Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
19m
Distance
10.2 mi
16 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rockaway Beach, OR
Veronika Andrews
Nehalem, OR
Lukas Kosc
Rockaway Beach to Nehalem is 10.2 miles and takes about 19 minutes via Oregon Coast Highway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays entirely within Oregon's Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward drive between two coastal communities. It's a short hop perfect for a relaxed pace, allowing you to fully enjoy your starting or ending point without feeling rushed. Consider this a minor but pleasant segment if you're exploring the Oregon coastline.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon Coast Highway | 8.9 mi | 16m |
| Nehalem Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Riverside Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 7th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Beacon Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Nehalem Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Rockaway Beach, OR and Nehalem, OR.
Start on South Nehalem Avenue
Turn left onto North Beacon Street
Turn right onto US 101
Continue on US 101
Continue on US 101
Continue on US 101
Continue on US 101
Arrive at destination
2 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 0.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto North Beacon Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 101 / Oregon Coast Highway
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.08 one way
$4.17 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.52 | $2.22 | $4.43 |
| premium | $5.72 | $2.30 | $4.59 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $2.15 | $4.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.07 | $0.49 |
| Efficient EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.89 | $0.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.43 | $0.65 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Rockaway Beach on Wednesday
Local time
1:00 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Nehalem on Wednesday
Local time
1:00 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is entirely on surface roads, with no highway driving involved. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 8.9 miles along the Oregon Coast Highway. You'll be navigating local streets like Nehalem Boulevard and Riverside Drive, so expect typical surface road conditions with potential for local traffic and lower speed limits. It's a relaxed cruise through coastal towns.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Beacon Street.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Rockaway Beach, OR to Nehalem, OR is easy. At 19m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Beacon Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 101 / Oregon Coast Highway): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
115 ft
Total Descent
119 ft
Highest Point
65 ft
~6.6 mi in
Elevation Range
52 ft
Founded 1943
Rockaway Beach is a city on the Northern Oregon Coast.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 19m. Total distance: 10.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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