Cannon Beach sits on the northern Oregon coast about 80 miles northwest of Portland, roughly 90 minutes from PDX airport via US-26 through the Coast Range. The town is defined by one landmark above all others: Haystack Rock, a 235-foot basalt sea stack that rises directly from the tidal flats at the south end of the main beach. It is among the most-photographed natural features on the Pacific coast. The surrounding tidepools — managed by the Friends of Haystack Rock Monitoring Program — are alive with purple sea urchins, ochre sea stars, hermit crabs, and nesting tufted puffins from spring through early summer. The beach itself stretches roughly 4 miles from Ecola Creek to Tolovana Park, wide enough at low tide to feel genuinely spacious even on a busy summer weekend. North of town, Ecola State Park puts 9 miles of the Clatsop Loop Trail through old-growth Sitka spruce and cedar, with cliff-top views back to Haystack Rock that belong on a postcard. Indian Beach inside the park is a sheltered cove popular with surfers and one of the best tide-pooling spots on the coast.
The town itself leans upscale and artsy in a way few Oregon coast communities do. Hemlock Street and its side lanes are lined with independent galleries (over a dozen), boutique shops, and restaurants that would hold their own in Portland. The Coaster Theatre stages local productions year-round; the Cannon Beach Book Company is a proper indie bookstore. There is no chain fast-food strip, no arcade midway — the city has deliberately kept that out. For reunions, this translates into a quieter, more curated stay than the classic Oregon beach town: gallery-hopping on a rainy morning, clam chowder from a real kitchen, a sunset walk to Haystack Rock when the tide goes out. Lodging clusters around Hemlock Street and along the beachfront — Surfsand Resort and the Stephanie Inn anchor the high end, while vacation rentals in Tolovana Park and Arch Cape (5 miles south) fill in the larger-group needs. Book 6-9 months ahead for summer weekends; the town books solid by February for July.
Where it is
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Things to do (with the family)
Hand-curated. Every entry links to its official source so you can plan without guessing.
Haystack Rock tide pools
The 235-ft basalt sea stack is accessible on foot at low tide. The surrounding tidepools support purple sea urchins, ochre sea stars, hermit crabs, and nesting tufted puffins (spring-summer). Friends of Haystack Rock volunteers staff the beach daily in summer with scopes and ID guides. Free; no reservation needed.
Official source ↗Ecola State Park
Nine miles of the Clatsop Loop Trail through old-growth Sitka spruce and cedar with sweeping cliff-top views back to Haystack Rock and south to Tillamook Head. Indian Beach is a sheltered surf cove inside the park. Day-use fee $5/car. One of the great short hikes on the entire Oregon coast.
Official source ↗Indian Beach (surfing & tide pools)
The sheltered cove inside Ecola State Park where the rocky point breaks attract beginner and intermediate surfers. At low tide the reef shelters dense sea life; the walk from the Ecola day-use lot is 0.5 miles. Surf rentals available in town from Oregon Surf Adventures.
Official source ↗Cannon Beach gallery walk (Hemlock Street)
More than a dozen independent galleries along Hemlock and its side streets — White Bird Gallery, Icefire Glassworks, Bronze Coast Gallery, and Jeffrey Hull Gallery among them. The annual Sandcastle Contest (typically June) draws professional sand sculptors and 25,000 visitors. Year-round, free to browse.
Official source ↗Oswald West State Park (Short Sand Beach)
10 miles south of Cannon Beach via US-101 — Short Sand Beach ("Shorty's") is a pocket cove sheltered by headlands, a consistent surf break, and old-growth rain forest. The 2.5-mile trail to Neahkahnie Mountain summit adds 1,600 ft of climbing and panoramic ocean views.
Official source ↗Clatsop Loop Trail (Ecola to Seaside)
The southern leg of the Oregon Coast Trail drops 6 miles from Ecola State Park over Tillamook Head to Seaside — a classic one-way shuttle hike. Full trail is 8 miles with 1,000 ft of gain through old-growth forest and cliff-side meadows. Arrange car shuttle from Seaside.
