RV rental South Beach State Park, OR: Motorhome rentals, camper van rentals and more

Just outside the park is the small community of South Beach, also known as South Newport, which offers all the basic amenities you need. You’ll find a gas station, shopping, and restaurants offering all your essential needs. Just over the Yaquina Bay Bridge is the main town of Newport, with everything you need to make camping with an RV just perfect. Across the bay from the park is the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, that was built in 1871 but was only in service for three years as the larger Yaquina Bay Head lighthouse was built and made it obsolete. Since then, it has had a busy history and became the center of the Yaquina Bay State Recreation Area in 1934. It was actually scheduled for demolition in 1946, but was saved by the formation of the Lincoln County Historical Society and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. The lighthouse is open daily for tours and visits but is actually an operational light for the U. S. Coast Guard. Motorhome camping with an RV in this area naturally brings you close to marine life and Newport is no exception. Next to Newport Marina is the Hatfield Marine Science Center, which opened in 1965. The center is connected with Oregon State University and offers both educational programs and a visitor center for the public. The various displays focus on marine species, research, and coastal environment, and visitors can see live marine animals, including a Giant Pacific Octopus. It’s an interesting visit for the whole family as well as educational. For a more theme park type marine attraction, then try the Oregon Coast Aquarium, also in Newport. The aquarium does have an educational program, but less aimed at academics than the Marine Science Center. Here, you’ll be able to see sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, and a octopus, along with a wide variety of other marine life. The cutest inhabitant of the seabird aviary has got to be the puffins, but you can also see guillemots, oystercatchers, and others. Two particularly interesting attractions are the opportunity to swim in the aquarium and also stay overnight. Diving in the aquarium allows you to get up close to many of the inhabitants and touch them while sleeping in the underwater tunnels gives you a fascinating insight into the lives and routines of the underwater world.