Overview
Lincoln City is a town of 9,800 people (2020) on the Central Oregon Coast. Visitors come for the casino, or to fly a kite. The city is known by some as the "Kite Capital of the World", and hosts two kite festivals each year.
3 sights · 4 things to do · 17 places to eat · 8 bars & cafés · 17 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Lincoln City
Drift Creek Falls
Chinook Winds Casino
Gamble some money and maybe win big. It has sports betting. As a tribal casino, this is a rare exception to Oregon's smoking ban in public places. While there is a non-smoking slots area, the smoke drifts in.
Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Connie Hansen Garden Conservatory
North Lincoln County Historical Museum
Summer Kite Festival
Two days of kite-flying activities.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 36°F. Wettest: Dec and Nov. (climate data from nearby Portland)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SLE Salem-Willamette Valley Airport/McNary Field, Salem — 49 mi away. Directions
- EUG Eugene Airport, Eugene — 71 mi away. Directions
- PDX Portland International Airport, Portland — 81 mi away (major hub). Directions
Lincoln City is approximately 2 hours southwest of Portland. There are two ways to get to Lincoln City from Portland, both of which take approximately the same amount of time:
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Connie Hansen Garden Conservatory, Chinook Winds Casino, North Lincoln County Historical Museum
- Lunch Mo's Restaurant
- Afternoon Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Fall Kite Festival
- Dinner Side Door Cafe
- Evening Roadhouse 101
Day 2
- Morning Drift Creek Falls
- Lunch The Bay House
- Afternoon Summer Kite Festival
- Dinner Blackfish Cafe
- Evening Nelscott Café
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
Lincoln City is approximately 2 hours southwest of Portland. There are two ways to get to Lincoln City from Portland, both of which take approximately the same amount of time:
- Take I-5 south to Oregon 99W west in Tigard, then follow Oregon 18 west near McMinnville to its intersection with U.S. 101. OR
- Take I-5 south to Salem Parkway in Salem. In downtown Salem, take Oregon 22 west to Oregon 18 west at Willamina. Follow Oregon 18 to U.S. 101.
Central Lincoln City is about 5 miles south on U.S. 101 from the junction with Oregon 18.
Portland International Airport (PDX) and Eugene Airport (EUG) are the two nearest airports with scheduled service.
Get around
Lincoln City is a fairly small town and very easy to find your way around by car, bicycle, public transportation or by foot or walk the length (north & south) along the beach at low tide. Much of Lincoln City is laid out in a grid, and fairly easy to navigate. The town is divided into quadrants. These quadrants are roughly divided by the 'D' River between north/south and Highway 101 between east/west (Logan Rd divides between east & west north of the 4100 block, north of town).
By bus
Lincoln County Transit (LINC) operates a regularly scheduled bus/shuttle service around town as the Lincoln City Loop and limited service down to Depoe Bay & Newport along US Hwy 101 on one route and to Otis and Rose Lodge along OR-Hwy 18 on another route. Bus routes are not numbered.
See
- Glass Art
- Lincoln Pops Orchestra
- The beach!
- Animals...bring your binoculars and camera!
Do
- Search for a glass float and register it with the Visitor Center. They are hidden on the beach (often near public access points) year-round, with extra floats dropped for many holidays and local events. For more on this intriguing project visit the Glass floats page.
- Visit the beach and relax
- Ride the waves
- Beachcomb
- Whale watch
- Seal watch
- Bird watch
- Golf
- Antique shop
- Bike
- Hike
- Glass blowing
- Take a step back in time and catch a flick at the Bijou Theater or take in a movie at a modern movie theatre
Buy
Outlet stores
Shop Lincoln City Plaza
Typical strip mall. Includes two grocery stores, Ross Dress for Less discount clothing store, and a few small stores in between. Casual restaurants go beyond the biggest chains. Fast food and Walgreens drug store across the street.
Shopping areas
- Taft neighborhood
- Nelscott neighborhood
- Delake neighborhood
Eat
Eat Side Door Cafe
Seafood, steaks, desserts, salads, and live entertainment.
Eat The Bay House
Seafood: fine dining with excellent chefs and freshly caught seafood.
Eat Blackfish Cafe
Seafood platters: the Blackfish café is also another places for fine dining but is a little bit more expensive than the bay house, but makes up for it with a great location in the northern part of town within walking distance of the beach
Eat Fathoms (at Inn at Spanish Head)
For a spectacular view of the ocean as your enjoy excellent food. Reservations recommended.