Official source ↗Goonies filming locations walking tour
The 1985 film "The Goonies" was filmed partly in Astoria (45 min north), but the Haystack Rock scenes are iconic. A self-guided Cannon Beach + Astoria film-location loop is a hit with any reunion group that grew up in the 1980s.
Official source ↗Sunset walk to Haystack Rock
Low-tide sunset on the main beach with Haystack Rock backlit by Pacific light is the defining Cannon Beach experience. Best May-September when sunset falls 8-9 PM. Tide charts at NOAA Tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov; low tide within 2 hours of sunset is the target. Free.
Official source ↗Cannon Beach Book Company
A well-curated indie bookstore on Hemlock Street — the rainy-morning anchor. Strong Pacific Northwest, natural history, and children's sections. Browse time: 30-60 min. Free to enter; dangerous to leave empty-handed.
Official source ↗Coaster Theatre Playhouse
A 250-seat community theater on Hemlock Street staging musicals, dramas, and comedies year-round. Reunion group matinees are a popular rainy-day fallback and an easy evening activity within walking distance of the main lodging strip.
Official source ↗Neahkahnie Mountain hike (Oswald West)
From the south Oswald West trailhead, a 5-mile RT hike climbs 1,600 ft to the 1,631-ft summit — wide-open Pacific views from the Oregon Coast Trail high point. Best for fit teens and adults; not suitable for young children.
Official source ↗Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site
The southern end of the Cannon Beach strand at Tolovana Park — less crowded, wide sandy beach, accessible parking, and a restroom facility. The reliable low-key beach day for reunion members who want less foot traffic than the Haystack Rock area.
Official source ↗Seafood dinner on Hemlock Street
The Wayfarer Restaurant (ocean views, full bar, clam chowder benchmark), Newman's at 988 (Pacific Northwest fine dining, reserve 3 weeks out for groups), and Driftwood Restaurant & Lounge (casual, reliable fish-and-chips) anchor the Cannon Beach dining scene. All walkable from the main lodging cluster.
Official source ↗Find more things to do for your Cannon Beach, Oregon reunion
The picks above are general. Inside the Reunly app, Rosi tailors local activities, meals, and printables to your actual dates, group size, ages, and budget - and saves them straight to your reunion plan.
Where to hold your reunion near Cannon Beach, Oregon
Outdoor pavilions, county parks, fairgrounds, and event grounds within driving distance - places where your group can actually gather, not just visit.
Ecola State Park — Indian Beach Picnic Area
🏞 State ParkDay-use picnic area above the sheltered Indian Beach cove inside Ecola State Park. Old-growth Sitka spruce canopy, ocean views, and direct trail access to the beach and tide pools. The most scenic outdoor reunion gathering spot on the northern Oregon coast. Reserve shelters via ReserveAmerica.
Reserve / info ↗Surfsand Resort — Event Lawn & Pacific Room
🏨 Resort / LodgeCannon Beach's largest full-service hotel offers a beach-level event lawn and indoor Pacific Room for catered group events. Oceanfront setting with Haystack Rock in the background. The easiest all-in-one lodging + venue play for groups of 30-120.
Reserve / info ↗Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site — North Pavilion
🏞 State ParkOpen beach-access day-use site with picnic tables and restrooms at the south end of the Cannon Beach strand. No formal covered pavilion, but the flat sandy expanse and ample parking make it a practical low-cost outdoor gathering point.
Reserve / info ↗Coaster Theatre Playhouse — Private Rentals
🏛 Event CenterThe 250-seat community theater on Hemlock Street offers private venue rental for group events outside of performance times. A covered, centrally located indoor option for reunions that want a Cannon Beach meeting space with character.
Reserve / info ↗Stephanie Inn — Garden Terrace
🏨 Resort / LodgeCannon Beach's premier boutique hotel offers a private garden terrace and dining room for group events. Best for smaller upscale reunions (20-40 people) that want white-tablecloth catering and a quiet oceanfront setting.
