45th Parallel Strikes Right Through Central Oregon Coast - Lincoln City Celebrates New Signs

Published 03/17/26 at 6:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Lincoln City, Oregon) – Did you know one of the region's favorite Oregon coast go-to towns is right on the 45th parallel? A major geographic line through the U.S. just drops out into the ocean here – and it's a marker of some renown. (Courtesy photo)

It turns out the 45th Parallel is the line of latitude marking the halfway point between the equator and the North Pole. Indeed, this is one of several places in Oregon where this geographic midpoint is marked, including along I-5 and other places in the Willamette Valley. However, here on the Oregon coast, it's where the line meets the Pacific Ocean, creating a rare point where a major latitude intersects a continental shoreline.

That means this is a rather big one in the world of geographic markers. And Explore Lincoln Lincoln City is about to make a big deal of it. They've had signs at the beach access closest to the 45th Parallel since December, and they are colorful, vibrant signage.

The Celebration: Explore Lincoln City and Chinook Winds Casino Resort will host an opening celebration for the new 45th Parallel markers on April 4, 2026, from 2 to 5 p.m. near the NW 44th Street beach access at Chinook Winds. The event will include a ribbon cutting, giveaways, and photo opportunities at the landmark marking this grandest of points at the Pacific.

Lines of latitude circle the Earth horizontally and measure how far north or south a place lies from the equator. The 45th Parallel sits 45 degrees north of the equator and 45 degrees south of the North Pole, placing it at the exact midpoint of the northern hemisphere.

There's astronomical things that happen here that don't in other parts of the U.S. because of that parallel. The spring and fall equinox will bring equal amounts of daylight and night on slightly different days than places north or south of here.

According to OMSI's Jim Todd, in Oregon (especially around Portland, Salem and the central Oregon coast) that day happens March 17, whereas the actual date of the equinox is about March 21 or 22 (depending on the year). The days of equal day and night (12 hours of each) happen on March 18 for Alaska and March 16 for southern California, he said.

That strange space diversion aside, Explore Lincoln City points out they share this latitude with a wide range of landscapes around the world, including the French Alps, Mongolia’s deserts, Yellowstone’s geyser basins, the forests of Maine, and the vineyards of northern Italy.

They call it a place of equilibrium.

If you look on maps that include the parallel clearly, you see it strike through the central Oregon coast burgh.

“The line runs east-west through the south end of the Roads End neighborhood, crossing Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians land and Highway 101,” the agency said. “Two new signposts have recently been installed to guide visitors to the line: one at the beach access near Chinook Winds Casino Resort, and another along the new walking path and footbridge on the northern end of Highway 101 in Lincoln City.”

NW 50th access nearby - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

Now, technically the line doesn't hit right at the 44th St. access (Access #41). Oregon Coast Beach Connection got down and nerdy with the technical data, and the parallel comes out 820 feet south of that access. There is a secret access up at NW 50th, and the line is 329 feet from that entrance.

Explore Lincoln City suggests a unique selfie idea.

“Snap a photo by a sign, placing one foot in the northern half of the northern hemisphere and one foot in the southern half of northern hemisphere, and feel the balance of this unique place,” they said.

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