Ocean Park is a classic beach town with views and community
Set along Washington’s western coast is Ocean Park, a small beach town on Long Beach Peninsula filled with locally owned restaurants and businesses. There’s a mix of permanent and seasonal residents, and local groups keep tourists coming to the area throughout the year by organizing annual events such as the Washington State International Kite Festival held in nearby Long Beach. Whether you live here for a season or year-round, there’s plenty to do outdoors, from lounging on the shore to following hiking trails in areas like Leadbetter Point State Park. Ocean Park may feel isolated from the rest of Pacific County on the little peninsula, but residents see that as a benefit.
Homestyles range from cottage to contemporary
Residents find their way to Ocean Park for the views, atmosphere and life near the water. Pacific County has one of the lowest tax rates in the state, and Ocean Park’s median sale price is lower than areas like Long Beach. “Since COVID, the peninsula has several portions that are growing with people moving out here for remote work,” says Dan Russell, a broker and Realtor with Lighthouse Realty who lives in the area. “They live in a beautiful area near the beach, and with the right remote job, you can live quite comfortably.”
Most homes have ranch-style or Craftsman designs and range from the upper $300,000s to the upper $500,000s. New Traditionals go in the lower $600,000s to the lower $800,000s. Some homes with contemporary designs and about 3,000 square feet or more have gone for $1 million to $1.5 million. Manufactured homes and small cottages in the area sell for $300,000 or less. “The population continues to grow,” Russell says. “The number of full-time residents continues to grow. As a result, there are quite a few builders who are investing in the region, typically with single-level homes.”
There's more to do than relax on the beach
Ocean Park has access to one of the longest drivable beaches in the country. While it is drivable, officials recommend four-wheel drive and slow speeds. You can leave your car in Pacific Pines State Park's lot before walking to the shore or before setting up a picnic under the shade trees that fill the park. Russell points out the beach isn’t the only way to enjoy the outdoors. You can also explore spots like:
- Loomis Lake State Park, with its trails, lakes and fishing areas
- Leadbetter Point State Park, where you can go kayaking, hiking and crabbing
- Lewis and Clark Discovery Trail, a walking trail that connects all the way to Ilwaco
Sometimes you need a change of pace from being outdoors so often, so there's Ocean Park Timberland Library and Bay Avenue Gallery.
Locally owned businesses fill Ocean Park
Hanging out at the beach and exploring parks are popular pastimes, but some people soak in the small-town charm Ocean Park has to offer in little cafes and locally owned restaurants. “We have really great restaurants,” Russell says. “Ocean Park has MyCovio’s, a really nice Italian, small restaurant. You can hear everything the chef says in the back. We have lots of more traditional beach food — surf and turf, clams. We’re a big crabbing community, so there's lots of Dungeness crab when it’s in season. ... If you want a Costco or Walmart, you have to cross over to Oregon.” Jack's Country Store Inc. is where you can go to get everything from razor clam harvesting gear to old-fashioned hard candy. Okie's Thriftway Market is the area’s grocery store, which has a selection of local produce.
Heading to nearby Long Beach for popular annual events
Nearby Long Beach is a destination for annual events, from chowder tasting during the Razor Clam Festival to sand sculpture competitions during Sandsations. “Our economic development and merchant associations do a lot to bring in tourism,” Russell says. The biggest event, though, is the Washington State International Kite Festival. Russel says visitors from all over the world every August and bring their own kites to fly or buy one from the World Kite Museum.
Driving down the peninsula to other cities and Oregon
State Route 103 cuts through the area and is the main road drivers take to reach areas along the peninsula. It takes about 15 minutes to drive up to Leadbetter Point State Park and about 13 minutes to reach Long Beach with light traffic. Ocean Park is under an hour away from Astoria, Oregon, where people go to shop and visit breweries and riverfront restaurants. Route 103 is lined with sidewalks, though most residential streets don't have them. That doesn’t stop people from walking or even biking around town to the beach access points or nearby shops. Pacific Transit buses also use Route 103 to take passengers up and down the peninsula. Russell mentions traffic picks up when tourists come into town, especially for clam fishing, but heavy traffic is just a sign that tourists are in the area and bolstering the economy.
Walking to Ocean Park's elementary school
Ocean Park is part of the Ocean Beach School District. Kids can attend third through fifth grade at Ocean Park Elementary School, and some residents are close enough to walk their kids to class. The district’s middle and high schools are in Ilwaco.
