4 Day Oregon Coast Golf Itinerary: Gearhart to Bandon
Most golfers fly into Bandon and fly out again. This route earns it instead: four days driving US 101 from the historic links at Gearhart, where golf has been played since 1892, past Salishan above Siletz Bay, to two full days at Bandon Dunes. The whole coast, one car, five rounds.
Photograph: Gearhart Golf Links, via Google
The shape of the trip
Fly into Portland, drive 90 minutes northwest to the coast, then point the car south and let US 101 do the rest. The drive itself is half the point: sea stacks, fishing towns, and the Coast Range falling into the Pacific. Golf wise the route runs old to new, from the oldest golf on the West Coast at Gearhart to the modern links cathedral at Bandon Dunes. Out of Bandon, it is roughly four and a half hours back to Portland, or a short hop from the local airport with connections through Portland or San Francisco depending on season.
If your trip is Bandon only, use our 4 day Bandon Dunes itinerary instead; if you have less time on the coast road, the condensed 3 day Oregon Coast itinerary trims the northern leg. The full regional picture lives on the Oregon Coast and Bandon hub.
Day by day
Day 1 · Gearhart Golf Links
Start where Oregon golf started. Gearhart Golf Links, on the dunes near Seaside, traces its golf back to 1892 and is widely celebrated as the oldest course in the Pacific Northwest. It is honest, walkable, firm running links golf with no pretension, and the 2026 seasonal rates of roughly 75 to 135 dollars, indicative, make it one of the best value openings of any American golf trip; always confirm directly before booking. Stay in Gearhart or Seaside, eat chowder, and get an early night: tomorrow is the long leg.
Day 2 · Salishan, Gleneden Beach
Drive about two hours south past Tillamook and Lincoln City to Salishan Coastal Lodge above Siletz Bay. The resort's links style course winds through coastal forest with bay views on the front nine, and pricing is dynamic by date and season, so check the day you want and always confirm directly before booking. Lunch stop of the trip: the Tillamook Creamery on the way down. Sleep at Salishan or push 30 minutes further south to Newport to shorten day three.
Day 3 · Bandon Dunes, round one
Three to three and a half hours south through Florence and Coos Bay brings you to Bandon Dunes by late morning. Check in, then play your first round in the afternoon: Bandon Dunes itself, the David McLay Kidd original from 1999, is the right opener. Resort guest green fees in 2026 run from about 120 dollars in deep winter to 375 dollars in peak summer per round, with second rounds of the day at half price; fees are indicative, always confirm directly before booking. If the legs allow, the Preserve par 3 course at sunset is the best 13 holes of short golf in America.
Day 4 · Bandon Dunes, the 36 hole finale
Pick two from Pacific Dunes, the Tom Doak course many rank first on the property, Bandon Trails by Coore and Crenshaw through the inland dunes and forest, Old Macdonald's giant greens, or Sheep Ranch on the bluffs, the 2020 Coore and Crenshaw course with nine greens on the ocean. The half price replay rate makes 36 the obvious play. Caddies are the way to walk it; the resort is walking only. Fly out of the local airport or drive back north the next morning.
The route at a glance
| Day | Golf | Drive and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Gearhart Golf Links, roughly 75 to 135 dollars by season | Portland to Gearhart about 1 hour 30 minutes; stay Gearhart or Seaside |
| Day 2 | Salishan, dynamic resort pricing | Gearhart to Gleneden Beach about 2 hours on US 101 |
| Day 3 | Bandon Dunes course; optional Preserve par 3 at dusk | Salishan to Bandon about 3 hours 30 minutes; check in first |
| Day 4 | 36 holes: pick two of Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails, Old Macdonald, Sheep Ranch | Guest fees 120 to 375 dollars per round by season, replays half price |
Fees verified June 2026 from resort and course rate pages. Check tee time availability or browse Oregon Coast golf lodging.
Logistics and packing
Book Bandon Dunes first, months ahead for summer, then build the northern legs around it; Gearhart and Salishan rarely need more than a few weeks of notice. May through September is prime, but the shoulder months are the value play: Bandon in April or October drops fees sharply and the links stay firm. Pack for four seasons in one day on this coast: waterproofs, layers, a warm hat even in July, and golf shoes you can walk 36 in. The resort is walking only with caddies available, so travel light on the bag. Cell coverage fades on stretches of US 101; download the route offline and treat fuel stops in Coos Bay and Florence as non negotiable.
Plan your Oregon Coast golf trip
Tell us your dates, group size and whether Bandon is the whole point or the finale. One concierge locks the Bandon tee times, sequences the coast drive and costs the trip to the head. No obligation.
Good to know
Can I do this itinerary in reverse?
Yes, and it works well if your flights route through San Francisco or you want Bandon first while legs are freshest. The reason we run north to south is dramatic build: Gearhart's old links sets the tone, and Bandon is the crescendo. Either direction, keep the long Salishan to Bandon leg in the middle of the trip rather than on a flight day.
Do I need a caddie at Bandon Dunes?
The resort is walking only, and while push carts are available at certain times of year, a caddie is the best money of the trip on a first visit: green reading at Pacific Dunes and Old Macdonald saves more shots than any swing tip. Book caddies when you book golf, not on arrival. Caddie fees and gratuities are paid separately from green fees; confirm current rates with the resort.
When is the best time for this trip?
May through September for the surest weather, with June and September the sweet spot. April and October are the value windows: Bandon guest fees fall well below the 375 dollar summer peak, the links stay firm and the crowds thin. Winter golf happens, often in brilliant cold sunshine between storms, at fees near the 120 dollar floor, but you accept the gamble.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Course access changes, openings and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Routes, drive times and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.