If you need a relaxing way to see the Oregon Coast while visiting Oregon, or if you have a kiddo that is obsessed with trains, The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad is for you and your family! The railway features a historical authentic Oregon steam train which takes you along the Coast and shorelines from Garibaldi to Rockaway Beach and back. When it comes to train rides along the Oregon Coast, this experience is unforgettable.
The Regular Excursion on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad
The regular and most common journey aboard the steam trains of the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad travels from Garibaldi Oregon to the Rockaway Beach area and back many times a day. The train leaves Garibaldi at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm. From Rockaway Beach, the train leaves at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. All the layovers between journeys are 30 minutes.
We recommend boarding in Garibaldi and taking the journey to Rockaway Beach and then back. There is more to do in Rockaway Beach during your layover. If you would like to spend more time in Rockaway, (or Garibaldi,) you are free to skip the train leaving at the 30 minute layover mark, and board it when it comes back through on its next journey. This will mean you will have a two and a half hour layover in Rockaway rather than thirty minutes.
The choice is up to you! Rockaway Beach has a beautiful beach to enjoy. You can sit and watch the waves, play in the sand, throw the ball for your dog, or play in the waves (if you’re brave enough!)
Besides beach front, Rockaway Beach features shops to find souvenirs that range from seashells and sand dollars, to antiques. If you’d like to grab a bite to eat after the first leg of your trip on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, Rockaway Beach has both sit down and quick service restaurants, as well as ice cream shops, all within walking distance of the train station. Here you will find a full list of dining options at the train stops, as well as nearby.
Be sure when on your train layover to listen for the five minute warning whistle! This means the train will be leaving in five minutes.
Dogs and Kids on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad
Oregon is known for being one of the most dog friendly states, and the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad falls right into that reputation. Well behaved and leashed dogs are welcome to ride the rails with you and your family, and they love it!
It is recommended, and heavily encouraged that all dogs and their families board and sit in the open air cars to provide more comfort for everyone two and four-legged. When we took our journey aboard the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, Kimber sat right on the bench next to me and enjoyed sticking her head up and feeling the wind on her face. Her nose was going a million miles an hour while we all enjoyed the scenery.
In both Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach, many of the shops are dog friendly if your pup is well behaved and leashed. The dogs also love running on the beach during your layover as you wait for the next train. Although, we had forgotten to bring Kimber’s ball, so she was a little mad at us when she saw other dogs playing.
The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad is also an amazing adventure for kids. They can sit in either the open-air cars or the enclosed cars and enjoy the fun of riding a real steam train in Oregon. At the train stops, kids can talk to staff and ask all their endless questions about steam trains and the journey. For a small additional fee, kids and their parents can ride in the engine car with the engineer where they can blow the whistle.
Along with the traditional fun of the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, special events are often added for kids. For example, during our journey, it happened to be pirate weekend. Pirates moved up and down the train cars joking, singing, and plundering. They handed out gold treasure to the kids and hosted games during the layovers where you could win prizes.
Tips and Trick for Your Journey on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad
There are definitely a few things to know before you board the Oregon Coast Scenic Railway. We highly recommend trying to sit on the left side of the train when facing the engine car, when you board in Garibaldi (or the right side if your board in Rockaway Beach.) This side of the train features the best views, especially of the water and ocean front. The opposite side of the train still has great views, but they are mainly of houses, trees, and coastal shops.
Another thing to keep in mind is weather. If you are taking your dog with you, you will have to sit in the open-air cars, this means you will be exposed to whatever the weather happens to be on that particular day. If the weather is not great, be sure to get there a bit early to claim your spot in the closed cars.
Also, seats are not reserved, so during your layover, the seat you had originally will probably be taken unless you are one of the first to board the train.
Tickets can be bought online ahead of time or in the train’s caboose directly before departure. If the weather is nice, or during weekends, it is recommended to book your tickets online ahead of time to ensure you can board at the time you would like.
Restrooms are available at both stops for your convenience.
Daily trips occur between end of May to end of September. The rest of the year, during the winter months, the Oregon Coast Scenic Railway only does weekend trips and special expeditions.
The railway line does reach all the way to Portland, and in the future the Oregon Coast Scenic Railway will make excursions all the way from Tillamook to Portland. So, be sure to support this organization to make that possible!
At this time, the organization has not released an Oregon Coast scenic route map showing the entire railroad line along the coast, but we look forward to hopefully seeing it someday.
Wining and Dining on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad
The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad hosts wildly popular dinner train excursions that begin in Garibaldi and head north past Rockaway and wind through the beautiful and dense forests right along the coastline to Wheeler Oregon and back.
The dinner trips are 3 hours roundtrip. There are two different car options for these special trips on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad. The first option is in the dining car. This option includes an elaborate four course meal catered to you. You have a choice of entrée and complimentary soft drinks. Alcoholic beverages are extra.
The second seating option is in the open air club cars. These seats do not come with the dinner options. Bringing your own food and snacks for the journey is highly recommended, but no outside alcoholic beverages are allowed.
In addition to the dinner trains, special event trips can be taken on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad. You can find more info about these ever changing and evolving holiday and special occasion trips here.
