Which Park Pass Do I Need for the Oregon Coast in 2026?

If you’re planning a trip to the Oregon Coast, you may have come across a confusing variety of park fees and park passes. Which one(s) do YOU need for your trip? Do you need annual park passes? 

Let me help you through the confusion.

Spoiler: If you are only visiting the Oregon coast, get the Oregon Coast Passport ($10 for 5 days) and pay as you go at the Oregon State Parks ($10-12/car/day).  And that’s ONLY for the parks that charge a day use fee. Many don’t.

For most 5-10 day coast-only trips, the Oregon Coast Passport plus paying day-use fees at state parks is often the most cost-effective option.

If you think you’ll visit fee site parks more than 6 days, the annual Oregon State Park pass is the better deal.

I’ll explain it all below, but that’s the quick summary for most Oregon coast visitors. 

Last updated: March 2026. Park fees and pass rules can change, so always confirm with official sources before your visit.

Types of Parks on the Oregon Coast

Along the Oregon Coast, you’ll find many different beautiful Oregon state parks, local or regional parks, and parks run by the National Parks Service, the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 

It can get pretty confusing. When you’re planning your visit, you have to look at the sites you plan to visit. Then you figure out who runs that park, what the day-use fees are, and if it’s covered by one of the passes. This can be kind of tedious and doesn’t allow spontaneous exploring.

I like the park passes because I can go just about anywhere on the coast, anytime, and know the fees are covered. 

Oregon State Parks

There are over 80 Oregon State Parks on the Oregon Coast. 

Many of the Oregon State Parks on the Oregon Coast are free but 29 of them charge day use fees (also called day-use parking permit). There is no fee if you don’t bring a car.

The number of parks charging these fees increased in 2025, and again in 2026, so make sure you are using the most current information when planning your trip. 

You can choose to just pay as you go. The day passes for Oregon State Parks are $10 for Oregon residents or $12 non-resident. It’s not a bad price considering everyone in your car gets to use the park for that one fee. And you can visit more than one state park on that day.

From Oregon State Park website: “Your one-day parking permit allows one personal vehicle to access the day-use area(s) of all Oregon State Parks that charge a parking fee.”

What Oregon State parks require fees or passes?

I’ll limit my lists here to parks on the Oregon coast. 

(If you’re camping in a state park, your parking fee is included in the camping price).

Oregon State Parks

Here is a map of the Oregon State Parks that charge a day use fee. 

North Coast

Fort Stevens State Park

Ecola State Park

Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site

Oswald West State Park

Nehalem Bay State Park

Oceanside Beach State Recreation Site

Cape Lookout State Park

Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint

Bob Straub State Park

Central Coast

Roads End State Recreation Site

Gleneden Beach State Recreation Site

Fogarty Creek State Recreation Site

Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area

Beverly Beach State Park

Agate Beach State Recreation Site

South Beach State Park

Brian Booth State Park

Governor Patterson Memorial State Recreation Site

Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park

Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint

Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park

South Coast

Umpqua Lighthouse State Park

William M. Tugman State Park

Sunset Bay State Park

Cape Arago State Park

Bullards Beach State Park

Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint

Shore Acres State Park

Harris Beach State Recreation Site

Other Oregon Coast parks (that aren’t State Parks)

This here is the reason the passes and fees get confusing. I’ll list who oversees the other parks you’ll find on the coast. In parentheses, I’ve included the town the park is near, to help you decide if it’s a park you want to visit.

Bureau of Land Management

Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area (Newport)

$7 for 3 days for one vehicle and its passengers. 

National Park Service

Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (Astoria)

$10 for 7 days (This entrance fee is per person for adults. Children 15 and under are free).

If you have 2 or more adults, you may as well buy the Oregon Coast Passport for $10. I confirmed this with a park ranger at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park and he said, “yeah, get the passport.” You can buy the Passport there.

U.S. Forest Service – Siuslaw National Forest 

$5/day pass for vehicle and passengers. This includes the following sites:

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (Florence to Coos Bay)

Sutton Recreation Area includes Darlingtonia Trail (Florence)

Cape Perpetua Scenic Area (Yachats and Newport)

The annual pass can be purchased in advance by calling 1-800-551-6949. 

Sand Lake Recreation Area (Pacific City)

Drift Creek Falls Trail (Lincoln City)

Marys Peak Recreation Area (inland from Newport or Waldport)

Hebo Lake Recreation Area (Tillamook)

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area (Seaside)

This park near Seaside is managed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and requires its own parking permit.

Daily Wildlife Area Parking Permit $10

Tillamook County

Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area (Pacific City)

$10 day pass. The state park itself doesn’t charge a fee, but Tillamook County charges to park. This is not covered by any of the passes. There is a Tillmook County pass, but it’s $55/yr and probably not worth it unless you live around there.

Important note: Don’t skip Cape Kiwanda because of the fee! It’s one of my favorite places on the Oregon Coast.

Here’s a list of passes available.

Oregon State Parks Pass

Covers day use fees for any of the Oregon State Parks. This is an annual pass good for 12 months from the date of purchase. 

$60 Oregon resident. $75 nonresident.

