Ahhh, my favorite time of year, when the ocean puts on its greatest show. These are king tides, the highest tides of the year, born when the moon, sun, and Earth align and their combined pull drives the sea to its extremes. Waves tower against cliffs, spray arcs into the sky like silver fireworks, and whole stretches of shoreline disappear beneath the rising blue. It is the sea at its most majestic, a performance written in gravity and light.

In this article you’ll find:

A simple explanation of what creates king tides and when they happen
Twenty safe viewpoints from north to south where you can watch the waves
Twenty oceanfront or ocean-view places to stay
Twenty restaurants where the sound of the surf is part of the meal
Twenty indoor spots to enjoy on stormy days
Safety tips and ways you can help care for the coast

Let the sea call you, and let wisdom guide your steps.

King tide science & timing

Tides result from gravitational pull: the moon’s pull, the sun’s pull, plus Earth’s rotation and the shape of ocean basins. In most days we see two high tides and two low tides, roughly every 12 hours and 25 minutes.

A king tide, also called a perigean spring tide, happens when the moon is near its closest point to Earth (perigee) while aligned with the sun in a way that reinforces gravitational pull. The result: high tides get higher, and low tides get lower than average.

Because a lunar day is about 24 hours 50 minutes, each daily high shifts about 50 minutes later. That means a king tide high might land midmorning at one spot but afternoon at another. You absolutely need the exact local tide table for the beach or harbor you plan.

When swell, wind, and tide align, surf can compress into tighter wave walls, crash higher on cliffs, and send spray higher than usual. Watching from elevation lets you see it without being part of its reach

Twenty safe elevated viewpoints

(north → south)

Accessible Viewpoints for King Tide Watching
(roadside pullouts, paved overlooks, fenced headlands — no treacherous trails. Arrive early, stay through peak.)

Ecola State Park Overlooks (Cannon Beach / Seaside) — clifftop vantage points with parking and railings, sweeping views toward Haystack Rock and the headlands.
Silver Point Scenic Overlook (south of Cannon Beach) — a highway turnout with one of the most photogenic perspectives north and south.
Neahkahnie Mountain Viewpoints (north of Manzanita / Arch Cape) — dramatic pullouts above the surf, looking across capes, coves, and endless ocean.
Cape Meares Lighthouse Overlook (Oceanside) — paved paths and fencing around the lighthouse bluff, with wide exposures to sea and sky.
Cape Lookout Bluff Tops (Three Capes Drive) — elevated views along paved access roads, perfect for wave watching.
Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint (north of Depoe Bay) — a classic storm-watch stop, with channeled swell, parking, and sturdy railings.
Depoe Bay Seawall & Whale Watching Center — a solid masonry wall above the churning harbor entrance, with covered seating and restrooms.
Otter Crest / Cape Foulweather Overlooks — US-101 pullouts with interpretive signs, broad reef views, and safe railings.
Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint (south of Depoe Bay) — picnic tables and blufftop viewing over the coastal corridor.
Devils Punch Bowl Rim (Otter Rock) — a paved rim path over the iconic cauldron where waves crash in from all sides.
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area (Newport) — paved paths to basalt cliffs, lighthouse overlooks, and expansive headland views.
Seal Rock State Recreation Site (south of Newport) — accessible blufftop viewpoints above sea stacks, with benches and fencing.
Heceta Head Lighthouse Scenic Overlook (Florence) — a highway turnout with a postcard-perfect lighthouse view above the surf.
Sea Lion Caves Upper Terraces (Florence) — elevator access to terraces above the caves, with elevated ocean panoramas.
Cape Perpetua Overlook (south of Yachats) — a drive-up setting offering one of the coast’s broadest horizons.
Shore Acres State Park Storm-Watch Shelter (Charleston / Coos Bay) — enclosed, glass-fronted shelter perched above the cliffs, designed for winter waves.
Simpson Reef Overlook (Cape Arago) — railings and benches with a view of reefs where breakers hammer the rocks.
Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint (Bandon) — paved walkways along the bluff with elevated views of offshore sea stacks.
Port Orford Heads State Park Overlooks — paved trails to headland views above Nellie’s Cove and sweeping ocean arcs.
Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor (south coast) — signed highway overlooks at Natural Bridges, Arch Rock, House Rock, and Cape Ferrelo, all safely elevated.
Bonus: Harris Beach State Park (Brookings) — accessible paths to viewpoints above reefs and islands, a southern highlight.

