Oregon's oldest operating lighthouse at the westernmost point in the contiguous United States.
Cape Blanco Lighthouse stands at the westernmost point in the contiguous United States, roughly 40 minutes south of Bandon near Port Orford. Oregon's oldest continuously operating lighthouse, it has been lit since 1870 and overlooks a stretch of coastline where the Pacific extends uninterrupted to the horizon.
The lighthouse itself is a modest structure, painted white and perched on a headland 245 feet above sea level. Guided tours climb the tower and provide historical context about the lighthouse's role in coastal navigation, the keepers who maintained it, and the shipwrecks that made it necessary. The adjacent 1898 Hughes House, a restored Victorian-era ranch house, adds a second stop for visitors interested in the settlement history of the southern Oregon coast.
Cape Blanco State Park surrounds the lighthouse with trails that run along the cliff edge and through coastal meadows. The wind at the cape is relentless, even by Bandon standards, and the views from the headland take in miles of coastline in both directions.
Lighthouse tours operate April through October, Wednesday through Monday, from 10 AM to 3:30 PM. The lighthouse is closed on Tuesdays. Parking costs $5 and the tour is $2 per adult. The drive from Bandon takes approximately 40 minutes south on Highway 101. Layer accordingly: the wind on the headland can be fierce even on sunny days.
The combination of Oregon's oldest lighthouse and the westernmost point in the lower 48 states gives Cape Blanco a double claim on the map. As a half-day excursion from Bandon, it provides a meaningful activity for rest days or for companions who have exhausted the closer options.