If you’re looking for a stretch of coastline that delivers variety, Coos Bay, Oregon is worth your full attention. This working harbor town on the Southern Oregon Coast sits at the heart of a region packed with wild beaches, dramatic state parks, vibrant farmers’ markets, and enough outdoor adventures to fill a week easily. Whether you’re an ATV enthusiast, a birder, a foodie, or someone who just wants to stare at the Pacific from a clifftop, you’ll find something here that feels made for you.
Just 25 miles south, things to do in Bandon Oregon could easily fill a trip of their own. Face Rock Scenic Viewpoint is one of the most stunning spots on the entire coast, where massive sea stacks rise from the surf and wide open beaches stretch in both directions. The charming Old Town Bandon district is worth an afternoon, with local galleries, seafood restaurants, and the famous Face Rock Creamery, where you can sample award-winning artisan cheese and seasonal ice cream made right here on the Southern Oregon Coast.
When it comes to home base for all of this, Inn at Face Rock in Bandon, just 25 miles south of Coos Bay, is one of the best Hotels in Bandon Oregon. Our hotel offers a heated pool, a daily breakfast buffet, and direct access to a private beach trail that leads right to the famous Face Rock Beach, one of the most photographed spots on the Oregon coast. Book your stay today!
Exploring Things to Do in Coos Bay and the Surrounding Area
One of the best things to do in Coos Bay is visit the Coos Bay Farmers Market, held on Wednesdays from May through October in the heart of downtown. Local produce, artisan goods, and some seriously good food vendors make this a lively midweek stop, giving you a real sense of what makes this community tick.
If you’re coming through on a summer weekend, check the calendar for the Oregon Coast Music Festival, a beloved summer tradition that brings classical, jazz, and popular performances to venues around the bay. September brings the Prefontaine Memorial Run, a road race honoring Coos Bay’s own legendary distance runner, Steve Prefontaine, and it draws participants and spectators from across the region.
For nature lovers, the top things to do in Coos Bay include a visit to the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of the most underappreciated spots on the entire coast. It’s the first federally designated estuarine reserve in the country, and its network of trails and waterways offers exceptional birdwatching, kayaking, and wildlife observation in a setting that feels completely untouched.
Plan a visit to the Charleston Marine Life Center, where the tide pools and marine exhibits give you an up-close look at the sea life that thrives in these waters. The nearby tide pools at Cape Arago are equally impressive, especially at low tide when sea stars, anemones, and hermit crabs are easy to spot.
Among the most exciting things to do in Coos Bay, the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area stretches for 40 miles along the coast, and there are two very different ways to enjoy it. Hikers can lace up and trek through the surreal landscape of shifting sands, coastal forests, and freshwater lakes, while ATV riders can rent a machine in Florence or nearby Coos Bay and spend a few hours tearing through the open sand. Both are legitimately great experiences, and together they make the dunes one of the most versatile outdoor destinations on the West Coast.
No list of things to do in Coos Bay is complete without a run down the Cape Arago Highway Beach Loop, a scenic drive that connects Sunset Bay State Park, Shore Acres, and Cape Arago State Park in a single manageable route. Shore Acres is the crown jewel of the loop, a former private estate turned state park with formal botanical gardens perched right on the cliffs above the ocean. The wave action here can be dramatic, especially in winter, and the gardens are maintained through multiple bloom seasons for year-round color. While you’re in the area, keep an eye out for the Cape Arago Lighthouse, one of several historic lighthouses that dot this stretch of coast and make for a rewarding bit of lighthouse hunting if you’re into that sort of thing.
One more stop worth making before you head south: Face Rock Creamery in Bandon. This beloved local creamery produces exceptional artisan cheeses, ice cream, and other dairy products, and a stop here feels like a natural extension of any Southern Oregon Coast itinerary. Their tasting room and market are open daily, and picking up a wedge of their aged Gouda or a scoop of their seasonal ice cream is exactly the kind of simple, satisfying experience that makes this region so good.
Why Bandon Oregon Hotels are the Right Choice for Your Southern Oregon Stay
After a day of exploring things to do in Coos Bay, from hiking dunes and driving scenic loops to poking around tide pools and sampling local cheese, you want a hotel that actually feels like a reward. Our hotel puts you just a short drive from everything the Coos Bay area offers, but in the quieter, more atmospheric setting of Bandon, right above one of the coast’s most iconic beaches. We take care of the morning with our daily breakfast buffet so you can fuel up and get out the door without thinking about it, and our heated pool is there for you when the beach winds pick up and you still want to unwind. The private beach trail is a feature that guests mention again and again: stepping out of your room and walking straight down to Face Rock Beach, with its dramatic sea stacks and wide open views, is the kind of thing that turns a good trip into a great one.
The Southern Oregon Coast rewards the traveler who takes their time, and staying at Inn at Face Rock gives you a comfortable, well-positioned base to do exactly that. Our team knows this stretch of coast well and loves helping guests make the most of their time here, from pointing out the best low-tide windows for tidepooling to recommending the right trails based on the weather. If you’re ready to plan your visit, we’d love to have you. Reserve your stay now!