Discover Newport > About Newport

Discover what can’t be found anywhere but here.

Yaquina Bay Bridge

Perhaps Newport’s most iconic landmark is the gorgeous Yaquina Bay Bridge. More than just a way to cross the bay, the bridge is an ambassador for the city and a magnificent piece of art-deco architecture.

Dungeness Crab

With record numbers of commercial crabbing tonnage coming in, and some of the most opportunities for public crabbing on the entire Oregon coast, Newport is officially the “Dungeness Crab Capital of the World.”

Rogue

All of Rogue’s brews and spirits are produced in South Beach at the brewery and distillery at the foot of the Yaquina Bay Bridge. Attached to the brewery is Brewer’s on the Bay, a restaurant and bar that offers a panoramic view of Yaquina Bay and 40 taps.

Oregon Coast Aquarium

This world-class marine attraction overlooks scenic Yaquina Bay just south of the Yaquina Bay Bridge. The Aquarium strives to be a center of excellence for ocean literacy and plays an active role in conservation, education and animal rehabilitation efforts.

Mo's

You gotta have Mo’s. No trip to the coast is complete without a steaming bowl or two of their world-famous clam chowder. But there’s much more to the Mo’s story than chowder. Mo’s is part of the fabric of the Newport community and an amazing family-owned business success story.

Lighthouses

Lighthouse lovers rejoice: Newport is lucky enough to have two picturesque lighthouses, Yaquina Head and Yaquina Bay, which were historically used to guide and warn ships at sea. These historic treasures are now landmarks and tourist destinations as well as icons of our beautiful city. Make sure to visit both while you’re here.

Getting Here

  • Car

Driving from the North: From Portland, take I-5 South to Corvallis, Exit #228 to Hwy 34 West. Head west on Hwy 20 to Newport. Or take Hwy 99 West to Hwy 18 to Lincoln City. Head south on Hwy 101 to Newport.

 

Driving from the South: From Eugene or further south, take I-5 North to Corvallis, Exit #228 to Hwy 34 West and then take Hwy 20 to Newport.

  • Air

The Newport Municipal Airport is perfectly equipped for private planes and rentals. As a fixed-base operator (FBO), the airport furnishes aeronautical services such as fueling, hangar space, tie-down and parking, aircraft rental, aircraft maintenance, and flight instruction. In addition, the airport has available crew cars for pilots to use for several hours, and also offers on-site car rentals from Hertz, and car rental deliveries from Enterprise. The Newport Municipal Airport also caters to chartered flights, and although commercial flights are not currently available, they may be added in the future. Netjets Aviation is one of a variety of companies that administer chartered flights to and from Newport, and McMinnville-based Konect Aviation offers scenic air tours during the summer months and operates chartered flights to and from the airport as well.

Getting Around

  • Free Shuttle

The Newport City Loop Shuttle Service is free to those staying in Newport lodging, and $1 per ride for other visitors. See the front desk of your establishment for free passes. The loop, with 46 stops, goes south to Newport Business Plaza in South Beach and north to NE 73rd Street. The shuttle is wheelchair accessible and has a bike rack. For more information, call 541-265-4900. See bus transit page and date route and schedule.

  • Biking

Newport is well on its way to becoming the most bike-friendly town on the Oregon coast, so when you come, don’t forget to load those bikes into the car. Whether you’ve got a sleek, speedy road bike, a tricked-out high-tech mountain bike, or a touring bike with a tinkly bell and a wicker basket on the handlebars, there’s a ride for you in and around town. Check in with the crew at Bike Newport for information about hill time trials, group rides, and kids’ rides as well. Bike Newport is at 150 NW 6th Street in Newport, 541-265-9917, and bikenewport.com. The shop is open M-F 10-6, Sat 10-5, and summer Sundays 12-5.

Driving in Newport

  • Car

Traffic jams like the ones in Portland are extremely uncommon. You might hear complaints about the traffic from Newport residents in the summer, but never from visitors. Their attitude is completely different to that of big-city residents: to Newportonians, a delay of a couple of minutes is equivalent to ‘heavy traffic’. However, Highway 101 can be dangerous if you’re not paying attention, so if you’re going to enjoy the ocean views, please park the car first.

Weather & Climate

Don't ask us to explain it in meteorological terms, but when it comes to weather here, the one constant is change. Over the course of any given day, we may have sun, and totally clear skies, followed by rain and wind. Or a foggy morning may give way to an unseasonably warm, sunny afternoon. So before you cancel a trip to Newport based on a generalized forecast of inclement weather, know that by the time you get here, things will probably have changed—and you could be basking in sun and blue skies.

 
What kind of seasonal weather can you generally expect in Newport?

Winter: Occasional big waves and big weather, but a surprising number of crisp, crystal-clear days perfect for long beach walks.
Spring: Brisk days with sun and clouds playing hide and seek.
Summer: Dry, sunny days and mild nights.
Fall: Lovely Indian Summer temperatures, gentle breezes.

 

Newport Facts

Approximate number of restaurants: More than 80—ranging from four-star dining to small, cozy cafes

 

Approximate number of accommodations: More than 1,500 rooms. Newport's lodging includes luxurious resorts, a wide variety of hotels and motels, quaint bed & breakfasts, hostels, YURTS (Year-round Universal Recreational Tents), RV parks and camping.

  • Population: 10,400
  • County: Lincoln County
  • Elevation: 150 feet above the sea
  • Time Zone: Newport is located in Pacific Standard Time Zone
  • Miles to Portland: 130 miles to Portland International Airport
  • Most Visited Attraction: The Oregon Coast Aquarium
  • Major Industry: Tourism, fishing and wood products