Cannon Beach, Oregon Family Guide
The Famous Haystack Rock of Cannon Beach, Oregon.
Know Before You Go
Cannon Beach is one of the most famous sections of Highway 101, meaning it gets extra foot traffic and comes with higher costs. However, the extra amenities and charm can be completely worth it. If your vacationing is more budget-driven but you still want an incredible stay on the Oregon Coast, checking out nearby Seaside, Oregon is a great alternative—it is still only a quick 30-minute drive to visit Cannon Beach for the iconic Haystack Rock experience.
Bring a stroller or a wagon for younger kids. This is an incredibly walkable town, and having wheels will help a ton for little legs and managing lots of beach cargo!
Town parking can get completely swamped for those visiting without staying overnight. Plan to arrive early to secure a spot and walk to the beach, or leave your car at the hotel if you are staying locally.
Teach your kids about the ocean before visiting the beach! Kids thrive when we educate them ahead of vacations (*LINK*read my post on preparing kids ahead of time here). For a great resource specific to the Cannon Beach area, read here.
Where to Stay
For this trip with extended family, we rented and shared an AirBnB home close to the Haystack Rock access stairway on the south end of Cannon Beach Downtown. Location-wise, this was perfect. It kept us entirely out of the main road traffic, put us within fast walking distance to the sand for the kids, and treated us to a fantastic view of the ocean from the top floor.
This home was a great size for a large group or family, is pet-friendly, has a full kitchen, and plenty of entertainment space. A few parent considerations for this specific home: It is a three-story walkup with steep tile steps leading to several basement rooms, a large pool table on the main level, and a glass fireplace in the front room. Because of this layout, I would highly recommend this particular home for families traveling with older children. If this house doesn’t work for your needs, I suggest looking for rentals nearby on the south side if beach access is your top priority, or searching within midtown for a livelier city-feel with a short walk to the waves.
Where to Play
HAYSTACK ROCK
THE reason to visit, Haystack Rock is the ultimate beach access point. Famous for a reason, this beach is large, scenic, clean, and full of surprises. Be sure to make time for exploring the incredible and numerous tidepools at low tide (check the tide time chart here) and bring binoculars for seeing the puffins who nest on the rock. During low tide, there are city employees set up to help protect the wildlife, and there are regular lifeguards on the beach during peak seasons to help protect the public.
The main beach access for Haystack is along the street on the south end of town, but there is limited street parking. The access on the south end also has a large, steep stairway down to the shoreline, so plan accordingly if you want to use this access.
Additional access points to the beach are north of Haystack Rock and will require a walk down the beach. For wheelchair access and smoother stroller/wagon access without stairs, I recommend the access on Dawes Ave & Pacific Drive. The most north beach access is near Whale Park, but there is a small creek that can be more or less full during certain seasons and high tide, so be prepared to find another way.
For additional information regarding wheelchair accessibility for the beach, I recommend this great breakdown from Wheel the World and also this city-led beach wheelchair information page.
CANNON BEACH PUBLIC ART TOUR
Cannon Beach prides itself on its beautiful public art as well as its many art galleries. The city has a great list you can follow to see all their public art, including the Tufted Puffins statue. Make time to see the beautiful art galleries throughout Cannon, including House of Orange, Greaver Gallery, and Dragonfire Gallery. Also be sure to stop by the incredible Icefire Glassworks, where you can witness their team creating glass art while you see the unbelievable works they have for sale.
DOWNTOWN SHOPPING
Highly walkable blocks filled with local boutiques and beachside charm, its a great way to help break up the day and give everyone a chance to visit with locals. They have the best suggestions and are incredibly friendly!
Where to Eat
Local dining in Cannon Beach is known for its absolute excellence. There are many options to choose from, ranging from quick grab-and-go counters to full sit-down family experiences. Best of all, almost everything is a generally easy walk from the center of town. To help you plan your days, I have divided our dining experiences below.
