Florence · Central Oregon Coast · Sea cave and wildlife preserve
Sea Lion Caves
Ride an elevator 208 feet down into America’s largest sea cave to watch Steller sea lions, 11 miles north of Florence.
Opens Sea Lion Caves’ tickets and hours page. Tickets are sold at the gift shop on arrival, and no reservations are needed.
Details checked October 2026
Type
Sea cave and wildlife preserve
Privately owned preserve and bird sanctuary since 1932
Admission
$18 adults
Seniors $17, kids 5–12 $12, 4 and under free
Hours
Daily 9–4
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Time needed
Self-paced
Self-guided tour; no reservations needed
Parking
Free lot
Official site says there’s room for RVs
Elevator descent
208 ft
In service since June 1961; replaced in 2016
What you’ll see
Down the elevator to the sea lions
An elevator, a cliff-top trail and a cave full of barking Steller sea lions, all off one highway pullout.
Photo: Eanngalindo on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
Start here
Ride down into the cave
After buying tickets in the gift shop, walk the trail to the elevator and ride 208 feet down through the rock. The main chamber has about two acres of floor under a dome about 125 feet high. In winter and spring the sea lions usually gather inside the cave, so fall and winter visits often put you closest to the herd.
RV tip: Pack binoculars in the tow vehicle. The official site recommends them, and they help a lot when the sea lions are out on the ledges or a whale passes offshore.
More to see
- Top observation deckAn outdoor deck at the top looks out over the ocean. The official site says you’ll often see sea lions swimming, sunning on the rocks or climbing in and out of the water, plus a good number of seabirds.
- Lighthouse viewpointInside the cave, 63 steps lead up to a viewpoint the site calls the lighthouse viewpoint. Tripadvisor reviewers often mention Heceta Head Lighthouse among the things they spotted on their visit.
- Summer ledges outsideIn summer the sea lions move outside to the rocky ledges below the cave, their rookery for breeding, birthing and gathering. They’re wild, so numbers change daily and some days the cave is quiet.
- Whales and seabirdsThe official site notes gray whales, orcas, humpback whales and harbor porpoises can be seen from shore along this coast depending on season, and more than 14 seabird species nest on the Oregon Coast.
Why go
Why Sea Lion Caves earns a stop off 101
A local seaman, Captain William Cox, found the cave in 1880 by rowing in through its western channel. It opened to visitors in August 1932 by a hand-dug trail and a 135-step wooden tower. The elevator came in 1961, and the site is still a privately owned wildlife preserve and bird sanctuary run by the Saubert and Jacobson families.
It sits right on US-101 at milepost 179, about 11 miles north of Florence and 38 miles south of Newport. The highway runs about 300 feet above the sea here, so the parking lot is beside the road and the cave is reached by trail and elevator. That makes it an easy half-day drive from anywhere on the central coast.
The site is open daily except three holidays. Fall and winter are when sea lions usually crowd inside the cave, and summer is when they move to the outside ledges. Wild weather can rarely close cave entry, so a calm day gives the best views.
Photo: Oregongirlmary on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Why it made our list
- Elevator 208 feet down into America’s largest sea cave
- Steller sea lions inside the cave in winter and spring
- Open daily, 362 days a year
- Free parking with room for RVs
- Right on US-101, 11 miles north of Florence
For RVers
Taking the rig to Sea Lion Caves
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
Parking on the highway lot
Parking is free, and the official site says there is plenty of room, including for RVs. It doesn’t list length limits or trailer rules, so if you’re towing, plan to arrive near the 9 am opening when the lot is quietest, or drop the trailer at camp and come in the tow vehicle.
Getting there on US-101
The entrance is on US-101 at milepost 179, about 11 miles north of Florence and 38 miles south of Newport. The highway climbs along the headland here, so take it slow, watch for the sign and signal early for the turn into the lot.
Pets and the walk
The official site doesn’t publish a pet policy, so call (541) 547-3111 before bringing a dog. Expect 37 steps in the building, about 400 yards of trail with 10–20% grades, the elevator ride, and 63 more steps in the cave to the lighthouse viewpoint.
Timing your visit
Hours are 9 am–4 pm daily. It closes at noon the day before Thanksgiving and all day Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Rare extreme weather can close cave entry, and the sea lions come and go, so check conditions before driving up the coast.
What visitors say about Sea Lion Caves
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 29, 2026.
A Cave of Wonder and Enchantment
Sea Lion Caves, describing the cave · sealioncaves.com
What visitors often mention
Recurring themes in Tripadvisor’s review mentions
Elevator rideViewing areaBring binoculars
Themes come from Tripadvisor’s review mentions for Sea Lion Caves (also listed: gift shop, Heceta lighthouse, whales, smell). Tripadvisor shows no counts for these mentions.
What it costs
Admission prices from Sea Lion Caves’ Tickets & Hours page, checked October 29, 2026.
Good to know
Admission (paid)$18 adults $17 seniors, $12 kids 5–12
Kids 4 and underFree children must be with an adult
Parking (free)Free lot with room for RVs
TicketsAt the gift shop, no reservations
Prices, hours and parking from sealioncaves.com (Tickets & Hours and FAQ pages), checked October 29, 2026. The site does not state a senior age cutoff.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Sea Lion Caves
- Address91560 US-101, Florence, OR 97439
- HoursDaily 9–4
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - Phone(541) 547-3111
- AdmissionBuy at the gift shop on arrival (tickets and hours)
- Getting thereFrom Florence, drive about 11 miles north on US-101 to milepost 179. From Newport, it’s about 38 miles south. The lot is right beside the highway.
- ParkingFree parking with plenty of space, including room for RVs, according to the official site. No length limits are posted.
Check sealioncaves.com or call (541) 547-3111 before you go, since rare extreme weather can close cave entry.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Sea Lion Caves
These are the Central Coast parks we have written up. Darlings, south of Florence, is the closest base for the caves.
Darlings Marina & RV Resort
Lakefront sites on Siltcoos Lake south of Florence, with a marina, boat rentals and a smokehouse.
Winchester Bay RV Resort
County-owned marina resort at Salmon Harbor with 167 full-hookup sites and bay views.
Sea & Sand RV Park
Terraced oceanfront full-hookup sites on a bluff above the beach near Depoe Bay.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Daily 9 am–4 pm
Ready to ride down to the sea lions?
Check today’s hours and prices, then drive up US-101 with binoculars and a jacket for the cave.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: Eanngalindo (cave view; CC BY 4.0), Visitor7 (building and lot; CC BY-SA 3.0), Visitor7 (elevator; CC BY-SA 3.0), Eanngalindo (Pigeon Guillemots; CC BY 4.0), Oregongirlmary (gift shop; CC BY-SA 3.0) and Oregongirlmary (sea lions; CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons; the images were resized. Video: Exit Thru the Gift Shop on YouTube (cave visit). Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Sea Lion Caves unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including published materials from Sea Lion Caves and other publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, rules and other details may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly at sealioncaves.com or (541) 547-3111. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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