Holman State Wayside
🏆🏆 North Coast Rest — Forested wayside on US-101 between Tillamook and Lincoln City
Holman State Wayside provides a roadside rest stop along US-101 on the Northern Oregon Coast. The small park sits among coastal Sitka spruce forest, offering picnic tables and restrooms. It serves as a convenient stop between the cheese factories of Tillamook and the casino town of Lincoln City, with the Three Capes Scenic Route nearby.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | US-101, near Neskowin, OR |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Nearby | Three Capes Scenic Route |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Three Capes Scenic Route?
A spectacular 40-mile alternate route off US-101 visiting Cape Meares, Cape Lookout, and Cape Kiwanda — three of Oregon’s most dramatic headlands with old-growth forest, sea caves, and seabird colonies.
About Holman Wayside
Holman State Wayside provides beach access at the south end of the Long Beach Peninsula near Astoria. The wayside offers views of the Columbia River bar — one of the most dangerous river entrances in the world, known as the “Graveyard of the Pacific” for the 2,000+ ships wrecked here.
Things to Do
Beachcombing, storm watching, and viewing ships crossing the Columbia Bar. The Columbia River Maritime Museum in nearby Astoria tells the dramatic story of the bar.
About Holman Wayside
Holman State Wayside on the central Oregon coast provides a scenic rest stop with ocean views. The Oregon coast — entirely public by state law — features dramatic sea stacks, rocky headlands, and long sandy beaches carved by Pacific waves. The coastal climate supports lush Sitka spruce forests right to the ocean’s edge.
Things to Do
Viewing the Pacific Ocean from the wayside, photography, picnicking, beach access, and continuing the scenic Oregon Coast drive — consistently rated one of America’s best road trips.
Insider Tips
Coast Range stop: Holman Wayside provides a rest under towering trees on a Coast Range highway. Pro tip: Listen for the varied thrush — its ethereal, single-note whistle is the signature sound of the Pacific Northwest rainforest. Mushroom foraging: October-November brings chanterelle season — the golden mushrooms fruit under Douglas fir throughout the Coast Range.
Best Time to Visit
Fall (October-November): Chanterelle mushroom season. Spring: Birdsong peaks in May. Summer: Cool shade on hot days. Winter: Lush green moss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pick mushrooms in Oregon state parks?
Oregon allows personal mushroom harvesting (up to 1 gallon/day) in state forests, but rules vary by park. Check with Oregon State Parks for specific regulations. Never eat wild mushrooms without expert identification — several deadly species grow in Oregon.
Wildlife & Nature
Holman State Wayside provides coastal access along Oregon’s scenic Highway 101 corridor. The wayside’s position between the Coast Range and the Pacific creates opportunities for observing the ecological transition from forest to ocean. Oregon’s coastal habitat supports an extraordinary array of marine mammals — 11 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises frequent the nearshore waters. Steller sea lions — the largest of the “eared seals” (males reach 2,500 pounds) — haul out on rocky headlands year-round. Harbor seals prefer sandy beaches. California sea lions are seasonal visitors. The surrounding coastal forest of Sitka spruce and western hemlock supports bald eagles, varied thrushes, and chestnut-backed chickadees — a Pacific Northwest specialty.
Nearby Attractions
The central Oregon coast corridor offers world-class natural attractions. Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area features a collapsed sea cave visible from above. Beverly Beach State Park offers one of the coast’s best campgrounds. Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport is ranked among North America’s top aquariums. Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area features Oregon’s tallest lighthouse and exceptional tidepools. Newport’s Bayfront has working fishing boats and sea lion viewing. Whale watching tours depart from Depoe Bay — the “Whale Watching Capital of Oregon.”
🌲 Visit Holman State Wayside
North Coast forest rest — near Three Capes Scenic Route.
