Ocean's Edge Wayside or Oregon Coast Access #27: Rockaway Beach's Center Has Many Faces

Published 10/01/2026 at 7:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Rockaway Beach, Oregon) - The S. First Street access. Rockaway Beach's main access. Oregon Beach Access #27. Or maybe Ocean's Edge Wayside. It goes by many names, unfortunately. All photos Oregon Coast Beach Connection

You may know it as Ocean's Edge Wayside, which has been one of the primary names for it used in much literature both online and off, although no official government entity sees it that way. So the name isn't actually correct.

Officially, it seems to be simply known as “Rockaway Beach.” In fact, you'll see an arrow pointing west and the words “Rockaway Beach” on the sign along the highway, or there's the big one that declares “Rockaway Beach” as you roll into the parking lot.

Access #27 is what it's known as if you're calling 911. The big yellow emergency sign declares that number, and such names my be the future of coastal monikers.

Either way, it's essentially the main access of this north Oregon coast burgh – the center of roughly seven miles of beach that stretch from the edges of Nehalem Bay to Tillamook Bay.

What's in a name? The town was created from numerous smaller resorts back in 1909 – essentially the equivalent of small campsites back then. Most had tents to sleep in for the summer, while some had hotel-like accommodations. They went by names like Lake Lytle, Seaview Park, Midway Beach and Manhattan Beach, among many others. This spot was apparently called Rockaway Beach, and the town took that name (unlike when Lincoln City formed in the '60s and used a different name than any of the little places it was comprised of).

To Previous Stop Rockaway Beach North

To Next Stop Rockaway's Ocean's Edge Wayside

Indeed, state maps show this portion of beach being called Rockaway Beach State Recreation Site.

It's the primary access most people are familiar with, coming complete with the Rockaway Chamber's choo-choo train for a visitors center. This famous red caboose is partially an homage to the trains which brought families to Rockaway for vacations back in the early part of the 20th century. Mostly, it's a spry pop of color as you approach and a charming aspect to the place.

Rockaway Beach itself is a long stretch of town that has a rustic, rugged and slightly Victorian vibe in some spots. Many of the homes here look like they were constructed back in the late 1900’s, when the town was a resort bustling with wealthy and middle class Portlanders. But these have often been gussied up in interesting colors or decorated with wacky sea flotsam.

There's bundles of other interesting facets about its history. Rockaway Beach the Beginning

The center of it is the largest parking lot and the center of attention, even the sight of a few festivals here and there. The focal point of that is Twin Rocks, which conjures a few surprises the farther or closer you get to it. Spoiler alert: it changes shapes like one of those Dominion guys in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Spots to sit and view the ocean, a stream that descends from seemingly nowhere, a little fountain to rinse yourself off (or water your dog) and the giant, bulbous streetlights all typify the experience here. In the mid 2010s they added the playground, which comes complete with pirate regalia and views of the hills to the east. Those green boundaries are often covered in low-hanging clouds or mists that add to the atmosphere.

In the summer, Rockaway Beach brings out the volleyball nets and varied fun ensues. In winter, curiosities can emerge from low sand levels, like the chunks of wood that look like a ghost forest. These have an interesting story. A block down the way, these sand levels may reveal a secret shipwreck – one that disappeared for about 50 years and then suddenly started showing again in the 2010s. Emily G. Reed (Secret Oregon Coast Shipwreck Shows Up after 35-Year Absence

For a simple Oregon coast access, the Rockaway Beach approach – or Oceans Edge Wayside, or 1st Street Acces or whatever you want to call it – has a bit more than meets the eye.

Hotels in Rockaway Beach - Where to eat - Rockaway Beach Maps and Virtual Tours

To Previous Stop Rockaway Beach North

To Next Stop Rockaway's Ocean's Edge Wayside

 

 

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