10 Best Things to do in Bandon, Oregon

A couple summers ago, my wife and I took a road trip along the Oregon Coast. We stopped in some amazing vistas, camped in some beautiful state parks and wandered through some quaint coastal towns. Bandon, Oregon was one of our favorites because of the many things it had to offer.

Here’s a rundown of the activities you can enjoy in this small town in southwest Oregon.

Where is Bandon, Oregon?

During our road trip along the Oregon Coast, my wife and I stayed two nights in Medford, Oregon, so we could explore Crater Lake National Park. But then we headed northwest to camp at Bullards Beach State Park. Although we hadn’t planned to spend time in Bandon, Oregon, we ventured south from our campground to explore the city.

Bandon is roughly 90 miles north of the Oregon/California border. It’s located right on the coast and is a great place to stop while traveling Highway 101 (also known as the Oregon Coast Highway).

The city’s population is roughly 3,500 people. For comparison, Portland, Oregon, has nearly 650,000 people. So Bandon is a quaint little place that makes a wonderful weekend getaway.

1. Stroll Among the Art Galleries in Bandon

Although there are a few typical art galleries in Bandon, there’s one that I found particularly interesting. Located in Old Town Bandon are sculptures made entirely of garbage found on the beaches in the area. This isn’t to say that all the beaches are drowning with garbage. The garbage has been collected over the years.

Washed Ashore is an art gallery dedicated to cleaning up the oceans. These sculptures, as shown above, raise awareness of just how much garbage comes ashore. While some sculptures are scattered throughout town, they have an actual art gallery you can visit and hands-on educational workshops. Travel Oregon published a great article about Washed Ashore that’s worth reading.

Visit some of the other art galleries throughout Bandon. For example, Second Street Gallery (open daily from 10-5 p.m.) displays art in many forms – like photography, paintings, wood carvings and more.

2. Learn about the city’s history at the Bandon History Museum

Explore the Bandon Historical Society’s museum to learn more about the history of this little coastal town. There are multiple exhibits you can explore and learn about the city’s history, it’s people, culture and cranberry farming. The museum is full of artifacts and photos that help you gain a better understanding of the rich history of the city that shaped what it is today.

The museum’s hours fluctuate throughout the year to accommodate the summer season. From June-September, the museum is open every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Between October and May, the museum operates from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as well, but it’s closed on Sundays. The museum is closed the entire month of January.

Admission is $3 for adults (ages 12+), and visitors under 12 are free.

3. Experience the Bandon Cranberry Festival

Every September, Bandon hosts the Cranberry Festival. In fact, it’s the longest-running festival on the Oregon Coast. The event is a multi-day celebration around the rich history of cranberry farming that’s a staple of this community. Like many festivals, this one includes a parade, sporting events, live music, a farmer’s market, classic cars and much more.

The element of the festival that caught my attention while reading about it online was the cranberry eating contest. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten a plain cranberry, though I’ve enjoyed them in various baked goods and recipes. There’s also a cornhole tournament and a crabbing contest – catch a tagged crab to win a prize.

Learn more about the Bandon Cranberry Festival and see if you want to join in the festivities.

4. Enjoy a Delicious Seafood (or non-seafood) Meal

One of my favorite parts about visiting small coastal towns like Bandon is the chance to enjoy a delicious seafood meal. It’s less expensive than what we find in Utah, and it’s a lot more fresh. There are several places to choose from when seeking out a meal. Although you’ll find little spots to grab some food, one of the more popular spots is Tony’s Crab Shack. They’re located on the north end of Old Town, right along the Coquille River.

5. Snag a Treat – Candy Shops, Creamery, Bakery, etc.

Our first stop on our tour of Bandon was at Face Rock Creamery to grab some ice cream. Inside, they have a lot more than ice cream. There are cheeses, jams, soaps and many more local treats. The place is a working factory, so you can watch the workers sorting through cheese through large glass windows.

As we wandered through downtown, we stumbled into several candy shops and bakeries. One of our favorites was Cranberry Sweets & More. I snagged a firecracker chocolate bar, which had spicy peppers inside the chocolate bar, along with some pop rocks. It was a unique treat we brought home to enjoy with the kids. There are so many other delicious treats here and in the other shops around town, so come hungry.

6. Do Some Shopping Around Town

We enjoyed wandering into various souvenir shops and toy shops around Bandon. As you can see from the photo above, they have a variety of fun trinkets you can bring home. Besides the typical mugs, shirts, books, magnets and playing cards, you can also snag a good rod and reel or lures and bait at places like Port O Calls, right near Tony’s Crab Shack.

There are several other shops around town and they aren’t just trinkets. My wife enjoyed exploring the women’s clothing stores and a little home décor store.

7. Enjoy one of the Beaches near Bandon

During our visit to Bandon, we camped at Bullards Beach State Park. It’s a short drive north from the city, just on the other side of the Coquille River. The beach was the perfect spot for an evening stroll to watch the sunset. We saw lots of families enjoying the beach, building sand castles and just enjoying some time outdoors.

There are other beaches around Bandon to explore. Face Rock Wayside is one of the beaches that offers a rather unique experience. Circles in the Sand is a work of art created regularly on the beach. The artists will “draw” an artistic talking path in the sand so the visitors can walk the path. The pathway is only usable for about two hours, depending on when the tide comes in and starts to wash it away. Best of all, there is no cost to visit and explore Circles in the Sand, but parking can fill up quickly.

If you’ve ever wanted to go horseback riding on the beach, Bandon may be the place for you. One of the popular groups to book a horseback riding tour is Bandon Beach Riding Stables. The trails are 90% beach, 10% trails.

8. Visit the Coquille River Lighthouse

At the south end of Bullards Beach, where the Coquille River meets the Pacific Ocean, there’s an old lighthouse. Visitors can explore the area around the lighthouse, but they can’t go inside. However, it’s a neat little spot to explore, and much like the beach, it’s a great spot to enjoy the sunset, too.

There’s a parking area near the lighthouse, so you don’t have to walk far. However, it closes just after sunset, so you’ll want to plan accordingly. If you’re staying at Bullards Beach State Park campground, then you can walk/hike/bike to the lighthouse along the Coquille River.

Also, I would like to point out that coquille is French for “shell”.

9. Camp at Nearby Bullards Beach State Park

We weren’t familiar with Bandon before our road trip along the Oregon Coast. I had simply found a campground at Bullards Beach State Park for us to stay. When I looked on my map to see a place to grab ice cream in town, that’s when we went to explore Bandon and learn more about the city. Yes, I am motivated by ice cream.

Bullards Beach State Park allows you to make reservations up to 30 days in advance. There are a variety of campsites to choose from, which can accommodate tent campers like us, camper trailers or full-on RVs. Keep in mind that there are no first come, first served spots. So reservations are a must.

10. Visit the West Coast Game Safari Park

Located on the south end of Bandon, the West Coast Game Safari Park isn’t your typical zoo. When you first enter, you’ll likely be greeted by one of the free-roaming animals. Don’t worry. These aren’t the lions and tigers and bears featured at the park – they are in enclosures. But be ready for some fun with the goats, sheep and deer to wander up to you.

The park features more than 75 different animals. It’s an opportunity to learn about the habits of each animal, the dangers they face in the wild and learn what you can do to help wildlife stay wild.

The safari park is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last admission at 4:30 p.m. There are seasonal hours, so depending on when you plan to visit, you’ll want to check out their website so you don’t show up when they’re closed.

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