Moolack Shores Inn
8835 N. Coast Hwy
Newport, OR
Cliffside above Moolack Beach. Private staircase down.
This property is an Honorable Mention. It has been vetted and approved for our highest standards of cleanliness, safety, and operational excellence. While it is still evolving toward our full design-led designation, it is a proven, reliable anchor for any road trip. We recommend it with confidence.
About Moolack Shores Inn
Moolack Shores Inn sits on a cliff above Moolack Beach four and a half miles north of Newport on US-101, with a private staircase leading from the property directly down to the sand. The thirteen rooms are individually themed and named: the Hawaii Room, the Western Room, the Lighthouse Room, the Whale Room, Under the Sea, Aviator, and others. Most rooms include a fireplace with complimentary logs and a kitchenette with a stovetop, refrigerator, and microwave. A guest firepit and grilling area overlooks the beach. Complimentary coffee and snacks are available in the lobby. Manager Peggy runs the property with a presence that shows up in reviews repeatedly and specifically -- the kind of ownership attention that defines what makes a small coast inn worth recommending.
What Moolack Shores Inn Is Known For
Moolack Shores Inn is an Honorable Mention for the combination of the private beach staircase -- genuinely rare on the Oregon coast -- and the individual room character that makes the difference between a motel you book and a motel you remember. Manager Peggy's name appears in guest reviews consistently and specifically, which is the signal that a small property is being run with intention rather than managed from a distance. TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice 2026.
Amenities
- Pets Welcome
- WiFi
- Private staircase to Moolack Beach
- Fireplace with complimentary logs in most rooms
- Kitchenette in most rooms (stovetop, refrigerator, microwave)
- Outdoor guest firepit and BBQ grill area
- Complimentary lobby coffee and snacks
- Pets welcome (contact the property to confirm current amounts and restrictions)
What Guests Love
- The private staircase from the cliff to Moolack Beach gives guests direct, quiet beach access without crossing a road, parking lot, or shared public access point.
- Thirteen individually themed and named rooms at a price point that consistently surprises guests: the property has a Booking.com location score of 9.7/10.
- Most rooms include a working fireplace with complimentary wood and a full kitchenette, making longer stays or off-season visits especially practical.
- Peggy runs the property with a hands-on presence that shows up by name in TripAdvisor and Booking.com reviews -- the consistent signal of genuine independent ownership.
- Pets are welcome, making Moolack Shores one of the few cliffside oceanfront options on the central coast that accepts dogs.
Worth Knowing
- Moolack Shores Inn is 4.5 miles north of downtown Newport on US-101. The property can be easy to miss while driving south; watch for it on the left approaching the 8800 block.
- Breakfast is not served at Moolack Shores Inn. The lobby offers complimentary coffee and snacks. Newport has a full range of restaurants and services 4.5 miles south.
- Pets are welcome. A pet fee applies; contact the property directly to confirm current amounts and any restrictions before booking.
- Room quality varies between older units and more recently updated rooms. If room condition is important to you, ask about the most recently updated units when booking.
- The staircase to Moolack Beach involves a moderate number of steps. Guests with limited mobility should confirm the access route when booking.
The Room
The thirteen rooms at Moolack Shores Inn are named and individually designed rather than numbered and interchangeable. Most include a fireplace with complimentary logs, a kitchenette with stovetop, refrigerator, microwave, and toaster, a flat-screen TV, and a private bathroom with both shower and bathtub. Select rooms have private ocean-view decks or terraces. Room themes range from nautical to tropical to Western to aviation -- each has its own identity at a price point that consistently surprises guests. Complimentary coffee and snacks are available in the lobby throughout the day. The property is non-smoking throughout.
The Grounds
The inn sits on a cliff directly above Moolack Beach with a private staircase giving guests direct beach access at any tide. An outdoor firepit and BBQ grill area is available for guests on the grounds. Free parking is included. The beach below is uncrowded by Newport standards -- most visitors to Moolack Beach arrive from the inn, not from a crowded public access point.
