Manhattan Beach State Recreation Site
Rockaway Beach, OR
Manhattan Beach sits about two miles north of downtown Rockaway Beach, a state recreation site with a small picnic area that gets a fraction of the foot traffic the town beach does. It's the kind of spot locals point newcomers toward when they want the same wide sand without the crowd.
A reliable, uncrowded stretch of the same good sand as Rockaway Beach proper, just without much to do beyond the beach itself.
How we score beachesThere's no fee and no facilities beyond picnic tables, so treat it as a quiet stop rather than a full day base with restrooms and food nearby.
Free lot directly off Highway 101.
A short, flat path leads from the lot to the beach.
Leashed dogs are allowed on the beach.
Summer, June through September, brings the driest weather on this stretch of coast.
More Pacific Coast beaches

Zuma Beach
Malibu, CA · Pacific Coast
A wide stretch of sand backed by the Santa Monica Mountains, with reliable swells that draw surfers year-round and plenty of room to spread out even on busy weekends.

Huntington City Beach
Huntington Beach, CA · Pacific Coast
Known as Surf City USA, with a mile-long municipal pier, consistent breaks for surfers of every level, and a laid-back boardwalk scene along Pacific Coast Highway.

Main Beach
Laguna Beach, CA · Pacific Coast
Tucked between rocky headlands, with tidepools to explore at low tide, calmer coves for swimming, and an arts-town backdrop of galleries and cafes just steps from the sand.
