Garibaldi combines a coastal train ride, maritime history and activities at the harbor. If you’re looking for hotels in Garibaldi, your priorities can shape your plans: the train runs on seasonal dates, the Maritime Museum has set opening days, and Garibaldi Days follows a recurring summer schedule. The museum, pier, waterfront trail, paddling and festival appeal to different interests; you can choose what suits your travel plans.
Ship Models and Museum Visit
The Garibaldi Maritime Museum displays models of the Columbia Rediviva and the Lady Washington, as well as an 8-foot replica of the Columbia’s figurehead. The museum is open Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; last admission is at 3:30 p.m. Check the opening hours before you arrive if you’d like to include a visit in your day’s plans.
A Coastal Train Ride with a Set Schedule
The Oregon Coastal Excursion – Rockaway Beach & Garibaldi departs from either Garibaldi or Rockaway Beach during the 2026 season and travels along the Tillamook Coast behind a historic steam locomotive or a historic diesel locomotive. The round trip takes at least 90 minutes: 30 minutes each way and a 30-minute stop. Because seasonal operating days may change, check the schedule before your trip. The Garibaldi Depot is on the outbound side of Highway 101, opposite Dairy Queen.
Pier, Waterfront Trail and Coastal History
Pier’s End is over 700 feet long and is the longest pier in Oregon. North of the boat basin, the paved Harborview Trail runs along the waterfront. It starts at Pier’s End and ends at the U.S. Coast Guard Memorial; these two named endpoints make the route easy to follow.
The history of the Coast Guard is also marked at several locations. A building near the end of Pier’s End served as a Coast Guard boathouse from 1934 into the early 1960s. The Tillamook Bay Coast Guard Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Fishing, charter and recreational boats at the Port of Garibaldi are popular with tourists and photographers, and are another part of the town’s maritime character.
Clamming, Paddling and the Park
To go clamming near the Port of Garibaldi’s boat basin, you can reach it from the waterfront across the harbor basin or from the parking lot at the end of 12th Street. Kayaking and canoeing are possible through waterscapes that stretch for many miles and can only be reached by boat. These water activities complement the paved waterfront trail, but require a different mode of transport.
Lumberman’s Memorial Park has a historic area with equipment from the logging and railroad industries, as well as a children’s play area. The two features offer different experiences: you can explore equipment from the region’s logging and railroad history or plan time in the play area.
Garibaldi Days in Summer
Garibaldi Days is a three-day summer festival held each year on the last full weekend in July. The program includes a parade along Highway 101. If the festival is a reason for your trip, check the exact event dates before booking.
Discover more destinations: Manzanita, Neskowin, Cloverdale, Rockaway Beach, Netarts, Tillamook, Cape Meares, Nehalem.
For the broader travel overview: Tillamook County.
