Introducing Astoria, Oregon! This riverside town is right by the west coast and sits on the Columbia River. Astoria is the oldest city in the state of Oregon and west of the Rocky Mountains. Roughly 10,000 people call this town home. Astoria gets many visitors each year for its great seafood, museums, parks, and scenery. However, movie buffs love to visit Astoria as it was the background for the fan favorite 1985 film The Goonies! Fans flock to The Goonies House, Cannon Beach, and the Oregon Film Museum. Located near Portland, Oregon (1hr 50min, 100 Miles), Seattle, WA (3hr 10min, 180 miles), and Eugene, OR (3hr 30min, 200 miles), Astoria is a great day or weekend trip to see history, beautiful scenery, and film memorabilia. Come and see all the great things Astoria has to offer!

Before touching on The Goonies' history, let’s highlight be natural beauty surrounding Astoria. The town sits on the Columbia River right before it dumps into the Pacific. At the delta, visitors can enjoy the Columbia River South Jetty Observation Tower for the great view. The Astoria Riverwalk is a 12-mile path along the water for biking and walking. Also along the river is the Astoria Riverfront Trolley, a favorite for visitors to ride on. The Columbia River has a lot of history, and locals and visitors alike recommend visiting the Columbia River Maritime Museum. Other great spots for natural beauty include Young River Falls and Cathedral Tree Trail.

Astoria is home to a lot of history, especially along the coast. Be sure to see the Fort Clatsop replica, museum, and hiking trails. Fort Steven’s State Park is popular too with fishing, hiking, disc golf, the fort, camping, and even a shipwreck on the beach! Ecola State Park is another popular park with the “Terrible Tilly” lighthouse and Cannon Beach (more on that later). Another popular beach is Cape Disappointment State Park, which is anything but with its lighthouse and hiking trails. Climb up the Astoria Column, a tall observation tower painted with murals of the Pacific Northwest’s history. Be sure to buy a glider before climbing to the top!

As mentioned, Astoria is often visited because of The Goonies. Cannon Beach, as mentioned above, is the background for the iconic ending to the movie and gets very busy with visitors trying to get an image of Haystack Rock. The Oregon Film Museum also features memorabilia from the movie as well as information about other movies filmed in the state, including The Shining, Twilight, and Stand By Me. The Goonies House is a must-see for visitors too, which features several beloved scenes.

Astoria has plenty more, including shopping. Head to the Astoria Sunday Market for produce and handmade goods and Pier 39 Astoria, a renovated cannery that is full of stores. Check out popular stores in town like Finn Ware, Port Hopper, Weird Sisters Freak Boutique, Phog Bounders Antique Mall, and many more. Head to Flavel House Museum to see a beautiful Victorian home, or see the Astoria-Megler Bridge, the second-longest truss bridge in the world! For a taste of spooky, try one of the many ghost tours in Astoria, such as Astoria Ghost Tour - Underground.

Astoria has a great food scene, notably full of seafood, clam chowder, and fish and chips. Start your day with breakfast from Arnie’s Cafe and coffee from Astoria Coffeehouse & Bistro. Folks here love their clam chowder. Some great chowder restaurants include South Bay Wild Fish House, Ship Out Fish & Chips, MO’s Seafood & Chowder, and Silver Salmon Grille. Another great spot for seafood favorites is Bridgewater Bistro. Grab sandwiches from Peter Pan Market & Deli, Indian favorites from Himani Indian Cuisine, and Italian from Fede Trattoria Astoria. Astoria also has lots of breweries and beer! Head to Fort George Brewery and Astoria Brewing Company to see their tap rooms. Try beer at Rogue Pier 39 Public House and grab bottles from Bridge & Tunnel Bottleshop & Taproom. Beer not your thing? Grab a cocktail or a whiskey flight from Baylocks Whiskey Bar.

Need a place to stay in Astoria? Consider booking a room at Bowline Hotel, Hotel Elliot Astoria, and Norblad Hotel. For a fun experience, book a vintage travel trailer at Sou’wester Historic Lodge. There are multiple campgrounds to suit your needs around Fort Steven’s State Park. Want a whole rental to yourself? Consider booking a Vrbo. Here are some of our favorites: Tiny House for 2, Historic Apartment for 6, and Coastal Retreat for 10.

Want to visit Astoria but not sure when? Consider coming during one of their many festivals and events, such as the Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood, & Wine Festival or the Great Columbia Crossing 10k. Whatever you’re into, Astoria, Oregon has something worth seeing. We hope this travel guide gives you a glimpse into life in Oregon that can inspire a future visit.

Happy Travels!

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