Rockaway Beach

Located in the north-western part of the Oregon shoreline, Rockaway Beach is a large beach that has light brown sand. The beach is situated in the city of Rockaway Beach and it also has a fantastic background of oceanfront hills and buildings. Multiple creeks also flow through the beach into the Pacific Ocean. An interesting 88 feet-tall offshore rock formation named the Twin Rocks is also present in the water near this beach - this amazing rock formation is composed of sandstone and is millions of years old. In addition, the rock formation also plays an interesting role in influencing the local coastal geography by changing the shape of the beaches near it. Rockaway Beach has also been named the 15^th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach" – and has been listed as one of the best beaches and beach towns in coastal Oregon by the online media website Thrillist. 

Although Rockaway Beach does not have lifeguards, it has many other amenities - a major part of the beach’s amenities are present near its primary accessway (present near the intersection between United States 101 and South 1st Avenue). These amenities include a playground, restrooms, picnic tables, a pavilion, benches, and a small grassy area. In addition, a commemorative marker is also present near this accessway - this marker dedicated to the memory of the people who have sacrificed their lives in the armed forces of the United States. 

Rockaway Beach offers many fun activities including hiking, picnicking, sunbathing, wildlife watching, fishing, surfing, and boating. The water near Rockaway Beach occasionally offers powerful, thrilling, and consistent surfing waves. However, if you are planning to enter the water near Rockaway Beach, we recommend being extremely careful as the cold water here is known to have hazardous rip currents and rogue waves. In addition, drowning related accidents have also been reported in the water here. Locals generally avoid going in the water near Rockaway Beach. We recommend that you avoid engaging in aquatic recreational activities in the water here if you are a beginner swimmer or if the water seems too turbulent. 

Depending on the time of the year, you can view many kinds of animals in the water near Rockaway Beach including migrating whales, dolphins, and seals. If you like birdwatching, you can view many kinds of migratory and resident birds around Rockaway Beach. Rockaway Beach is a great fishing spot and you can catch many kinds of fish in the water here. However, if you are planning to fish in the water near Rockaway Beach, we recommend following the local fishing regulations. Rockaway Beach offers amazing Instagram worthy views of the northern Oregonian shoreline and the Pacific Ocean. You can also view the Twin Rocks in the water near the southern part of Rockaway Beach. Rockaway Beach also offers a fun oceanfront bonfire session. However, if you are planning a bonfire in Rockaway Beach, we recommend visiting the official tourism website of the city of Rockaway Beach to know more about the local bonfire regulations. Rockaway Beach also hosts many fun events throughout the year including the magnificent July 4th Celebrations and Rockaway Beach’s annual Pirate Festival. However, one of Rockaway Beach’s most prominent festivals is the Kite and Art Festival - this festival is held in August and it sees many beginner and professional kite fliers gather on the beach and display their amazing kites and kite-flying techniques. The festival also offers live music performances and art displays, along with plenty of great food options.  

Getting to Rockaway Beach is easy - you can easily reach the multiple accessways to the beach from United States Highway 101 (also known locally as Oregon Coast Highway). Some of these accessways have parking lots, while others have street parking spaces near them. You can visit the official tourism website of the city of Rockaway Beach to know more about the exact addresses of these beach accessways and the parking spaces near them.

There are many attractions near Rockaway Beach. The Garibaldi Maritime Museum has interesting exhibitions which offer a unique insight into the vibrant history of the city of Garibaldi and Northwestern coastal Oregon. The museum also has a gift shop. Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad is a heritage railroad and museum that offers interesting interpreted train rides along the north-western Oregonian coast. Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad also displays antique engines and railroad-related artifacts and it also offers a unique insight into the local natural history. Troxel’s Rock Garden is an exquisite garden that has many kinds of beautiful stones, along with a mini-golf course. Visitors can also purchase any stones or rocks that they like during their visit to this garden. If you are looking for another attraction near Rockaway Beach, International Police Museum is a unique museum that highlights the various aspects of the profession of law enforcement - the museum has many interesting law enforcement-related exhibits including displays of police uniforms from all around the world, historic weapons and tools used by law enforcement agencies over time, and the history of law enforcement and policing.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Rockaway Beach. Sand Dollar Restaurant and Lounge is a waterfront restaurant which offers many amenities including pastas, pork chops, seafood, burgers, sandwiches, and salads.  Old Oregon Smoke House serves delicious seafood - this restaurant is particularly known for serving amazing fried and smoked seafood dishes. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Rockaway Beach, The Original Pronto Pup offers outstanding pronto pups - pronto pups are a type of corn dogs which lack the characteristic sweetness present in the usual corn dog.

If you are looking for a hotel near Rockaway Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Coast Cabins is a 20-minute drive away - this hotel offers many amenities including an art gallery, a fitness center, a spa (available for a surcharge), and complimentary local wine. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Surfside Resort offers direct access to a beach and an indoor pool. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Rockaway Beach, the 2-Star Silver Sands Motel offers many amenities including a pool, a sauna, hot tub, board games, and complimentary tea and coffee.