Beachfront Menu & Grocery Strategy
Because we traveled with a larger extended family group, using our shared lodging savings allowed us to splurge a bit more on dining out for lunches and dinners than we would normally have done, but we did some grocery shopping on this trip to help the kids with quick breakfasts and beach snacks. For ideas of what to get for a more budget-friendly & beach transportable menu, feel free to take ideas from our hiking menu in the Redwoods.
Sit-Down Family Dining
PELICAN BREWING COMPANY
Located on the southern end of Cannon’s Hemlock Street, Pelican Brewing is a beautiful sit-down location with a fantastic menu for both kids and adults. They feature craft beverages brewed on-site, a wide menu selection, and both indoor and outdoor seating, along with a large banquet space. Parent tip: They also offer a great takeout menu if you want to keep exploring or need a quick, delicious meal brought back to the house during nap time for the kids.
PIG 'N PANCAKE
A classic Pacific Northwest family favorite! Pig 'N Pancake serves up American breakfast and lunch classics at family-friendly prices with generous serving sizes. It is easily one of our kids’ favorite places to eat, and we always try to track one down when we travel. Wait times can get long during peak morning hours, so plan ahead for an early breakfast or slide in for a late lunch to avoid the crowds. The Cannon Beach location sits on the north end of town.
PUBLIC COAST BREWING CO.
The furthest north restaurant we visited, this made for a perfect final stop on our way out of town to head back home. While it can be a bit pricier, the portions are large and the food is incredibly fresh. It features a great sit-down style atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor dining spaces.
TOM’S FISH & CHIPS
Great north-end family dining that offers a sit-down option at a budget-friendly, to-go price point. The fish tacos are delicious, and if you time it right, some months they offer an all-you-can-eat night that is a massive win for hungry families after a busy playday at the beach.
Quick Grab-and-Go Bites
OASIS CAFE
A great cafe with wonderful grab-and-go fare. The pricing was decent and their selection was wide enough for the whole family to enjoy. We utilized this as a quick, easy lunch option while exploring the local shops and completing our art crawl through north downtown.
PIZZA A’FETTA
Another excellent grab-and-go option on the north end, featuring a wide selection of delicious pizza pies that can be purchased by the slice or as a whole pie. The service was fast, convenient, and hit the spot. I definitely recommend this if your kids need a familiar, quick food win between beach sessions.
CREPE NEPTUNE
A delicious grab-and-go style spot on the north side of town serving up massive sweet and savory crepes. These things are huge—our kids easily shared a single sweet crepe between them, making it a fun, quick handheld snack to enjoy while wandering the town streets.
Local Markets & Sweet Treats
CANNON BEACH CHOCOLATE CAFE
This was a delightfully fun little afternoon stop for dessert on the north end of town. They offer rich, handmade artisanal chocolates of all kinds, including a thick, decadent hot chocolate served daily. Our kids loved getting to pick out a special beach treat here.
ECOLA SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & MARKET
A seafood lover’s absolute dream. This is a fantastic place to pick up food for right now and fresh catch for later in the trip. Their outdoor patio features gas fire tables to keep everyone warm while enjoying your meals. Their kids' menu is very reasonable and the plates are perfectly shareable, giving you an easy opportunity to try a little bit of everything. Don't forget to grab some items from the market counter to cook back at your rental!
CANNON BEACH FRESH FOODS MARKET
This small but mighty grocery store is located south of Cannon Beach’s main downtown hub, which was incredibly convenient for us since we were staying on the south side of downtown. Because the central streets get packed with pedestrians and cars around mealtimes, having a grocery store south of the traffic loop was a lifesaver. Keep in mind: Grocery prices along the rugged coastline can be higher than what you might be used to at home. Plan a little extra into your budget, or bring favorite snacks from home if your driving distance allows!
Overall Reflections
When a destination is this iconic, you always wonder if the reality will match the postcards. After a week of watching the kids explore tidepools, sharing massive crepes on breezy afternoons, and watching the sunset behind Haystack Rock, I can safely say Cannon Beach is absolutely worth the hype. If you want a Pacific Northwest getaway that perfectly balances rugged coastal beauty with fantastic family amenities, pack up the wagon and head to Cannon Beach. You won't regret it.
