Permits are not required to hike the Oregon Coast Trail. Permits are required to park for the day at some, not all, state park and national forest parking areas. Permits are required to park overnight at all state park and national forest parking areas. Overnight parking is typically not allowed at any other public parking areas on the Oregon Coast, such as beach access waysides.

Forest Service Trailheads

To park for the day or overnight at Forest Service trailheads, purchase a one-day, five-day, or annual federal parking pass from a US Forest Service office or online and display it on your dashboard.

Oregon State Park Sites

To park for the day at an Oregon State Park site that requires a permit, purchase a daily parking permit at the site, or purchase a 12- or 24-month parking permit online.

To park overnight at an Oregon State Park site, you must make arrangements in advance. Call the state park campground closest to where you wish to park and start hiking (use the local info number, not the 800 info number or the camping reservation number). Tell them where you wish to park. They will offer a location and tell you how to get your permit. The location may not be exactly where you wish to leave your vehicle, but each park has identified a safe, nearby site for this purpose. You may need to walk, take a taxi, or make other arrangements to get to where you want to start your hike.

• For the northern trailhead, contact Fort Stevens State Park
• For the southern trailhead, contact Crissey Field State Recreation Site

You will need to display the overnight permit (free) as well as a state park parking permit (if required at the site).

Getting to/From the trail

The closest airports to the OCT are:

• North Coast — Portland International Airport (PDX)
  • Most used since most hikers hike southbound
• Central Coast — Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (OTH)
  • Located in North Bend/Coos Bay on the coast
• South Coast — Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR)
  • Closest to the southern trailhead at Brookings

Bus service is available from the airport to (or close to) the trail.