Explore massive dunes or learn about natural history in this coastal town.
On Oregon's South Coast, where the Umpqua River spills out into the Pacific Ocean, Reedsport is a popular stopping-off point both for campers staying at Umpqua Lighthouse State Park and those visiting the nearby Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. While taking ATVs out on the massive Oregon Dunes is perhaps the best known activity in the area, there's also plenty for those in search of a calmer getaway, from fishing in nearby rivers and tidewaters to learning about the region's natural and cultural history at the Umpqua Discovery Center.
Oregon’s Central Coast
Just north of Reedsport, the Central Coast offers a mix of charming coastal cities with great seafood restaurants, coniferous forests for camping and hiking, and lots of Sandy beaches. If you’re really fond of dunes and can’t get enough of them in the Reedsport area alone, Florence has plenty of its own, accessible via Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park.
Umpqua National Forest
Inland from Reedsport, this national forest sprawls all the way out to Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the country (and one of the deepest lakes in the world). The forest also encompasses a massive mix of wooded trails passing through old-growth forest, rivers, waterfalls, and even hot springs.
Oregon’s South Coast
Extending south of Reedsport, all the way to the border with California, Oregon’s South Coast is ridiculously scenic. Take a drive along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor for fantastic Pacific views, or stop at Cape Blanco State Park to visit the westernmost part of Oregon state.
Reedsport is at its busiest in the summer months, when the weather on Oregon's coast tends to be at its warmest and driest. This is also the best season for driving on the dunes, when there's a lower risk of rain (which can make dune-driving treacherous). You’ll have fewer crowds to contend with if you opt for an early autumn visit, when temperatures tend to still be pleasant but kids have gone back to school for the year.