a stop.

Otters, sea lions, jellyfish, giant spider crabs and one very secretive octopus: See these underwater animals (and many more) when you visit. The Passages of the Deep exhibit, which takes you through a glass tube underwater, is my girls’ favorite part of the aquarium.

You’ll need between 1.5 and 2 hours to explore this Newport, Oregon attraction, depending on how quickly you go and if you watch feedings.

We have been members at the aquarium for years, so don’t miss my insider’s guide to the Oregon Coast Aquarium. I also wrote all about the overnight sleepover at the aquarium, which we can’t wait to do again! (Face masks are required at the aquarium for COVID safety precautions.)

Explore Downtown Newport and the Historic Bayfront

The Historic Bayfront, the heart of Newport, is full of fun things to do as well as a fully functional harbor. That’s what makes this neighborhood so exciting.

Edie in particular loves watching the boats come and go. Fishermen dock here, bringing in the day’s catch to sell.

Newport’s Historic Bayfront is also home to many places to eat, especially seafood restaurants, as you’d expect!

Even if you’re not hungry or wanting to buy souvenirs, I still recommend walking around the Historic Bayfront. This neighborhood definitely gives you a sense of Newport’s character.

Buy Fresh Fish on the Historic Bayfront, Newport

If you’re staying at a home rental in Newport and want to cook the freshest fish you’ve ever eaten, Newport is your spot. You can buy fish right off the boat in the Historic Bayfront.

In the spring through fall, go to docks 3, 5 and 7 to buy your future dinner from local fishermen. (The fish available depends on the season and availability, of course.) You may be able to find salmon, tuna, black cod, halibut and ling cod.

You can also ask them to filet the fish for you.

Some boats sell canned fish as well. Canned tuna and salmon makes a unique (and very welcome!) gift for the folks who weren’t lucky enough to join you in Newport, OR for vacation.

One last note about buying fish from fishermen in Newport: Buying direct means the maximum amount of money from the sale goes straight to the hardworking people who caught your food. You get the absolute freshest catch, and you support independent businesses. It’s a win-win.

Hatfield Marine Science Center

At the Hatfield Marine Science Center, you can watch a giant Pacific octopus play, touch sea urchins and create tiny tsunamis in a wave simulator. The visitor center is run by the science center, part of Oregon State University’s marine biology program.

More good news: The Hatfield Marine Science Center is a free thing to do in Newport, Oregon! The center is located just north of the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

COVID-19 update: The Hatfield Marine Science Center was closed to visitors during the peak of the pandemic but is now open!

Wander Aquarium Village

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is located south of Yaquina Bay, not in the Historic Bayfront (where many people assume it is). Unfortunately, that means the area around the aquarium isn’t walkable: You’ll need to drive there.

If you’re looking for more fun things to do in Newport, drive a little farther south and you’ll reach the Aquarium Village.

The Aquarium Village is a short distance from the Oregon Coast Aquarium. This Newport, Oregon attraction is made up of a few blocks of colorfully painted buildings. Home to shops, restaurants and even an escape room, families can have fun checking out the Aquarium Village.

Find Oregon Coast Murals

Long-term readers of To & Fro Fam know how much my kids and I adore street art. If you do, too, you’ll love keeping an eye out for murals in Newport.

As you might expect, most of these murals are ocean-themed. You’ll find them painted on buildings in the Historic Bayfront as well as around Aquarium Village.

Order an ice cream from BJ’s or Doodle Bugs, then walk around the bay. You’ll stumble across some gems! Beautiful street art tops my list of fun Newport, Oregon attractions.

Newport Beaches

You’ve come to the Oregon Coast for a reason, right? I’m betting at least part of that reason has to do with Newport beaches.

The Oregon Coast can be temperamental. Some days are fogged in; others are rainy and chilly; still others are so warm you’ll mistake the beach for California!

That said, please don’t bet on sunny and hot weather. You risk being disappointed. Instead, plan to enjoy Newport beaches—or any other spot on the Oregon Coast—no matter the weather. (If you end up visiting in crummy conditions, read my post on things to do on the Oregon Coast when it rains.)

Newport beaches are gorgeous—you’ll want to visit all of them! Here are our favorites.

Nye Beach, Newport

Nye Beach is both an historic neighborhood as well as a beach in Newport, OR. The neighborhood is home to cute shops, and old-timey ice cream spot and Coast Park, which has an enormously tall slide.

Nye Beach is another beautiful sand beach. Access it next to the public parking lot on NW Beach Dr., past the Chowder Bowl restaurant.

Take a rest on the benches that overlook this Newport, Oregon beach, or bring your kite. This beach’s wide open space and windy days make it an excellent kite flying spot!

Yaquina Bay Beach

When we go to a Newport, Oregon beach, we typically head to the one within Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site. To get to the beach, you walk down a path through wind-twisted trees.

The wide, fine-sand beach is well worth the short hike. This beach makes it feel as though you could run until your legs gave out—and still be on the same stretch of sand!