Reserve / info ↗Oswald West State Park — Short Sand Beach Group Area
🏞 State ParkThe sheltered cove at Short Sand Beach inside Oswald West State Park has picnic tables and a walk-in camping area with old-growth forest backdrop and a consistent surf break. The most rugged and photogenic outdoor reunion option within 15 minutes of Cannon Beach.
Reserve / info ↗👥 With Reunly
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Good for
- Artsy, gallery-and-galleries reunions (older adults who want more than just beach)
- Multi-gen tide-pool and nature days with Haystack Rock as the anchor
- Ecola State Park hiking half-days (old-growth forest + ocean views)
- Quiet, boutique-town reunions with quality dining and no arcade noise
- Pacific Northwest drive-from-Portland long weekends (90 min via US-26)
- 80s-nostalgia Goonies-themed reunion side trips to Astoria
Practical logistics
- Closest Airports
- Portland International (PDX) 80 miles east via US-26 — 90-minute drive, the dominant access point. Eugene (EUG) 3 hr south. Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) 4 hr north. No regional air service to the northern Oregon coast.
- Drive Times
- Portland 90 min · Salem 2 hr · Eugene 3 hr · Seattle 4 hr · Astoria 45 min north · Seaside 25 min north via US-101.
- Group Lodging
- Surfsand Resort (94 rooms, oceanfront, the main group-block hotel). Stephanie Inn (41 rooms, luxury boutique, minimum 2-night stay). Haystack Inn and Cannon Beach Hotel for mid-size groups. Vacation rentals in Tolovana Park and Arch Cape (5 miles south) for 4-10 BR houses — Vrbo and Airbnb dominate. Most vacation rentals require 3-7 night minimums in summer.
- Rental Companies
- Pacific Vacation Properties, Cannon Beach Vacation Rentals, and Arch Cape House are the named local agencies. Vrbo and Airbnb cover the broader inventory. Surfsand Resort handles group blocks of 20+ rooms directly.
- House Size
- 3-5 BR is standard Tolovana Park inventory. 6-8 BR oceanfront estates exist along Breakers Point and Arch Cape (rare, $1,200-3,000/night summer peak). For 40+ people, a Surfsand Resort room block or two adjacent vacation rental compounds is the standard play.
- Peak Season
- July 4 through Labor Day — the 8-week window when the beach is warm enough (60-65°F), puffins are gone (post-July), and school is out. Book 6-9 months ahead. The Sandcastle Contest weekend (typically last Saturday of June) is separately packed.
- Shoulder Season
- May-June (pre-summer: 55-60°F, fewer crowds, puffin nesting season at Haystack Rock — the best wildlife window). September-October (post-summer: similar temps, dramatically fewer crowds, 30-40% off lodging). Oregon coast winters are rainy but mild (45-50°F); Ecola State Park and Haystack Rock are still beautiful.
- Restaurants
- Wayfarer Restaurant (oceanfront, clam chowder anchor, groups to 60) · Newman's at 988 (Pacific NW fine dining, reserve 3 weeks) · Driftwood Restaurant & Lounge (casual, fish and chips, kid-friendly) · Pizza a'fetta (wood-fired, Hemlock St) · Sleepy Monk Coffee (the morning anchor, organic, small-batch) · Cannon Beach Hardware & Public House (local beer + burgers, casual groups). Reserve groups 2-3 weeks ahead in summer; 6 weeks for peak July weekends.
- Kid Friendly
- Haystack Rock tide pools are the standout kid activity — the volunteer docents make it educational. Indian Beach (sheltered surf cove), Tolovana Beach for sandcastle building, Ecola State Park easy forest walks, and the gallery walk on rainy days all work for ages 5-15. Younger children need supervision at all tide-pool areas (slippery rocks). No amusement rides or arcades in Cannon Beach by design.
- Accessibility
- The main Cannon Beach strand is wide and firm at low tide — wheelchair-accessible with effort. Haystack Rock itself is not ADA (rock field). Ecola State Park day-use area has paved parking and accessible restrooms; the trails are unimproved. Surfsand Resort and Stephanie Inn are fully ADA-compliant. Most Hemlock Street galleries and shops are accessible.