Oceanfront Lodging on the Oregon Coast
⭐ denotes one of the Top 5 highest-rated picks on the coast

Surfsand Resort, Cannon Beach — true oceanfront, with views of Haystack Rock
⭐ Stephanie Inn, Cannon Beach — top-rated luxury boutique inn with fireplaces and oceanfront rooms
Hallmark Resort Cannon Beach — bluffside near Haystack Rock, stairway to the beach
The Ocean Lodge, Cannon Beach — classic lodge feel with ocean views
Seaside Prom Inn, Seaside — steps from the Promenade with direct beach access
Silver Sands, Seaside — simple oceanfront motel right on the sand
Ocean Inn at Manzanita — small suites right on the beach
Salty Shore Airbnb, Rockaway Beach — private, cozy stay with sweeping views
Silver Sands, Rockaway Beach — classic oceanfront motel
Surfside Resort, Rockaway Beach — beachfront resort with amenities
⭐ Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa, Pacific City — luxury lodge with private balconies over the ocean
Inn at Cape Kiwanda, Pacific City — close to the dunes with ocean views
Inn at Spanish Head, Lincoln City — iconic high-rise, elevator to the beach
Pelican Shores Inn, Lincoln City — bluffside rooms with stairs to the sand
The Coho Oceanfront Lodge, Lincoln City — oceanfront rooms with sweeping views
Hallmark Resort Newport — perched on the bluff above Nye Beach
Elizabeth Oceanfront Suites, Newport — bluffside property with wide ocean views
⭐ Inn at Nye Beach, Newport — boutique, highly rated, with balconies right over the surf
⭐ Overleaf Lodge, Yachats — one of the highest-rated properties on the entire coast, oceanfront spa and rooms perched above the rocks
Adobe Resort, Yachats — longtime coastal favorite with panoramic vistas
Driftwood Shores Resort, Florence — beachfront on wide Heceta Beach
⭐ Beachfront Inn, Brookings — best-rated oceanfront stay on the southern coast, updated rooms and unbeatable views

Twenty restaurants with surf in sight

From north to south, these dining options offer ocean or water views during your king tide trip:

Oceanfront Dining on the Oregon Coast
- Wayfarer Restaurant & Lounge, Cannon Beach — full oceanfront, seasonal menu, views of Haystack Rock
- Stephanie Inn Dining Room, Cannon Beach — luxurious coastal cuisine at the water’s edge
- Pelican Brewing, Pacific City — beachfront brewpub patio at the sand
- Kyllo’s Seafood & Grill, Lincoln City — at the D River, right on the edge of beach frontage
- Fathoms, Inn at Spanish Head, Lincoln City — on the tenth floor with sweeping ocean views
- Chinook’s Seafood Grill, Lincoln City — ocean view seating in a resort setting
- Georgie’s Beachside Grill, Newport — beachside, surf as ambiance
- Clearwater Restaurant, Newport — bayfront with strong marine ambiance and water views
- Local Ocean Seafoods, Newport — perched on the bayfront, close to the water
- Tidal Raves Seafood Grill, Depoe Bay — ocean-edge placement, casual seafood
- Restaurant Beck at Whale Cove Inn, Depoe Bay — fine dining with surf framing windows
- Mo’s West, Otter Rock — cliff-edge, adjacent to Devil’s Punch Bowl
- Squatchsami Fish and Chips, Yachats — casual take-out, perfect to carry up to a viewpoint and watch the waves crash
- Luna Sea Fish House, Yachats — beloved local spot, casual seafood with ocean air all around
- Waterfront Depot, Florence — fine dining in a restored depot, romantic setting right on the riverfront
- 7 Devils Waterfront Ale House, Coos Bay — lively, local brewing with bayfront tables
- Redfish, Port Orford — glass-front bluffside with direct Pacific views
- Spinner’s Seafood Steak & Chop House, Gold Beach — elevated dining with views toward the ocean and Rogue River mouth

Twenty Indoor Activities for Stormy Days on the Oregon Coast
(accessible, historical, and fun, arranged north to south)

