8 Best Pacfic Coast Towns For A Weekend Trip
The Pacific Coast delivers more than postcard moments; it's stitched with towns that transform a weekend into something far richer. In Washington, fishing harbors double as art hubs where galleries sit a block from tidepools. Oregon's coastal villages balance salty air with surf-watching cafes, rugged trails, and seawalls that feel almost theatrical during storm season. California, meanwhile, pairs boardwalks, wine country detours, and clapboard streets that still have energy after a day. Each U.S. state on the West Coast offers something a little different, and these specific Pacific Coast towns are perfect for a weekend retreat, regardless of what exactly you're after.
Carmel-By-The-Sea, California
Carmel-by-the-Sea, just five miles south of Monterey, compresses a surprising amount of character into one square mile, making it ideal for a weekend retreat. Pine-shaded streets twist past storybook cottages, Ocean Avenue's boutique-lined courtyards, and as many as 100 galleries, from Galerie Plein Aire to Winfield Gallery. History isn't sidelined here; Carmel Mission Basilica, founded in 1771, remains one of California's most striking pieces of Spanish architecture. Evenings allow for indulgence with Chez Noir plating seasonal French and Spanish-inspired dishes. For daytime pauses, Carmel Beach offers soft white sand and driftwood-strewn walks that reflect the town's artist-colony roots. You can stay right in the heart of it all at La Playa Hotel or the pet-friendly Cypress Inn. Speaking of pets, Carmel is a dog haven. If you love to travel with your pooch, this is one of the best places around.
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Sand, sea, and art collide in Cannon Beach, where the Pacific Ocean crashes against Oregon's northern coast just 90 minutes from Portland. Haystack Rock dominates the shoreline, its basalt cliffs a playground for tufted puffins and tidepool explorers, not to mention Instagram selfie-snappers. It's by far the most famous attraction in Cannon Beach and may be reason enough to plan a weekend retreat, but it's far from the only thing this little town has to offer. Ecola State Park's trails offer a quick hike to Indian Beach or a peek at Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, letting visitors feel fully immersed in nature without going far from town. On top of some outdoor adventurers, Cannon Beach offers a restorative weekend retreat. You can slow things down and take in some of the galleries, such as Cannon Beach Gallery, or eat at one of the highly rated restaurants, like The Wayfarer. Evenings can linger over cocktails with the Pacific Ocean in view at SurfSand Resort or a stay at McBee Cottages for a boutique-style accommodation that welcomes families and pets.
Friday Harbor, Washington
Friday Harbor is the ultimate weekend retreat destination for those who crave salt air and a sleepy harbor vibe. It's perched on the eastern edge of San Juan Island and pulses with a maritime energy. Whale watchers flock to Lime Kiln Point State Park, just minutes from downtown, where orcas breach near the vintage 1919 Lighthouse. Downtown, Spring Street is filled with galleries and quirky antique shops, such as Funk & Junk. Travelers craving a dynamic food scene will also find their desires fulfilled by stopping to eat at Walden or Oystertale. The island is only accessible by ferry, seaplane, or private boat, but once you're there, you have an assortment of accommodations to use as your home base. This includes the luxurious Friday Harbor House or boutique options such as the Bird Rock Hotel.
Yachats, Oregon
There are other towns in Oregon to travel to if you're looking for a bustling food scene, nightlife, and all-around luxury. But Yachats is all nature and a little bit of whimsy. For a weekend retreat, you can book a stay at The Drift Inn, with rooms overlooking the river mouth. While in Yachats, there's nothing like walking the 804 Trail, linking tidal pools, rocky beaches, and whale-watching spots all together. Cape Perpetua is a few minutes from town; it's where the famous Thor's Well drains the ocean like a bottomless sinkhole and Devil's Churn throws spray skyward, turning the coast into an intense spectacle. While you won't find the fanciest of eats in Yachats, you will find great food at Luna Sea House, which offers line-caught fish and clam chowder.
Sausalito, California
If you live in San Francisco, there's no better weekend retreat destination than Sausalito; it's only a few minutes away, after all. But if you're not, that's fine too, because this bayside escape has plenty to offer anyone. Checking into Casa Madrona, perched above the harbor, or the boutique Hotel Sausalito puts you right on Bridgeway, where you can wander into galleries and waterfront cafes without even needing your car. Hawaiian-inspired scoops from Lappert's make the perfect mid-afternoon stop before a stroll down to the docks on Richardson Bay, where the artist-built houseboats create a floating neighborhood unlike anywhere else in California. For something more active, grab a kayak or SUP from Sea Trek and paddle out onto the Bay before dinner at Copita or Sushi Ran.
Brookings, Oregon
Brookings sits just north of the California border on the southern Oregon coast, where warmer "banana belt" weather makes it one of the few spots in the state where you can expect sun even in winter. A weekend retreat here is all about stepping between rugged coastline and small-town hangouts. Harris Beach State Park is the local playground with sea stacks, sand, and winter whale spouts keeping it buzzing year-round. It also has a campground for travelers who prefer their tent or RV. In town, Chetco Point Park drops you onto a bluff trail ending at Chetco Cove. After checking this out, you can head back into town for a pint at Chetco Brewing Company. If you're staying the weekend, the boutique Mermaid's Muse offers oceanfront rooms that keep the Pacific in view at all times.
Pismo Beach, California
While there are more than a couple of great options for accommodations in Pismo Beach, Vespera Resort sets the tone for the small town with its beach-house vibe. You can stay in beautifully renovated rooms overlooking fire pits glowing at dusk, cocktails poured steps from the boardwalk, and the pier stretching into the Pacific Ocean. A weekend here means leaning into motion: surfers dropping into clean breaks off the stunning namesake beach by morning, ATVs chewing across the Pismo Beach Sand Dunes by afternoon. Between November and February, the Monarch Butterfly Grove feels electric with wings clustered in eucalyptus shade, a reminder that nature is always the star of the show here. Meals aren't an afterthought either; locals swear by Splash Cafe and the Cracked Crab.
Seabrook, Washington
Seabrook doesn't feel like any other coastal town in Washington because it was purpose-built in 2004 on a bluff above the Pacific. The streets are walkable by design, lined with pastel cottages that look lifted from a film set, and you can spend an entire weekend here without ever needing your car. Mornings might start with a beach walk straight from town, followed by clam digging in season or a hike through the quirky Gnome Trail that cuts into the evergreens. Afternoons flow into Frontager's Pizza Co. or Vista Bakeshop before wandering Market Street's boutiques or making a custom candle at Lorraine's. Evenings can mean outdoor concerts or firepits flickering in the numerous pocket parks. Almost every place to stay is a vacation rental, from tiny lofts to ocean-view homes, giving you the freedom of a house with the vibe of a village. And it's just 2.5 hours to 3 hours from Seattle, making it the kind of retreat you can easily sink into.
Cannon Beach, Seabrook, Pismo Beach, Carmel, and other small towns on the Pacific Coast prove that a weekend retreat in this part of America doesn't have to be complicated to be unforgettable. From Seabrook's walkable streets and playful trails to Pismo's waves, dunes, and cozy hotels, these towns serve up experiences that feel alive. Sausalito brings bayside energy and gallery strolls, while Carmel offers ocean-adjacent sophistication and storybook charm without any fuss. Whatever your desired weekend retreat looks like, the Pacific Coast has something for you.
