The West Coast’s highest tides of the year arrive Thanksgiving week, and all three states get a front-row seat

The ocean is about to put on its biggest show of the year, and it lands the same week as Thanksgiving. King tides are the highest high tides of the season, and they turn ordinary beaches, harbors, and boardwalks into places you barely recognize.

All three states get them, the dates line up closely, and you don’t need to touch the water to enjoy it. Here’s when to go and where to stand.

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What a king tide actually is

A king tide happens when the sun, moon, and Earth line up to pull the ocean unusually high. It’s pure astronomy, not a storm, which is why the dates are published months ahead.

That also means a king tide can look calm and still reach farther up the beach than you expect. Add a winter storm on top and the water can run higher than the predictions.

Oregon and Washington: November 23 to 27

On the Oregon coast, the first window runs November 23 to 27, followed by December 22 to 26 and January 20 to 24. Washington’s outer coast, including Neah Bay, La Push, Westport, and Ilwaco, lists the same stretches.

Westport’s biggest number of the season is a predicted 11.27 feet above the average low tide on December 24, according to Washington Sea Grant. Puget Sound runs on a slightly later schedule, with Seattle’s windows starting November 25, December 25, and January 23.

In Oregon, the smart move is to watch from above the beach. Heceta Head Lighthouse and the overlook at Sea Lion Caves are two elevated spots near Florence that keep you well clear of the surf.

California: November 24 to 26

The California Coastal Commission lists November 24 to 26, December 23 to 25, and January 21 to 22 for the 2026-27 season. Northern California may stretch a day or so on either side, so check your local tide table.

The commission also flags that El Niño conditions this winter could bring more frequent and intense storms and high waves. Translation: the real water level may beat the forecast, so give the ocean more room than you think you need.

Here’s a fun twist. Those same days bring some of the lowest low tides too, which makes them good for tide pooling if you head out safely and tread lightly around the animals.

How to watch without getting swept

My pick is the Thanksgiving window. You’re already off work, the coast is already on the itinerary, and it’s the first chance of the season to see the ocean at its peak.

Stay back from the waterline, keep off jetties and rocks, and never turn your back on the surf, since a sudden big wave can knock you off your feet. Skip the low-lying beaches entirely at the peak, and check weather and surf advisories before you leave.

If you want to make your photos count, Oregon’s King Tides Photo Project invites you to shoot the high water next to fixed features like pilings or seawalls and share it. California runs a similar effort through the Coastal Commission, and Washington Sea Grant has a location-by-location calendar.

So which coast are you watching from this Thanksgiving: the bluffs of Oregon, the wild Washington shore, or a Northern California beach?

Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.

Rules and fees change, so always confirm current requirements before you go.