- Weather Window
- Oregon coast summer: 58-68°F days, 48-55°F nights. Fog most mornings (burns off by noon in July-August). Rain possible any month. Spring (May-June): 50-60°F, frequent showers, the best wildlife window (puffins, whale migration). Fall: similar to spring. Winter: 45-50°F, very rainy, but dramatically uncrowded and still beautiful.
- Park Fee
- Ecola State Park $5/car day-use. Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site free. Oswald West State Park free. Haystack Rock beach access free. No town entry fee.
- Official Site
- https://www.cannonbeach.org/
When to go
May through June for the best wildlife window — tufted puffins nest on Haystack Rock, gray whales migrate north, and the coast is uncrowded at 30-40% off peak summer rates. July through Labor Day for the warmest beach weather (58-68°F) and fullest programming — book 6-9 months ahead. September-October is the secret shoulder: post-summer calm, similar temperatures, emptier trails, and 30-40% lower lodging costs. Winter (November-March) is the rainy season but also uncrowded and atmospheric for the right reunion group.
Best for your group size
Small group · 10–25
10-25 fits in a single 4-6 BR Tolovana Park or Arch Cape vacation rental. Surfsand Resort room blocks of 10-15 rooms work well. Meals at Wayfarer or Driftwood on reservation.
Medium group · 25–60
25-60 should book a Surfsand Resort group block (20-40 rooms) or two adjacent Tolovana Park vacation rentals. Group dinner reservations at Wayfarer (capacity 60) are the anchor.
Large group · 60+
60+ groups need a Surfsand Resort full buyout (94 rooms) or a combination of Surfsand plus the Haystack Inn and neighboring vacation rentals. Event catering at Ecola State Park or a private venue rental required for shared meals.
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Sample 4-day Cannon Beach reunion (summer)
A starter agenda you can copy into Reunly's Schedule and customize for your group.
Thursday - Arrival & Haystack Rock sunset
- 12:00 PM PDX airport pickups and car convoy west on US-26
- 1:30 PM stop at Safeway in Seaside for groceries (last major store before Cannon Beach)
- 2:30 PM check-in at Surfsand Resort or Tolovana Park vacation rentals
- 4:00 PM unpack, walk south end of beach toward Haystack Rock
- 5:30 PM check NOAA tide chart — confirm low tide window
- 7:00 PM Haystack Rock sunset walk (free, bring jackets)
- 8:30 PM group dinner at Wayfarer Restaurant (reserve 4 weeks ahead)
Friday - Ecola State Park morning + gallery afternoon
- 7:30 AM breakfast at Sleepy Monk Coffee (arrive early — small space)
- 9:00 AM drive to Ecola State Park day-use area ($5/car)
- 9:15 AM Ecola viewpoint trail — cliff-top view of Haystack Rock
- 10:00 AM Indian Beach (sheltered surf cove, tide pools)
- 12:00 PM return to town, lunch at Driftwood (fish and chips)
- 1:30 PM Hemlock Street gallery walk — Icefire Glassworks glass-blowing demo
- 3:30 PM Cannon Beach Book Company
- 5:00 PM beach free time / kite flying
- 7:30 PM cook-in dinner at the rental
Saturday - Oswald West + Sandcastle time
- 8:00 AM breakfast at the rental
- 9:30 AM drive south to Oswald West State Park — Short Sand Beach trail (0.5 mi)
- 10:00 AM Short Sand Beach (sheltered cove, surf, old-growth forest)
- 12:30 PM return to Cannon Beach — sandcastle contest area at north beach
- 1:30 PM group sandcastle building competition (any day, any tide)
- 3:30 PM Tolovana Beach walk south
- 5:30 PM pre-dinner drinks at Cannon Beach Hardware & Public House
- 7:00 PM milestone dinner at Newman's at 988 (reserve 3 weeks ahead, 6-8 person max party)
Sunday - Astoria day trip + departures
- 8:00 AM breakfast at the rental
- 9:30 AM drive north to Astoria (45 min)
- 10:30 AM Astoria Column (ocean + Columbia River panorama)
- 11:30 AM Columbia River Maritime Museum
- 1:00 PM lunch in Astoria (Baked Alaska or Blue Scorcher Bakery)
- 2:30 PM Goonies filming location walk (optional)
- 4:00 PM drive south to Cannon Beach, check out, head to PDX
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Drag the sample itinerary above into Reunly's Schedule, add per-event RSVPs, and share one link with the whole family. Rosi (our AI) fills in gaps from your group size and dates.