Columbia River Maritime Museum (Astoria) ⭐ — Smithsonian-affiliated, with gripping exhibits on the Columbia River Bar, Coast Guard rescues, and historic vessels. Step aboard the Lightship Columbia between storms.
Oregon Film Museum (Astoria) — Inside the old county jail, with movie props and exhibits celebrating The Goonies and other Oregon-made films.
Liberty Theatre (Astoria) — A restored 1920s playhouse, alive with concerts and stage shows.
Seaside Aquarium (Seaside) — A 1937 classic, best known for its harbor seals and touch tanks.
Funland Arcade (Seaside) — Boardwalk-style fun, from skee ball to pinball, perfect on wet days.
Cannon Beach History Center & Museum (Cannon Beach) — Free and cozy, with stories of shipwrecks, pioneers, and Haystack Rock.
Coaster Theatre Playhouse (Cannon Beach) — Community theatre with plays and musicals that make a rainy night shine.
Tillamook Creamery (Tillamook) ⭐ — Watch cheese being made behind glass walls, then indulge in grilled cheese or a scoop of ice cream.
Tillamook County Pioneer Museum (Tillamook) — Three floors of artifacts, from Native history to dairy and logging heritage.
Tillamook Air Museum (Tillamook) — Step into one of the world’s largest wooden structures, a WWII blimp hangar housing vintage aircraft.
North Lincoln County Historical Museum (Lincoln City) — Local heritage displays covering Indigenous culture, fishing, and settlement.
Lincoln City Glass Center (Lincoln City) — Watch glass artists at work, or try making your own float beside the roaring furnaces.
Hatfield Marine Science Center (Newport) — Interactive tidepool tanks, tsunami science, and hands-on exhibits for families.
Oregon Coast Aquarium (Newport) ⭐ — Sharks, rays, seabirds, and indoor tunnels, the crown jewel of Oregon’s marine attractions.
Pacific Maritime Heritage Center (Newport) — Maritime culture and bayfront views inside a restored 1918 building.
Yaquina Head Interpretive Center (Newport) — Exhibits on geology, seabirds, and lighthouse history, with storm views framed by glass.
Wave Gallery (Yachats) — A coastal art gallery with sculpture and ocean-inspired works, a cultural stop on a stormy day.
Cape Perpetua Visitor Center (south of Yachats) ⭐ — Ranger talks, exhibits on geology and wildlife, and windows overlooking one of the coast’s wildest horizons.
Sea Lion Caves (Florence) ⭐ — Take the elevator into America’s largest sea cave, where sea lions shelter as waves boom through the cavern.
Driftwood Shores Indoor Pool (Florence) — For families, a storm-day swim with floor-to-ceiling ocean views just beyond the glass.
Coos History Museum (Coos Bay) — A bright waterfront museum covering Indigenous culture, shipwrecks, and logging history.
Charleston Marine Life Center (Charleston) — Small but lively, with touch tanks, aquariums, and a view of the harbor.
Shore Acres State Park Holiday Lights (Charleston, seasonal) ⭐ — In winter, walk through indoor botanical displays and a garden sparkling with lights, a storm-season tradition.
Washed Ashore Gallery (Bandon) — Massive sea life sculptures made from marine debris, part art, part environmental lesson.
Gold Beach Books (Gold Beach) — Oregon’s largest used bookstore, with a café to sip coffee as storms roll in.
Harris Beach Visitor Center (Brookings, seasonal) — Indoor exhibits on reefs and offshore islands with safe storm-view windows.

Low Tides

When king tides happen, they make the high tides higher and the low tides lower. The ocean pulls back farther than usual and shows rocks, tidepools, and parts of the beach that are usually hidden. It feels like a secret world being uncovered.

But it can also be dangerous. Water can rush back in faster than you expect. Places that look dry can fill up quickly. Small rivers and streams that seemed empty can suddenly refill. Currents can grow strong and sweep through.

Always explore in safe tidepooling areas where there are stairs, railings, or signs. Keep a clear path back to dry land. Never go into tight coves or caves unless you know the tide schedule. Think of the ocean like it is breathing. If you are not careful, you could get caught when it breathes back in.

Becoming a Coastal Steward

King tides are more than big waves. They are also a way to learn how the ocean is changing over time. The Oregon King Tides Project is a program where everyday people help scientists by taking photos during the highest tides of the year. You do not need special equipment. A phone or camera works fine.

Here is how it works. On king tide days, go to a safe spot that is above the water. Take a photo that shows how far the water reached. Try to include something that does not move, like a building, a rock, a road, or a seawall. This helps people compare photos from year to year.

When you are done, upload your photo to the project’s online map. Your picture becomes part of a large collection that shows how tides and storms affect the coast. Scientists and planners use these photos to see where flooding happens, where shorelines are changing, and where communities might be at risk in the future.

This project is important because it turns one stormy day into useful information for the whole state. The more people take part, the more complete the picture becomes. By joining, you help protect coastal towns, wildlife, and beaches for the next generation.

How to Join the Oregon King Tides Project

Check the tide chart for official king tide dates.
Pick a safe spot well above the water.
Take photos that show how high the water reached, including landmarks that do not move.
Upload your photos to the King Tides Project online portal.
Share your story with friends and family to encourage more people to get involved.

The king tides remind us that life is made of highs and lows, each one reshaping us the way waves carve the shore. They pull us back to wonder, tie us to the moon, and remind us that every cycle carries both power and renewal. Watch with awe, tread with care, and let the ocean show you that even in its churn there is beauty, rhythm, and joy.

Have fun, be safe, and let the tides teach you how to rise.

🌊 Oregon King Tides Guide: Where to Watch, Stay, and Learn