Where is South Beach State Park
Located in the town of Newport, Oregon, South Beach State Park is a scenic ocean side state park located along the infamous coastal highway 101. Highway 101 follows the coastline from Northern California to Washington and is an infamous drive with many beautiful stops along the way.
Newport is a coastal marina town with many restaurants, outdoor recreation, fishing, and beach activities making it a great stop for road trippers. The state park is situated just south of Yaquina Bay’s South Jetty located along the coast.
How Big is South Beach State Park
South Beach US State Park has 3,000 feet of coastline and is about 2,000 feet wide. South Beach State Park road is the main road that enters the park and winds through the campground. The campground makes up majority of this park with 225 electrical campsites, 60 tent campsites, and 27 rustic yurts.
There is also a day use area and three major trails that run through the park. Although a small park overall, the clever use of space includes a 9-hole disc golf course, interpretive boardwalk, and a hospitality center.
South Beach State Park Weather
Newport is located along the coast of Oregon which receives a significant amount of rain in the winter compared to the summer. The coast can also have unpredictable weather with rainstorms frequently blowing in off the Pacific Ocean, high winds, and flash flooding. However, the summer months from April through October are beautiful with much less rain and lots of sunny warm days to enjoy this coastal state park.
Average rainfall from November to February is around 10 inches a month, compared to during the summer months at around 3 inches a month. The average temperature from April through October during the day is 60 degrees and a low of 50 during the evenings. During winter temperatures can drop down to as low as 38 during chilly evenings and a high in the 50’s during the day.
When did South Beach become a State Park
South Beach State Park land was once owned by several separate private owners. From 1933 to 1970, the land was gifted, exchanged, and purchased from the private owners to protect the important habitat area located near the south bridge area, and to provide public access to the beach.
Things to do in South Beach State Park
South Beach State Park is a fantastic camping area with tons of campsites with firepits, yurts available for rent, picnic tables, the ocean just a short stroll away, and a disc golf course to play.
Stay overnight in a Yurt!
List of Parks suggests staying in one of the parks 27 yurts available for rent year-round with heating and electricity.
Hike Cooper Ridge Nature Trail
This 2-mile trail circles around the large campground through the Oregon forest growth and is a beautiful stroll to stretch out your legs.
Stroll on the South Jetty Trail
A 1-mile paved ADA accessible trail is a great cruise for a bike or an easy walk with interpretive signs along the way taking you onto a boardwalk near the water.
Picnic in the Day Use Area
There is a day use picnic area available with picnic areas
Play a round of Disc Golf
A 9-hole disc golf course located near the campground is available to use. Discs are available to check out at the Hospitality Center near the campground.
Go for a swim or surf
Located on the coast the beach is a good spot to play in the waves and surf. When the surf and tides are right, surfers enjoy catching the waves. The current can be very strong, so checking the tides and asking for local advice is recommended.
Search for Agates
This area is known for having many agate fossils. Keep your eye out for this variety of quartz.
Fly a kite on the beach
Wind coming off of the Pacific Ocean and a wide-open beach make for great kite flying!
When to go to South Beach State Park
South Beach State Park is best enjoyed during the summer months from April to October. Highway 101 sees a lot of road trip traffic from June to August during school vacations. To have more peace and tranquility in the park, our National Park Visitors Guide suggest going during spring or fall is a great time. In the fall around October, local tree leaves start to turn beautiful yellow and orange colors.
Making a reservation to stay at the campground or yurts is recommended year-round as this campground is popular with its plentiful amenities.
Must-Have things to bring to South Beach State Park
Bringing lots of toys and games to play at South Beach is the best way to enjoy the offerings of the park!
Food/Snacks: There is no food available in the park, so pack in and pack out all of your own food and snacks!
Rain gear and warm layers: The humid evenings can get chilly quickly, so having warm layers is recommended to stay warm. The unpredictable coastal weather also requires lots of rain gear to be prepared for any type of weather.
Bike: The ADA path is also open to biking and is an easy paved trail.
Discs golf discs: The park features a 9-hole disc golf course.
Beach toys: Bring a kite, beach ball, paddle ball, and whatever else sounds like fun on a beach!
Bug spray: Mosquitos can be plentiful in the lush forests around this area.
Where to stay in South Beach State Park
The campground in the state park itself is a large campground with lots of amenities for tent campers as well as motor homes. The campground also has yurts available for rent.
The town of Newport has several hotel options ranging from on the cheaper side, to more expensive oceanside hotels. There are also bed and breakfast options in the town as well.
Food Nearby South Beach State Park
While there is no food available in the state park, just a 3-minute drive away is the main downtown area of Newport which offers many different food options. There are several grocery stores to purchase any food you may want to cook over a campfire as well. Try some local cuisine in Newport such as a seafood restaurant. Local Ocean Seafoods, Mo’s Seafood & Chowder, Szabo’s Steakhouse and Seafood are all excellent local seafood restaurants.
Airports near South Beach State Park
The closest major airport to Newport is the Eugene Airport located 2-hour drive away. There is a smaller Newport Municipal Airport only 5 minutes away, but it does not offer many flights.
The best way to enjoy South Beach State Park is to fly into San Francisco, rent a car, and enjoy the open road along highway 101 heading north to Newport. From San Francisco to Newport is an 11-hour drive, but most people split the coastal drive up into a several days road trip.