Where can you drive on the beaches on the Oregon coast?

[Steve Pickering]

Beach driving will (Let me make that clear, WILL) damage or destroy your vehicle within a year. That is not a year of driving, but one year after driving one time. Salt and sand are mixed. I know, some of you have driven on the beach for years and your car is not destroyed, but put the car on a lift and look at the rusted and decayed or damaged components. And remember most beach driving in Oregon requires a permit, flag and fees these days. The majority of the state bans most beach driving at least part of the year. Check the map. Fines are high and often. Tow bills are high, normal, and often also.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

And remember most beach driving in Oregon requires a permit, flag and fees these days. The majority of the state bans most beach driving at least part of the year. Check the map. Fines are high and often. Tow bills are high, normal, and often also

.

Please be so kind to include an official Oregon government regulatory webpage cite for this statement please?

Which map(s) are you referring to?

As far as I know, you may be right, but could you back up your questionable statement with facts please?

Thanks so much.

[Random_Walk]

Instead of hearsay, let's just look it up, eh?

Oregon Secretary of State Archives Division

Summary: No permits or flags needed in areas where public driving is allowed. In all other areas, a permit would be needed, but must be provided free of charge. To wit:

"The Director of State Parks or the authorized representative may issue special permits for motor vehicles to travel on the ocean shore within the areas or at times where such travel is otherwise prohibited by this resolution. No charge for such permits will be made. Any special permit or permit identification card shall be in the immediate possession of the operator of the vehicle at all times when driving on that portion of the ocean shore otherwise closed to travel by motor vehicles. The operator shall display the same upon the demand of any peace officer."

Some other goodies...
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Here's a solid guide on how to drive on the beach safely:
Oregon Sea Grant - Enjoy the Beaches in Safety


This one describes driving near Gearhart:
Shearwater | Seaside, Oregon | Seaside Beach Activities


Long story short? In public areas where beach driving is permitted, no sweat - use your head and have some fun without getting a permit, flags, or whatever. In areas where driving on the beach is prohibited, you can (if you have good reason to) get a *free* permit to drive on the beach.

[Random_Walk]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

Beach driving will (Let me make that clear, WILL) damage or destroy your vehicle within a year. That is not a year of driving, but one year after driving one time. Salt and sand are mixed.

I answered the other part of your post already, but I may as well get this one, too.

I had an old Jeep that I happily drove on and off of the Bonneville Salt Flats for years on end, and it took 15 years of driving on the flats roughly once a month or so, with little in the way of rust issues (in a state where they treat the winter roads with liberal amounts of rock salt to boot). For those who don't know, Bonneville is literally a big, dry lake bed, where you're driving on wet, pure salt.

Driving on the beach will be a lot like driving on a salted winter road, just warmer. This is how you keep the rust at bay:

When you finish driving on a salt-heavy environment, the first thing you want to do is thoroughly rinse the crap out of your entire vehicle with fresh water, being especially sure to rinse out every nook and cranny on the underside. Do it twice over if you can. This will prevent 99% of the scare you're describing. If you're driving more than 10-20 miles away from the salty area when you're done, stop at a car wash and rinse it there - otherwise it can be done as soon as you get home.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

being especially sure to rinse out every nook and cranny on the underside.

This statement is key. EVERY nook and cranny.

My son and I rebuild old trucks as a hobby.
I can't tell you how many times we've inspected a truck prior to purchase and nixed the deal because we found things like rusted out cab mounts and bad corrosion in spots where the average Joe wouldn't think to look.
In most of these cases the rest of the truck was pristine.

BTW, Thanks for the info R_W.

[Steve Pickering]

The info was already posted before you asked.

[pw72]

While I understand the question is about Oregon, it should be pointed out that Washington State is much more liberal about beach driving. There are some exceptions, but for the most part it is wide open.

Rent John Wayne's 1974 movie "McQ" for some great action scenes of beach driving on the WA coast. (I think they exceeded the 25 MPH limit, though, lol)

[maryellen2u]

I appreciate this information about driving on the beach. Yes, I think it is sort of ridiculous. However, I have a friend who is handicapped, in a wheel chair and I have limited mobility. This is a way for both of us to get to the sand and closer to the water. So sometimes there's a reason which is not immediately apparent. I hope we can enjoy the sand between our toes and the ocean spray in our face!