Getting to Cannon Beach from Seattle:
Drive south from the Puget Sound area on Interstate 5 towards Portland. At the Longview Exit #36 you have a choice to make (a) drive west over to Astoria and then south down Highway 101 along the Oregon Coast to get to Cannon Beach (b) keep driving south and get through Portland first and then head west over the Coast Range (Sunset Highway #26) to get over to Cannon Beach.
Here’s the details re route (a): exit at Longview (Exit #36) and head west towards the Lewis & Clark Bridge to Rainer. Turn right and continue west on Highway 30 for about 45 miles until you reach Astoria where the road goes through downtown and suddenly becomes Highway 101. Continue on Highway 101 for about 25 miles and go south through Seaside. Cannon Beach is about 8 miles south of Seaside. Once here you’ll notice there are three main Cannon Beach exits (Downtown,Midtown (Sunset Boulevard),and Tolovana Park).
Here’s the details re route (b): keep driving south on Interstate 5 towards Vancouver. Cross the Interstate Bridge from Washington into Oregon and continue south towards downtown Portland. Cross either the Fremont Bridge (I-405) or the Marquam Bridge (I-5) and watch carefully for signs leading you over to OR26 (Sunset Highway) towards Seaside and the Oregon Coast. After about 60 to 75 minutes on OR26 take a left at the north/south Highway 101 junction and head 4 miles south towards Cannon Beach.
It’s about 210 miles from Seattle to Cannon Beach and 3 and half hours.
Getting to Cannon Beach from Portland:
From Portland International Airport head south on I-205 and then west on I-84 towards downtown Portland. Watch for signs leading you to Oregon Highway 26. Cross either the Fremont Bridge (I-405) or the Marquam Bridge (I-5) to eventually get to OR26. After driving about 72 miles on OR26 take a left at the north/south Highway 101 junction and head 4 miles south towards Cannon Beach.
Look for the rustic welcome sign and you’ll immediately notice there are three main Cannon Beach exits (Downtown, Midtown (Sunset Boulevard),and Tolovana Park).
Getting to Cannon Beach from San Francisco:
Depending upon your travel time and your curiosity there are about a dozen routes to take heading north from the Bay Area up to Cannon Beach. Can’t list them all here but remember when you eventually drive north on US101 along the Oregon Coast you will want to enter Cannon Beach from either the Tolovana Park or the Sunset Boulevard exits.