My kids also love climbing on the driftwood here. At the south end of the beach, a jetty juts into the ocean, protecting Yaquina Bay.

Yaquina Beach is located just north of the bridge that crosses Yaquina Bay. I typically find parking easily here, and there are restrooms as well as a spigot to wash sand off your feet.

South Beach

Just south of the Newport bridge, on the other side of Yaquina Bay, is South Beach. Miles of fine-sand beach stretches south of the South Jetty and is accessibly by this state park.

If you want a break from the beach, you can access hiking and biking trails here. Or try your hand at disc golf! You can get a map for the disc golf course at the visitor center.

Know that the area around South Beach is marshy, which means mosquitoes are an issue beginning in mid- to late-June. Bring insect repellant.

Agate Beach

Agate Beach, on the north end of Newport, is another wide and sandy stretch that’s perfect for beach combing and playing in the waves. But contrary to what its name suggests, this is not actually a good spot to find agates! Changes in the nearby jetties have caused sand to build up at Agate Beach. That’s good news for people who like wide beaches but bad news for rock hounds.

(For suggestions on other, better places to find agates, check out my recommendations on Oregon Coast beaches.)

When you look north, you’ll see the Yaquina Head Lighthouse in the distance. The view alone makes Agate Beach worth a stop.

Beverly Beach

My kids and I love Beverly Beach, which is just north of Newport, OR. This sandy stretch also has a creek where kids and dogs love to splash. The water in the creek is warmer than the ocean, which makes it more comfortable for a quick dip!

The best part about Beverly Beach, in my opinion, is that you can find tons of fossils here. Look in the sandstone cliffs and the rocks for fossilized shells.

For all the details—including camping at the state park here—read my full post on Beverly Beach, Oregon.

Cobble Beach

Cobble Beach, in the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, is unique. It’s made up of countless round stones. These volcanic rocks clack together when the waves rush in, making for one of our favorite Newport, Oregon attractions. This makes a distinctive noise that gave the beach its nickname: Laughing Beach.

You’ll need to walk a flight of stairs down to the beach, so it is not ADA accessible. Once you’re there, you can explore tide pools at low tide. You will also need to stay clear of an area popular with sea lions: It’ll be roped off.

While you’re visiting Cobble Beach, don’t miss checking out the rest of the area. Read all about things to do there, including checking out an historic lighthouse, in my full post about the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area.

Newport, Oregon Lodging

I love small towns on the Oregon Coast, but they can be very limited for places to stay. That’s not the case with Newport, Oregon lodging.

Here, you’ll find plenty of options. You can stay in a short-term home rental. You can stay in one of many Newport, Oregon hotels. Heck, you can even go camping!

When you’re looking for lodging, check out Google maps. It will show you how close it is to Newport beaches. I always recommend people stay on the west side of Highway 101, if possible. That way you can more easily walk to the beach. (It can be irritating to cross Highway 101, especially if you’re all sandy!)

Newport, Oregon Hotels

If you’re going the hotel route, you have a whole range of choices. If you’re particular, you can search for oceanfront properties or Newport, Oregon hotels with an ocean view.

When you look for where to stay in Newport, consider if you want to prioritize beach access, cost, or proximity to the Historic Bayfront. It’s really, really hard to get all three of those factors!

As a general rule, oceanfront hotels are more expensive. You’ll probably pay more for a room on the west side of Highway 101 vs on the east side.

If you’re looking to get fancy, can I recommend the Inn at Nye Beach? It’s a gorgeous spot in an historic neighborhood within easy walking distance of the ocean. The best part: the Inn at Nye Beach is home to an infinity pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean—the only one of its kind in Oregon!

For a range of other lodging options, check out these Newport, Oregon hotels:

Booking.com

Newport, Oregon Camping

Would you rather pitch a tent or drive your motorhome to the Oregon Coast? Then you might love these Newport camping options.

South Beach State Park. Expect a standard Oregon state park campground: decently sized sites, flush toilets, garbage pickup, and tidy campground. You’ll also have easy access to South Beach.

Pacific Shores MotorCoach Resort As its name suggests, this Newport, Oregon camping option is for RVs only. (That excludes travel trailers, if I’m not mistaken.) The RV campground includes an outdoor pool and beach access.

Beverly Beach State Park Just north of Newport, you’ll find Beverly Beach State Park. (If you remember, this is the Newport beach with fossils!) You can easily walk to the beach from the campsites or stroll the campground’s nature trails. Beverly Beach also has reservable yurts that have electricity.

Newport, Oregon Restaurants

Has enjoying all these Newport, Oregon activities worked up an appetite? If so, you’re in luck! This Oregon Coast town of course specializes in seafood, but that’s not the only option you have.

Newport, Oregon restaurants also include brew pubs, American food, Thai cuisine and more. But—if you’re not vegetarian—why not take advantage and dine on what the sea provides?