Reunion organizer tips
Book 6-9 months ahead for July and August weekend dates. Surfsand Resort group blocks fill by March; the best 5-6 BR Tolovana Park vacation rentals go in February for the following summer. Shoulder season (May-June, September) opens up 4-6 months ahead.
Pick a low-tide sunset evening for the Haystack Rock walk. Pull the NOAA tide chart for your dates before you book activities — low tide within 2 hours of sunset (8-9 PM in July-August) is the single best Cannon Beach experience and it's completely free.
Plan the Ecola State Park half-day for a morning when fog burns off by 9 AM (common in July-August). The cliff-top viewpoint at the end of the short paved trail is the best Haystack Rock angle in the world. Parking fills by 10 AM on summer weekends — arrive before 9 AM.
Split the group by interest on day 2. Active hikers do the Clatsop Loop Trail to Seaside (8 miles, arrange shuttle). Gallery lovers do Hemlock Street. Beach day folks stay at Tolovana Park. This multi-track day works especially well for multi-gen groups where grandparents and grandchildren want different paces.
Reserve group dinners 3-4 weeks ahead. The Wayfarer handles groups of 20-60 with advance notice. Newman's at 988 (fine dining, 6 tables) needs 3 weeks minimum for a party of 8+. For casual cook-in nights, the Cannon Beach Farmer's Market (summer Sundays) and the Seaside Safeway (25 min north on US-101) are the grocery anchors.
Add an Astoria half-day if your reunion spans 4+ days. 45 minutes north on US-101, Astoria offers the Astoria Column (city panorama), the Columbia River Maritime Museum, the Goonies filming locations walking tour, and a strong coffee-shop-and-brunch scene. Budget 4-5 hours.
Tidepool safety briefing on arrival. Haystack Rock tidepools have slippery basalt and unexpected sneaker waves. Brief kids and older adults: stay back from the surf line, move slowly on wet rock, never pick up or disturb sea stars or urchins. The Friends of Haystack Rock volunteers (on-beach daily in summer) are genuinely helpful.
Spring means puffins. Tufted puffins nest on Haystack Rock from April through mid-August. The Friends of Haystack Rock bring binoculars and spotting scopes daily during nesting season. If your reunion includes bird-watchers or nature-curious kids, May-June is the optimal timing — crowds thin and nesting is most active.
Rainy-day rotation: Coaster Theatre matinee → Cannon Beach Book Company → gallery walk (Icefire Glassworks has live glass-blowing demonstrations) → early dinner at Driftwood. Oregon coast rain is rarely cold (48-55°F), so a good rain jacket and the above rotation makes any weather day enjoyable.
Combine with Seaside for the full northern Oregon coast trip. Seaside (25 min north on US-101) handles the aquarium, arcade, and Promenade energy; Cannon Beach handles the quiet, art, and nature. Most multi-day reunions benefit from at least one shared day in Seaside if the group has younger kids who want more activity variety.
Use Reunly to manage the logistics — RSVP tracking, shared budget for group dinners and park fees, and a day-by-day schedule so everyone knows when the Haystack Rock sunset walk is. The polls feature works perfectly for choosing between the Ecola hike, Oswald West, and the Astoria day trip.
How Reunly helps you plan it
Reunly is the all-in-one app made for family reunion organizers. Free to start. No credit card. Cancel anytime.
Smart guest list
Drop in any spreadsheet - Rosi (our AI) reads multi-sheet, color-coded family groups, even handwritten exports. RSVP, dietary, T-shirt, paid status all in one row.
Open in Reunly →Public RSVP link
Share one link with the whole family. They RSVP per event (Friday BBQ, Saturday dinner) without making an account. You see live counts.
