about rockaway

ABOUT ROCKAWAY BEACH

Rockaway Beach is a small coastal resort town located along the northern Oregon coast between Tillamook bay to the south and Nehalem bay to the north. It is home to the famous Twin Rocks and 7 miles of the most pristine beach on the Oregon Coast, not to mention several great lakes. Rockaway Beach is also close to the best crabbing, clamming and deep sea fishing Oregon has to offer. Rockaway Beach is conveniently located only 88 miles (just over 1 ½ hours) from Portland. Get there by driving west on Hwy 26, then take Hwy 6 to Tillamook and head north on Hwy 101 to Rockaway Beach. HISTORY The area that is now Rockaway Beach was difficult to access and rarely used prior to finishing the railroad from Portland to Tillamook in about 1910. The first passenger train came to Rockaway in 1912 and the area quickly became a popular summer resort town.

THE FAMOUS TWIN ROCKS FORMATION

The Twin Rocks are a rock formation (sea stack) located just off the beach in the south part of Rockaway Beach. The rocks are 88 feet high and the south rock has a hole that is 35 feet across. The Twin Rocks are composed of sandstone formed between 20 million and 30 million years ago. Over time, the tides and surf wore away the softer portions of the sandstone, leaving behind the massive rocks we see today. When viewed from above, the rocks are two narrow fins perched on top of a rocky island.

BEACH ACCESS

Rockaway Beach has public beach access at most of the east-west roads and at the center of town Camp Fires are allowed on the beach, but must be west of the vegetation line. Build your fire away from the beach grass & piles of driftwood. Extinguish the fire with water, don’t just bury it because the coals remain hot for a long time. Please consult the local codes for additional details including regional fire bans.

Our favorite local eats

Best Food:

  • Offshore Grill and Coffee House (122 N Hwy 101, Rockaway Beach).  Best food in town  for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  

Best View:  

  • Sand Dollar Restaurant and Lounge (210 N 1st Ave, Rockaway Beach).  Right on the beach and great food

  • Garibaldi Portside Bistro (307 Mooring Basin Dr., Garibaldi, OR 97118).  Lunch and Dinner specializing in smoked meats and burgers. At the Garibaldi Marina with a great view of the fishing boats.

  • Salmonberry Saloon (380 S Marine Dr Wheeler, Oregon 97147).  Great food and drinks with an amazing view of the Nehalem River.

Best Seafood

  • Old Oregon Smokehouse (120 Hwy 101, Rockaway Beach).  An old shack across the street from the beach with some of the best fish and chips, clam chowder and smoked salmon you will ever have.  Outdoor seating only, so eat in if the weather is good or take out if the weather is bad, but don’t miss it!

  • The Fish Peddler at Pacific Oyster (5150 Hayes Oyster Dr, Bay City).  Great seafood and view of the bay just south of Rockaway Beach in Bay City.

Breakfast:

  • Beach Bakeshop (108 S Hwy 101, Rockaway Beach) - fresh sweet and savory breakfast treats. The owners are super sweet. Go support them.

  • Cow Belle Cafe (194 S Hwy 101, Rockaway Beach) - open for breakfast and lunch.

Family friendly:

  • The Original Pronto Pup (602 Hwy 101 S)- delicious Pronto Pup corn dogs (which happened to be invented in Rockaway Beach) and lots of vegetarian options too!

  • Beach Bite/Dos Rocas (176 S Hwy 101, Rockaway Beach OR 97136)- Open for lunch and dinner with a large menu (Dos Rocas full menu is also available from Beach Bite)

Bars / Taverns:

  • Rick’s Roadhouse (184 Hwy 101, Rockaway Beach) - Full menu, especially great for nachos, beer and watching sports on the many TVs

  • Lakeside Highway (670 N Hwy 101, Rockaway Beach) - Full menu restaurant with karaoke on Friday and Saturday night. Best KJ ever.

  • Littoral Bar (2010 HIGHWAY 101 N. ROCKAWAY BEACH, OR 97136) - Beer, wine and cocktails with a light food menu and dog friendly outside seating on the deck.  

Quick Bites and Foot Carts:

  • Taste of India Food Cart  (530 N Hwy 101, Rockaway Beach, OR 97136) - delicious Indian food with generous portions

  • RB Little Store (1720 N Hwy 101, Rockaway Beach, OR 97136) - A nondescript little store on the north side of town that serves a full menu of burgers, sandwiches and salads in addition to the nice but small selection of grocery items

  • R&R Espresso Drive Through (610 US-101, Rockaway Beach, OR 97136)

GROCERIES

  • Rockaway has several small markets in town including Center Market and Rockaway Beach Little Store

  • Food Basket Market Place in Garibaldi 

  • The closest large grocery stores are Fred Meyer or Safeway in Tillamook 

  • Fresh seafood from The Garibaldi Cannery or The Fish Peddler at Pacific Oyster in Bay City

  • Liquor Store (422 S Hwy 101, Rockaway Beach)

THINGS TO DO

  • Walk or drive to the center of Rockaway Beach and visit the many shops and restaurants

  • Walk or drive to the beach and enjoy the 7 miles of continuous sandy beach.  The Twin Rocks are located about a mile south of the center of town with the closest access at Pansy or Minnehaha streets.  The southern end of the beach can be accessed through Barview Jetty Park and the northern end of the beach through Nedonna Beach neighborhood. 

  • Take the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad from Rockaway north to Wheeler and south to Garibaldi http://www.oregoncoastscenic.org/ 

  • Hike or mountain bike the logging roads in the forest east of town.  Enjoy a panoramic view of the ocean from the top of the hills. Head east on North 3rd Street 

  • Visit The Original Pronto Pup to see the world’s largest corn dog and ride the mechanical corn dog (the Pronto Pup is the earliest known corn dog and was invented in Rockaway Beach in 1939)

  • See one of the largest western red cedars in the country right in the heart of Rockaway Beach.  Park in the parking lot between South 7th street and Washington Street on the east side of 101 and walk along the elevated pathway to the end, then a short distance on a dirt path to the tree.

  • Kayak in the many lakes, rivers, bays and estuary water trails throughout Tillamook County.  Download guidebooks at the at the link below www.tbnep.org/water-trails.php 

  • Visit the recently remodeled Tillamook Cheese Factory to watch them make the cheese, taste samples, shop for a wide selection of local products in the huge gift shop and then grab some ice cream and food in the cafe. www.tillamook.com/cheese-factory/index.html 

  • Visit Tillamook’s craft breweries, both within a short walk of each other in downtown Tillamook

Fishing and Crabbing