This Small Oregon Town Makes the Best Cheddar Cheese in the World — and It's the Perfect Day Trip From Portland

Oregon is known for its lush forests, jaw-dropping waterfalls, and rugged coastline. It’s also the top-producing state for countless crops, including blueberries, hazelnuts, and onions. Now adding to that list, Oregon is home to what has been recognized as the best cheddar cheese in the world, and you can find it in the small town of Tillamook.

The Tillamook County Creamery Association makes butter, yogurt, ice cream, and plenty of cheddar cheese. The World Cheese Awards held in Portugal in November judged thousands of cheeses made worldwide, and Tillamook’s Maker’s Reserve 2014 Extra Sharp White Cheddar received a top award. Want to try it straight from the source? Plan a trip to Tillamook, located just about 1.5 hours west of Portland.

“Tillamook is a small town, but it has enough services and amenities to keep me from feeling like I’m missing out on anything, and it’s surrounded by nature,” said Adam Sawyer, Tillamook County resident and Oregon guidebook author. “It’s a unique place geographically — this is where the Coast Range mountains meet the sea. Five rivers converge here; there are sloughs, capes, beaches, and a bay.”

Ready to plan your trip? Tillamook is not only a delicious destination, but it’s also one with incredible scenery, whether you’re visiting for the day, a weekend, or a week. Read on for the best things to eat, see, and do in Tillamook.

Related: The 12 Best Small Towns in Oregon for Historic Charm, Organic Wineries, and Adventure Treks

Tillamook, Oregon

• Visit the Tillamook Creamery to take a self-guided tour, try cheese samples, and enjoy an ice cream cone.

• Visit a late-1800s lighthouse surrounded by tall Sitka spruce and Douglas fir trees along the Cape Meares Loop.

• Dine on fresh seafood from the nearby bay at Jandy Oyster Co. or The Schooner.

• Spend a day out on the water with a boat and gear rentals for crabbing or clamming.

• Put on your hiking boots and explore the trails at the Tillamook Forest Center, or head out on a trek at a nearby state park.

Best Hotels and Resorts

With a population under 10,000, Tillamook is a small town with few choices for lodging. As with many towns near or on the Oregon coast, the majority of options are Airbnbs or other vacation rentals. Just 10 minutes out of town, Sheltered Nook on Tillamook Bay has six tiny houses positioned a short walk from the bay. Less than 10 miles west of town, in charming Oceanside, Three Arch Inn offers rooms with waterfront views. A bit further south on Highway 101, consider Pacific City for multiple accommodation options under the same hospitality group. Find cozy rooms with fireplaces at the Inn at Cape Kiwanda or stay the night in an Airstream trailer at Hart’s Camp. For a property worth the splurge, Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa sits right on the beach, with spacious rooms featuring cast-iron soaking tubs and locally made bath salts, plus views of Pacific City’s haystack rock from a private balcony.

Best Things to Do

Visit the Tillamook Creamery.

The Tillamook Creamery is a top attraction in Tillamook. It’s where the brand’s cheddar cheese is made, and you can watch the process from the viewing deck. Walk through the visitor's center to grab samples and take a self-guided tour upstairs to witness the creamery in action. Downstairs, stop at the dining hall for a scoop of ice cream or an ice cream flight, or opt for a lunch order that includes items such as macaroni and cheese, fried cheddar cheese curds, and tomato soup with grilled cheese. Before leaving, drop by the gift shop to bring any type of dairy you can imagine home with you. You’ll find blocks of award-winning Maker’s Reserve and the full Tillamook cheese lineup, along with cheese curds, yogurt, ice cream, and other souvenirs.

Wander through the Tillamook Forest Center.

On your Highway 6 drive to Tillamook, plan for a pit stop at the Tillamook Forest Center or pack a picnic and make a day out of it. The 13,000-square-foot space was sustainably built with lumber harvested from the Tillamook State Forest, along with nearby salvaged timber. It's heated by recycled wood pellets for energy efficiency and draws stored rainwater from the wetland pond close by. The non-profit is dedicated to forest education through exhibits, with interpretative trails around the site that venture through lush forest canopies. There's also a fire lookout tower to climb. “I love the Forest Center for beautiful hikes, Tillamook forest education, and great photo opportunities at their beautiful suspension bridge,” Jill Allen, director of product excellence at Tillamook County Creamery Association and lifelong Tillamook resident, told Travel + Leisure. “It’s just gorgeous in the summer and with fall colors.”