Eat Kyllo's Seafood Grill
Its right on the beach with great sunsets and atmosphere. Get there early because they are always busy
Eat Mo's Restaurant
Mo’s is legendary for clam chowder and has the best view of the Siletz bay.
Eat 60s Cafe & Diner
Serves a great hamburger that many can't eat in one sitting.
Eat Salishan Lodge and The Side Door Cafe
Fancy place at a high price
Eat LaRoca Tino Huesca & La Hacienda Flores
For some excellent Mexican cuisine. This restaurant is on the way to Depoe bay about ten minutes from Lincoln city just head south on Hwy 101
Eat Aunt Mary's Toaster Bistro
Vegetarian
Eat Sun Garden Cafe
Indian and Nepalese foods as well as many American dishes
Eat Galluccis Pizzeria
Best pizza on the beach big parties welcome. Pizza Beer salad and chicken what else could you ask for. Also call for deliveries
Eat Maxwell's Restaurant & Lounge
Homestyle cooking with big servings and moderately priced serving breakfast, lunch and dinner Su-Th 8AM-11PM and F Sa until 3AM on. Bar menu and appetizers available. Pool, darts, full service lottery and 10 TVs in the lounge.
Eat The Dory Cove
Known and loved by many for clam chowder that blows the doors off Mo's and outstanding fish and chips. Not fancy but always popular.
Eat Sweet Delights
Famous for their Riptide Cheesy Caramel Corn they have over 32 flavors of taffy, an impressive variety of chocolates including Moonstruck Chocolates and a full Espresso Bar. Located in the Lincoln City Outlet Mall.
Drink
There are many pubs in Lincoln City:
Drink Lighthouse Brewpub
McMenamins pub where you can watch them brew the beer on site.
Drink Shucker's Oyster Bar
Good food and good beer. 21+.
Drink Old Oregon Tavern
Classic and rustic feel
Drink Roadhouse 101
The Roadhouse is a great bar for live classic rock music on the weekend. With the traditional policy of throwing your peanut shells on the floor this is a great bar for young and old.
Drink Maxwell’s
A restaurant & lounge with karaoke 7 nights a week at 9PM with over 43,000 titles. It is open for food F Sa until 3AM. Restaurant open Su-Th 8AM-11PM.
Drink Chinook Winds
The bar at this casino is a great attraction for the younger crowd dancing and new age music DJs on the weekend.
Drink Nelscott Café
A small community cafe with a great menu. Serving breakfast and lunch all hours. Homemade food awaits in a clean, local atmosphere. Featuring Oat crusted French toast, hand pressed burgers with hand made buns. Scotch Eggs, Breakfast "Poppers", Buttermilk pancakes, Homemade soups, salads, pulled pork BBQ and more. Tables for 2-4 with a small loft area where larger groups (up to 10) can be accommodated.
Sleep
Hotels and motels
Vacation rentals
Stay Shorepine Vacation Rentals
Shorepine Village offers fully furnished vacation rentals on the Oregon Coast. Each beach home includes gas or wood fireplaces, fully equipped kitchens, barbecues, bikes, deck furniture, full size washer/dryers and more. Accommodations range from 4 to 10 people, depending on the home. Miles of paved pathways lead to a unique wooden dune ramp, providing easy access to the beach and a wonderful vantage point for viewing breathtaking Pacific sunsets.
Camping
Go next
- Take a drive south to Newport and visit Ripley's Believe It Or Not and the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
- Go climb the stairs in the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse and then go visit the nearby Coast Guard Station and check out their equipment.
- Go deep sea fishing or whale watching at nearby Depoe Bay.
- Visit the Tillamook Cheese Factory and sample some cheese curds and watch the cheese making process.
- Take a trip in time and go see the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville to visit the Spruce Goose, airplane of Howard Hughes.
- Visit the wine valley and sample some Oregon wines east of Lincoln City.
- Visit the dunes half an hour north in Pacific City. Ride quads, dirt bikes, or any other all terrain vehicle that you can fix up with some sand tires. Also go to the Pellican Pub with locally brewed beer and great food.
Nearby
Depoe Bay
City / town · 35 listings · 12 mi away
Pacific City
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Grand Ronde
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Toledo
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Newport
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Tillamook
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Waldport
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