Open in Reunly →Budget that adds up
Track estimated vs. actual, who paid, who still owes. Auto-creates per-guest fee rows from your registration cost.
Open in Reunly →Day-by-day schedule
Friday welcome BBQ, Saturday photo, Sunday brunch - with location, meal flag, and per-event RSVPs.
Open in Reunly →Name tags + printables
Avery 5160 sheets color-coded by family, programs, welcome packets, packing lists - auto-filled from your data.
Open in Reunly →Rosi the AI helper
Stuck on a reminder email? A budget? A timeline? Click Rosi anywhere in the app - she drafts it from your live data.
Open in Reunly →Plan your Cannon Beach, Oregon reunion with Reunly
Free to start. Build your guest list, share an RSVP link, track payments, and print name tags - no spreadsheets.
Frequently asked
How far is Cannon Beach from Portland?
About 80 miles west via US-26 through the Coast Range — typically 90 minutes from PDX airport to Cannon Beach. Traffic adds 20-30 minutes on Friday afternoons and Sunday departures in summer. It is the closest major Oregon coast destination from Portland.
When can we see the puffins on Haystack Rock?
Tufted puffins nest on Haystack Rock from approximately April through mid-August each year. The Friends of Haystack Rock volunteers bring spotting scopes to the beach daily during nesting season. May and June offer the best combination of active nesting, lower crowds, and reasonable weather.
Is Cannon Beach good for a family reunion with young kids?
Yes, with caveats. The Haystack Rock tide pools with volunteer docents are outstanding for kids ages 5-15. Tolovana Beach is wide and great for sandcastles. However, there are no amusement rides, no arcade, and no indoor play facilities — Cannon Beach is deliberately quiet. For families who want more activity variety for young kids, a combined Cannon Beach + Seaside trip (25 min north) covers both bases.
What is the best lodging for a group of 30 at Cannon Beach?
Surfsand Resort (94 rooms, oceanfront) is the easiest group-block option — contact their group sales team directly. For a self-catering reunion, two adjacent Tolovana Park vacation rentals (3-4 BR each) plus a small inn for overflow works well for 25-35 people. Book 6-9 months ahead for summer.
Can we walk to Haystack Rock at any tide?
Haystack Rock itself is best approached within 2 hours of low tide, when the tidal flat is exposed and the surrounding tidepools are accessible. At high tide the ocean reaches near the base of the rock. Check NOAA Tides and Currents (tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov) for the Cannon Beach station before planning your walk. Sneaker waves are always possible — never turn your back on the ocean.
What should we do on a rainy day in Cannon Beach?
Oregon coast rain is rarely cold (48-55°F), so a good jacket goes a long way. The reliable rainy-day rotation: Coaster Theatre matinee or evening show, Cannon Beach Book Company, gallery walk along Hemlock Street (Icefire Glassworks has live glass-blowing demonstrations worth 30-45 minutes), and an early dinner at Driftwood or the Wayfarer. Ecola State Park in a light rain is genuinely beautiful — old-growth Sitka spruce in the mist.
How does Cannon Beach compare to Seaside for a reunion?
They are 25 minutes apart and deliberately different. Cannon Beach is quieter, more upscale, and art-focused — Haystack Rock, Ecola State Park, boutique dining, galleries, and no arcade. Seaside is a classic family beach town with a 1.5-mile Promenade, the Seaside Aquarium, an arcade and midway, bigger hotels, and more affordable options. Most multi-day reunions benefit from a day in each.
Is there a fee to visit Ecola State Park?
Yes — $5 per vehicle day-use fee at Ecola State Park. Oregon State Parks Annual Pass ($30) covers it if your group has multiple cars across multiple days. The park is open year-round; the Clatsop Loop Trail to Seaside is the most popular multi-hour outing from the park.
Other reunion-friendly spots nearby
Helpful planning guides
The complete family reunion checklist
12-month, 6-month, and day-of checklists organizers actually use.
Read the guide →Family reunion budget guide
How to estimate, track, and split costs without spreadsheets.
Read the guide →Family reunion on a $2,500 budget
A real budget breakdown for a destination reunion under $2.5K.
Read the guide →