Go crabbing and clamming.

Tillamook isn’t right on the water, but it’s just down the road from Tillamook Bay and Netarts Bay, and it offers Pacific Ocean access. That quick and easy access makes for a bustling crabbing and clamming industry, and you can join in on the fun. According to Allen, Big Spruce Boat Rentals and Garibaldi Marina both offer boat and gear rentals for crabbing. When the tide is low, you can also walk the sand along Netarts Bay and rake for clams. Just be sure to check the tides and obtain the proper license if you’re heading out for crabbing or clamming.

Check our craft breweries.

It’s surprising to find multiple craft breweries in a small town, but Tillamook delivers. According to Sawyer, world-renowned De Garde Brewing is a must-visit. The brewery focuses on beers with native yeast and bacteria, producing naturally fermented brews aged in oak barrels. On the next street over, stop in at Pelican Brewing Company — one of four taprooms on the coast. The beer here has been brewed at their beachfront brewery in nearby Pacific City. While Werner’s started as a meat snack company, the twin brother owners began brewing in 2017. Now, you can stop in for a pint at the Werner Beef & Brew taproom, shop their meat market, or grab lunch or dinner.

Drive the Cape Meares Loop.

You can drive west of town through a variety of dramatic scenery. This scenic loop ventures along the Tillamook Bay and provides a view of Cape Meares Lake before it meanders through the forest to Cape Meares Lighthouse. Park and walk around for incredible coastal cliff views with crashing waves, walk down the paved path to see the late-1800s lighthouse, and wander to find Oregon’s protected Octopus Tree — an extraordinarily large Sitka spruce that’s been growing for centuries.

Related: This Oregon Road Trip Will Bring You to Charming Small Towns, Beautiful Landscapes, and Craft Breweries

Best Restaurants

East on West

Nearby Portland has become known for its many food trucks, and Tillamook has followed suit. Flavors on 1st is home to multiple food carts, but according to Sawyer, East on West is a standout for the best smash burgers on the Oregon coast. Other menu options include Philly cheesesteaks and garlic fries.

Jandy Oyster Co.

For oysters sourced from right down the road and good local beer on tap, Jandy Oyster Co. is a can’t-miss, according to Allen. The menu includes oyster shooters, clam chowder, and po'boys, all prepped with local seafood. Have lunch or dinner inside or sit out at a picnic table in the garden.

The Schooner

The Schooner, located right at the Netarts Bay boat launch, serves some of the freshest seafood you’ll find nearby alongside a bayfront view. Steamer clams, raw oysters on the half shell, and wood-fired pizzas are all available, and there's both indoor and outdoor seating.

Bear Creek Artichokes

For a leisurely lunch, head to Bear Creek Artichokes. “It’s great for sipping wine and taking your time enjoying the garden,” Allen said. Order a sandwich and soup along with housemade artichoke dip at the counter and sit outside under a pergola draped in greenery. Don’t skip walking through the greenhouse and gift shop before leaving.

Best Time to Visit

For the best weather, visit Tillamook in the summer, from late May to September. This will help you avoid the rainy season and experience more sunny days along the coast. However, Tillamook can be an excellent destination all year round if you’re prepared for it. “The best time of year to visit Tillamook is anytime your favorite outdoor sport is in peak season,” Allen told T+L. “I love Tillamook from June through September, as you'll have less rain in the air, and most of the trails are better for hiking.” Allen also noted the second week of August is a particularly great time to visit because that's when the county fair is held, making for another fun activity to add to your itinerary.

Sawyer said he loves the area in fall and winter, noting the vivid red, orange, and yellow colors in autumn and the electric green of the forest moss and lichen come winter. “Fewer visitors, fewer people out and about,” he added.

How to Get There

According to Sawyer, the best way to get to Tillamook is by driving, whether with your own vehicle or a rental from the airport. “If you’re flying into Portland International Airport (PDX), take Highway 26 to Highway 6 and enjoy one of the most beautiful drives in the state,” he said. The drive from PDX to downtown Tillamook is just under two hours through a winding pass. In the winter, it’s important to check road conditions as the Wilson River Highway Corridor can get snowy and icy.

How to Get Around

It’s best to have a car so you can explore on your own. There's a transportation system called the NW Connector that runs from Portland and through Tillamook to other coastal towns. However, this doesn’t allow for visiting many other spots throughout town.

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