In this trip idea, we're highlighting some thoughtful tips from the Oregon Coast Visitors Association that truly resonate with those of us lucky enough to call the coast home. We invite you to join us in embracing these small but meaningful ways to Coast Like a Local. While some may feel like common sense, they’re great reminders for helping everyone enjoy, respect, and protect this special place.

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We love this place, and we know you love it, too. We want you to experience the coast authentically and responsibly, the way we do!

Oregon Coast Locals are the small business owners, surfers, fishers, farmers, and environmental stewards who call the coast home, 365 days a year. These tips will help you think and act like a local when you visit the coast. The easiest way to start? Respect people and nature by doing your research, and always know before you go.

Explore the tips below, then head to visittheoregoncoast.com/coast-like-a-local/ for even more.

KPTV FOX 12 Portland hosted an interview with Lynnee Jacks from Oregon Coast Visitors Association about the COAST LIKE A LOCAL stewardship campaign. Watch it here.   
 

Locals know the Oregon Coast is wild, beautiful, and unpredictable. When we explore, we come prepared. If you want to coast like a local, it’s best to know before you go! This means knowing: 

  • Tide tables (We love the ones on the new Seaside website)
  • Tsunami evacuation plans
  • Permits, restrictions, and hotlines for fishing, hunting, and fires
  • Where dogs can and can’t be off leash
  • Visit Tripcheck.com for the latest info on road regulations, conditions and traveling guidelines. Driving safety is important both at home and when you travel.
  • Be aware cell service can be spotty on the coast.
  • How to be a good steward by packing it out and giving back to the places we love

The Oregon Coast is unpredictable—weather changes fast, trails can be rugged, and some features that look like fun photo ops (like cliffs or old structures) can actually be dangerous.

Locals know how to stay safe and keep the trails in good shape by:

  • Checking the weather and planning ahead
  • Bringing the right gear for changing conditions
  • Telling someone where we’re going, and when we’ll be back
  • Avoiding hazardous features—rescues put you and others at risk!
  • Paying attention to signs, and trusting instincts when nature sends a warning

And when it comes to the trail itself, we Leave No Trace, and always stay on the path to avoid trampling plants and wildlife habitat. 

When you hike like a local, you help protect the places that make this coast so special—for everyone.

On the coast wildlife is all around us, and sometimes deer and elk make their way onto the roadways. We drive carefully and give them plenty of space for their safety and ours.

Locals know that there is so much going on in nature around us: shorebirds migrate, Snowy Plovers nest, and seal pups rest on the sand. With all this activity, giving wildlife space is more important than ever.

The best way to Coast Like a Local is to admire wildlife from a distance, and to keep dogs away, too.

Do you think you've found an injured, sick or orphaned animal? Review these tips on wildlife habits from the Wildlife Center of the North Coast before doing anything.

You can coast like a local too, by coming prepared with all information you need for a safe, responsible trip.  Learn more at visittheoregoncoast.com/coast-like-a-local

Whether you're drawn to coastal adventure or moments of calm, Astoria and Warrenton offer the perfect blend of both. Discover inviting places to stay and inspiration for your next getaway—all waiting for you on our website.  Check out the upcoming events on the Astoria Warrenton Community Events Calendar.