You can order Annual Oregon State Park passes online before your trip and have physical passes mailed to your home.

You just hang the pass on the review mirror of your car. (They don’t ask your license plate number when you order, so if you’re renting a car, you use the pass in whatever car you’re driving).

For daily parking passes, you can pay at the park payment kiosk. Many parks have the option to scan a QR code and pay.

Or you can purchase day passes online the day of your visit (not in advance).

Daily passes are digital passes only. You’ll enter your license plate number, and you can visit any of the state parks that day. This is good news when you’re driving down the coast and want to stop in several different state parks in one day.

I was confused the first time I visited the parks passes site because I only saw the option for an annual pass. I had to click the drop down filter to change it to day pass.

You’d have to visit state parks with fees over 6 days to make the annual pass worth it.

But there IS something to be said about buying your annual pass, dangling that thing from your rearview mirror, and not worrying about kiosks and QR codes and websites every day. With the annual pass, you just get in the car, go explore, and don’t worry if the next park is a day use park or not.

Oregon Pacific Coast Passport 

Covers fees for many recreational sites, but NOT the Oregon State Parks.

This is a 5 day pass for $10 or annual vehicle passport for $35.

The website explains exactly what sites are covered.

You can’t buy this pass online. Passports may be purchased at Forest Service, National Parks Service, Bureau of Land Management, and some visitor centers along the Oregon Coast. Check the site linked above for exact places that sell them, and plan to buy yours at your first stop at one of these parks.

Annual Northwest Forest Pass

Covers Washington and Oregon Forest Service-operated sites.

Buy the NW Forest Pass online here.

$5/day or $30 annual pass.

America the Beautiful Pass (National Park Annual Pass)

This pass is good for any parks in the US managed by the National Parks system, as well as other federal lands. This pass covers everything in the Oregon Coast Passport and NW Forest Pass. This is an annual pass good for 12 months after your purchase date. 

$80 annual pass. Passes can be purchased at the first National Park you stop at, or order online in advance. Passes are available in digital and/or physical formats.

There are discounted pass options available for military, veterans and seniors. Current military members can receive a free annual pass. Veterans and Gold Star families are eligible for free lifetime passes, as are people with certain disabilities. Familes of fourth graders are also eligible for a FREE annual pass. 

If you are 62 or older, annual passes are $20, or $80 for a lifetime pass.

The passes simplified

Quick decision guide: which pass do you need?

There is some overlap between the passes. That’s where it gets so confusing. 

If you are visiting ONLY Oregon State Parks that charge day-use fees
***Buy Oregon State Parks day passes or the 12-month state park pass.

If you are visiting Cape Perpetua, Oregon Dunes, Drift Creek Falls, or other Forest Service sites
***Buy a Northwest Forest Pass OR Oregon Pacific Coast Passport.

If you are visiting Lewis and Clark National Historical Park or Yaquina Head AND several other National Park Service fee sites the same year
***Buy America the Beautiful pass.

If your trip is 5-10 days and focused only on the coast
***Oregon Pacific Coast Passport 5 day + pay as you go at state parks is usually cheapest.

If you’re an Oregon resident who visits often
***Annual Oregon State Park Pass + Oregon Pacific Coast Passport annual is the simplest long-term combo.

What passes do I use?

As an Oregon resident and frequent visitor to Oregon State Parks, I buy the annual Oregon State Park pass. It’s just always in my car.

I also buy an annual America the Beautiful pass which grants me entry into Yaquina Head Outstanding Area and Cape Perpetua as well as the national forests and national parks I frequent. (I often visit Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, and at least one other national park every summer).

Each pass allows me (the pass holder) AND anyone in my car entry to the covered parks. 

Between the 2 passes, I pay $140/year.

If you are from the US, but outside Oregon, these 2 passes will cost you $155 for the year. 

For visitors from outside the United States, the America the Beautiful pass is $250 and the Oregon State Park Pass is $75, so $325. 

If your Oregon trip includes other national parks, the America the Beautiful pass may make more sense than the Oregon Pacific Coast Passport.

It’s not uncommon for visitors to the Oregon Coast to explore other areas of the Pacific Northwest, such as Crater Lake National Park (OR), Olympic National Park (WA), or Redwood National Park (CA).

Redwood National Park doesn’t charge an entry fee, but the Redwood State Parks in California do. But they’ll take the America the Beautiful pass. Yep, another confusing assortment of passes. But that’s a conversation for another day.

So…what should you do?

If this all feels overwhelming, don’t lose sleep over it.

Most Oregon Coast visitors need only one or two passes at most. Start by listing the parks you actually plan to visit. Look up who manages them. Then choose the pass that covers the most ground for your trip.

And remember, you can always pay as you go. None of the day-use fees are especially expensive.

The Oregon Coast is perfect for spontaneous pull-offs, tidepool stops, and scenic overlooks. Don’t let park pass confusion keep you from exploring.

Just make sure you’re using current information. Fees and rules have changed in recent years and may continue to change. What worked for your friend on their visit last year might not work for you this year. 

When in doubt, check the official site for the specific park you’re visiting before you go.

Then get out there and enjoy the Oregon Coast.