Planning a Visit to Yaquina Head Lighthouse in Newport, Oregon

The Yaquina Head Lighthouse boasts beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, short hiking trails and a unique beach where you can explore tidepools and see native wildlife.

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While in Newport, OR, during our 7 day Oregon Coast roadtrip in August 2022, we missed seeing the Yaquina Head Lighthouse (pronounced “Ya-kwin-uh”). We could see the lighthouse from the beach behind the Hallmark Resort Newport, but time didn’t permit after a morning spent flying kites. (Highly recommend flying kites on the beach.) So imagine how excited we were to visit the area again in May 2025 with extended family!

If visiting the Yaquina Head Lighthouse is on your list of places to go on the Oregon Coast, then keep reading for more information about making the most of your time there. (And if you are planning on going to Heceta Head Lighthouse, don’t miss this post.)

About Yaquina Head Lighthouse

*NOTE* There are two lighthouses in Newport, OR: Yaquina Bay and Yaquina Head, so make sure you are going to the right one.

The Yaquina Head Lighthouse is the tallest of the 9 lighthouses that dot the Oregon Coast at 93 feet. The light was lit on August 20, 1873 and was maintained by resident light keepers who lived in a home with their families near the lighthouse. Today, those homes no longer stand and the area around the lighthouse is covered in grasses and other plants. (source)

What to Know Before You Go

How to Get There

Located 3.5 miles north of Newport, OR off Hwy 101, the Yaquina Head Lighthouse is accessible via car. We used Google Maps to get us to the lighthouse, however, I have included the address below in case you need it.

Address: 750 NW Lighthouse Drive, Newport, OR 97365

Fees

There is a fee to enter the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area (where the lighthouse is located). The fee area is at the bottom of Lighthouse Road before you drive up to the Interpretive Center and parking lot near the lighthouse. For the most up to date fee information, you can click here.

As of May 2026, the fees are as follows:

• Passenger vehicles: $7 for a 3 day pass
• Motorcycle: $3 for a 3 day pass
• Buses: $25/$50 (depending on size)
  • Less than 21 passenger capacity – $25 for a 1 day pass
  • More than 21 passenger capacity – $50 for a 1 day pass
• Yaquina Head honors all America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes (senior, annual, military, access, volunteer and 4th grade) as well as Oregon Pacific Coast passes.

Hours

The Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area is open year-round, however, hours can vary by season. Typically, you can expect the following hours, but if you want the most up to date information, call 541-574-3100.

• Interpretive Center: 10am-4pm
• Yaquina Head Lighthouse: 8am-4:30pm

Parking

There are a total of 4 areas where you can park within the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. However, the two closest are at the Interpretive Center and then farther up the road in a parking lot next to the lighthouse. If the lighthouse parking lot is full, you will need to park at the Interpretive Center and then walk along the paved path (called the Lighthouse Trail) up to the lighthouse. This path is next to the road and is not wheelchair accessible.

Wheelchair- and Stroller-Friendly

As mentioned above, the Lighthouse Trail path is not wheelchair accessible. The Interpretive Center and the area around the Yaquina Head Lighthouse area are ADA wheelchair accessible. For a complete map of the trails and accessibility, you can see this map.

Food

There is no food available for purchase at Yaquina Head Lighthouse. However, you can bring food and eat it there. (I did not personally see any picnic tables near the lighthouse or the Interpretive Center.)

Restrooms

There are restrooms available at the Interpretive Center as well as near the lighthouse parking lot. The restroom at the lighthouse is open from 8am-4:30pm, and the restroom at the Interpretive Center is 10a-4pm.

Wear Layers

One of the best pieces of advice I have for anyone visiting the Oregon Coast is to wear layers. Even on a nice, sunny day like it was when we visited, it is windy and can get cold. Some of our family members wore shorts and a t-shirt, while others had pants and a sweatshirt.

Shoes

The time of year that you visit Yaquina Head and/or Cobble Beach will naturally influence the type of shoes you wear. If you are only going to be walking around the lighthouse and/or Interpretive Center, then your shoes it won’t matter as much.

But if you decide to walk down to Cobble Beach, it’s important to know that the beach is made up of stones rather than sand. (More info below.) Flip flops will provide less stability on the smooth stones so walk carefully. As for me, I was grateful for my tennis shoes when the stones shifted under my feet.

Lighthouse Tours

Yaquina Head Lighthouse tours are offered, however, it is weather and staff permitting. When tours are being held, they are 15 minutes long and limited to 10 people on a first come, first serve basis. The tour is of the ground floor level only and no one is allowed up the stairs to the lighthouse. For more information about lighthouse tours, click here.

To see a short video of the interior of the lighthouse and the view from the top, you can watch this video.

Tidepools at Cobble Beach

*NOTE* This area is not wheelchair accessible, as there are only stairs.

Located at the bottom of a long set of stairs just off the lighthouse parking lot, you can access Cobble Beach. During low tide, you can explore the tidepools and find anemones, sea stars, urchins and more. To view the current tidepool discovery times chart, click here. We missed low tide during our visit, so unfortunately I can’t say what it’s like. (Although we did find a couple of cute little crabs.) But according to websites such as Islands.com, it is one of the best places for tidepooling along the Oregon Coast.

We loved exploring Cobble Beach. It’s a unique area because of all the smooth black basalt stones that cover the beach. Part of the beach was blocked off during our visit because sea lions had been seen there earlier in the day. (Sadly, none while we were there.) It’s not a huge beach and I could see it getting a bit crowded during busier times of year.

Because Cobble Beach is a beach, be cautious and aware of your surroundings. The waves are not gentle and I would not recommend getting in the water.

Yaquina Head Interpretive Center

Our family took a break from the wind and waves to check out the Yaquina Head Interpretive Center. It’s a small, hands-on center with areas for kids to explore and learn about the lighthouse and its surrounding area and wildlife. The Interpretive Center is open 10a-4pm, year-round.

Gift Shop

There is also a small gift shop inside the Interpretive Center where we purchased a set of magnets to go with our collection. They had other items including sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats, stuffed animals and jewelry.

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