Local Ocean

Local Ocean is probably my favorite seafood restaurant in Newport. The food is incredibly fresh (most of the catch comes directly from the boats that dock just across the street!). The restaurant works directly with roughly 50 fishermen.

Like its name suggests, Local Ocean specializes in seafood. I’ve had their tuna kebabs, skewered scallops, and bites of a friend’s Dungeness crab cakes. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with anything on this Newport restaurant’s menu. If you can’t decide, close your eyes and point to the menu. Whatever your finger lands on is sure to be delicious!

Rogue Brewery

Quick story: I once took Edie to Newport for a mother-daughter date, just the two of us. She ate hardly any lunch, and we played for three hours on South Beach in uncharacteristically beautiful weather. By the time we finished, we were both starving.

I took Edie to Rogue Brewery for dinner. She ordered a cheeseburger—and devoured it in record time. I’m sure that hunger was an important seasoning here, but she *still* measures every single cheeseburger she eats against the legendary Rogue Brewery burger. So far nothing else has measured up!

I can’t promise you’ll be as obsessed with your Rogue meal, but I bet you’ll enjoy it. Expect a typical brew pub menu and a great kids’ menu. I usually order the Northwest garden salad but sub the dressing, as I think the basil vinaigrette is overly sweet.

One fun thing about eating at Rogue in Newport is you walk through the brewery to get to the restaurant, which is on the second floor. It’s cool to see the enormous tanks where the beer is brewed, including the famous Dead Guy Ale.

Rogue is located mere minutes away from the Oregon Coast Aquarium, which makes it a perfect Newport, Oregon restaurant for before or after a visit. (I much prefer it to the other nearby restaurants on that side of the Bay.)

The Chalet: Gluten-free fish and chips!

The Chalet is impossible to miss: It’s the bright blue building on Highway 101. What this Newport restaurant lacks in architectural appeal it makes up for in **gluten-free fish and chips!**

If you’re GF like me, you’re probably bummed that you can never eat fish and chips when visiting the Oregon Coast. After all, those pieces of fish are breaded with, well, bread.

That’s why I’m beyond excited that The Chalet offers gluten-free fish and chips. Finally!

Fish Peddler’s Market and Restaurant

When you first walk into Fish Peddler’s, you might not realize that it’s actually a restaurant. It looks more like a fresh fish shop. In reality, it’s both!

In fact, the unique thing about this Newport seafood restaurant is that you can pick the fish you want to eat—right from the counter.

It’s definitely a different experience. You know the fish is high quality and super-fresh because you can see it. This informal Newport, Oregon restaurant is also incredibly kid-friendly.

Mo’s: Famous clam chowder

Mo’s is an iconic restaurant with several locations along the Oregon Coast. It’s most famous for clam chowder, which you can eat while looking across the bay.

You’ll need luck to snag a window table, since Mo’s is packed (especially on weekends and peak meal times). If you want a better chance of watching the resident sea lions or boats going by, eat at Mo’s on a weekday or “off” times.

All the rest you need to know

Be honest: What’s Newport, Oregon weather really like?

Yes, yes, I know that Oregon has the reputation of constantly raining. Newport, Oregon weather isn’t so terrible, though!

Let me be more specific. Between November and April, it rains roughly half of all days. Yes, that’s a lot of rain. The amount of rain is less than you might think. In Oregon, drizzles are more common than outright downpours.

Newport, Oregon weather gets dryer and sunnier in the summer. Rainy days decrease between May and September. In July, the city averages only two rainy days!

The temperate weather is one reason why people love visiting Newport. Temperatures are nearly always mild, both in the winter and summer. For example, the average high temperature in December is 50 degrees. In July—the sunniest month—high temps average 61 degrees! So bring both warm layers and sunscreen when you visit Newport, Oregon.

What about the tides in Newport, OR?

Just like everywhere on the Oregon Coast, the tides change daily. You’ll need to look at a tides chart to find out when low and high tides are.

Newport Oregon Tides Chart

As always, keep a keen eye on the ocean. Always be aware of the tide so you know if it’s coming in. Tides can rise quickly, and you don’t want to be caught by an unexpected wave.

What’s Newport known for?

Newport, Oregon is known for its fishing and crabbing. As a working harbor, Yaquina Bay allows fishermen to dock and unload their catch. Ling cod, halibut, rockfish and albacore tuna are all caught in the Pacific Ocean here.

Three types of salmon also congregate in the waters around Newport. Coho, chinook and chum salmon can all be caught here.

As you read above, Newport is also well known for its aquarium, which once held the orca made famous in the movie Free Willy.

Is Newport Oregon worth visiting?

YES. Newport, OR is a lovely Oregon Coast town to visit for a day trip from Portland or much, much longer.

I love that just about everyone can find something to love about Newport. The adventurous can charter a deep sea fishing trip. Kids adore the aquarium. And folks who just want to chill out can stroll the many Newport beaches.

Tell me: What would be first on your list of things to do in Newport, Oregon??

PS – Don’t forget to pin this post for an upcoming Oregon Coast vacation!