The Experience
The central fact about staying at Moolack Shores Inn is the private beach staircase. Most Oregon coast inns that call themselves 'oceanfront' require walking across a road or through a public parking lot to reach the water. At Moolack Shores, the path from your room to the sand involves a staircase from the cliff and nothing else. The beach directly below is Moolack Beach, a stretch that does not have a large public access point nearby and tends to stay quiet. Walk south toward Newport and the character of the coast fills in: Yaquina Head Lighthouse two and a half miles down, Devil's Punchbowl four miles, Beverly Beach State Park four miles.
Details
Newport, OR 97365
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Moolack Shores Inn have EV charging?
No, Moolack Shores Inn does not have EV charging.
Does Moolack Shores Inn have WiFi?
Yes, Moolack Shores Inn has WiFi.
What is there to do near Moolack Shores Inn?
Moolack Beach: Adjacent to the property. Yaquina Head Lighthouse: 2.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there. Newport Bayfront: 5 miles, about a 10 minute drive, or you can bike there.
How far is Moolack Shores Inn from Moolack Beach?
Adjacent to the property.
How far is Moolack Shores Inn from Yaquina Head Lighthouse?
2.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there.
How far is Moolack Shores Inn from Newport Bayfront?
5 miles, about a 10 minute drive, or you can bike there.
Is Moolack Shores Inn on the beach?
Moolack Shores Inn sits on a cliff directly above Moolack Beach, with a private staircase giving guests direct beach access. The beach is reached via the staircase -- no road crossing or public parking lot required.
Does Moolack Shores Inn allow pets?
Yes. Moolack Shores Inn is pet-friendly. A fee of $25 per dog per night applies. Confirm pet accommodations when booking.
Does Moolack Shores Inn include breakfast?
Moolack Shores Inn does not serve breakfast. Complimentary coffee and snacks are available in the lobby throughout the day. Newport, 4.5 miles south, has a full range of restaurants and cafes.
Do rooms at Moolack Shores Inn have fireplaces?
Most rooms at Moolack Shores Inn include a fireplace with complimentary logs. Confirm fireplace availability for your specific room when booking.
How far is Moolack Shores Inn from downtown Newport?
Moolack Shores Inn is approximately 4.5 miles north of downtown Newport on US-101, about a 10-minute drive.
What is the beach access like at Moolack Shores Inn?
A private staircase leads from the cliffside property directly down to Moolack Beach. This is a distinctive feature of the inn -- the beach access is private to guests and does not involve crossing a road or navigating a public parking area.
Is parking available at Moolack Shores Inn?
Yes. Free on-site parking is included with every stay at Moolack Shores Inn.
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Things to Do Near the Central Oregon Coast
Moolack Beach
Adjacent to the property.
At the base of the inn's private cliff staircase. Moolack Beach is a relatively quiet stretch of Oregon coast without a large public parking area or high foot traffic. The beach runs north from Moolack Creek toward the Beverly Beach area, with consistent agate hunting opportunities especially in winter and spring.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse
2.5 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there.
2.5 miles south via US-101. The Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area is managed by the BLM and includes the 1873 Yaquina Head Lighthouse -- the tallest lighthouse in Oregon at 93 feet -- along with tide pools at Cobble Beach, seal and sea lion haul-outs, and a seabird colony. Admission required. The tide pools here are among the most accessible on the Oregon coast.
Newport Bayfront
5 miles, about a 10 minute drive, or you can bike there.
5 miles south via US-101. Newport's bayfront on Yaquina Bay is the working heart of one of Oregon's largest commercial fishing ports, with fish markets, crab shacks, charter boats, sea lions hauled out at the docks, and the Rogue Ales brewpub. The Oregon Coast Aquarium and Hatfield Marine Science Center are both in Newport, 7 miles south of Moolack Shores Inn.