Pets allowed
Allowed
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
No
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Despite its close proximity to Portland, the Cape Meares and Cape Lookout area just west of Tillamook remains one of the most pristine and tranquil coastal getaways on the Oregon coast.  There are several reasons for this: the two capes are hidden off of US Highway 101, most urbanites head north to Cannon Beach and Seaside (lured by the idyllic coast town vibe and artistic boutiques) and the Cape Lookout Campground is more attractive to tent campers rather than RVs.

Beyond the campground, the state park has a little bit of everything for the summer recreational enthusiast. Highlights include over 5 miles of unobstructed sandy shore that's perfect for beachcombing, enjoying a relaxed day-use and picnic area perched right above the park’s beach, and hiking the 7.3 miles of trails through old-growth coastal forest. Perhaps its best feature, and one of Oregon’s most picturesque day hikes, is the 2.4-mile stretch of trail out to the tip of Cape Lookout.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

State Park Fee

Pros

Cape Lookout hike. Amazing campground. 5.5 miles of sandy beach.

Cons

Very crowded during summer peak.

Features

Campgrounds + Campsites
Showers
Amphitheater
Flushing toilets
Potable water
Picnic tables
Covered picnic areas
Old-growth forest

Site type

Full hookups
Yurts

Location

Comments

10/06/2013
A nice dry day in October, not too cool. Just right for spending time on the beach.
02/15/2015
Went to Cape Lookout this weekend (02/15/2015) last minute and without a reservation. Was nervous that it'd all be filled up because of President's Day and partial campground closures for winter. Also I was nervous because online it had said everything was unavailable, but we showed up and there were plenty of tent spots available in the D loop, which (in my opinion) were the prettiest camp spots available. The back half of D loop was closed for winter, but I took a walk around the trail and the campsites are nice and woody/mossy. The campgrounds are also RIGHT by the beach, so we could easily scamper between the campsite and the beach. It was pretty crowded and lots of kids/dogs, but it was a gorgeous area so it made it worth it. Also, we could buy firewood at the campground between 3-8pm, which was nice. There are also hot showers, firepits with grills, water spouts, etc.


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