The cheapest place in town is the quite nice Seaside International Hostel (930 N. Holladay Dr., 503/738-7911 or 888/994-0001, www.seasidehostel.net, dorm-style bunk $26 per person, private rooms $47–59 d), with special touches such as morning meditation and exercise classes. Unlike many hostels, it doesn’t close down during the day, and there’s no curfew at night. There’s an espresso bar on-site, and the Necanicum River runs through the backyard. Close by is the Necanicum Estuary Park.

Out along U.S. 101 are two motels that provide good value and new rooms, but most people wouldn’t consider them walking distance to the beach. Motel 6 (2369 S. Roosevelt Dr., 503/738-6269 or 800/466-8356, $80), on U.S. 101 about 0.5 miles south of Broadway, isn’t near the sand but does offer reasonably priced rooms.

Just south is Microtel Inns & Suites (2455 S. Roosevelt Dr., 503/482-7666 or 866/482-7666, $99), with free breakfast waffles, free high-speed Internet, and guest laundry. These two motels on the southern entry to Seaside are closest to Cannon Beach.

There’s a clutch of motels south of the Broadway-Prom axis that offer easy beach access at fair prices—and a much quieter beachfront experience than town center. The Tides by the Sea (2316 Beach Dr., 503/738-6317 or 800/548-2846, www.thetidesbythesea.com, $90 and up) is an older motel that has converted its large guest rooms and cottages into condos. About a quarter of the units face onto the Prom, but those that don’t are just seconds away from the beach. If you can live without an ocean view, you’ll save a bundle here. Each of the units is different, but most have kitchens and fireplaces.