Family Guide to Chinook Winds Casino Resort: The Best Kid-Friendly Stay in Lincoln City, Oregon (Indigenous-Owned!)
Our family of four ventured to the Oregon Coast this November and were so grateful that we chose to stay at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort. We visited with young kids and were pleasantly surprised at how family-friendly everything was — from the pool, to the arcade, to the childcare center, to the oceanfront rooms where you can hear the waves as you fall asleep.
Chinook Winds was much more than a casino – it was a coastal family resort, located right on the beach, and full of family-friendly amenities that made it hard for our kids to leave. In the end, we were in agreement with the resort’s motto – It’s better at the beach!
Below is everything families need to know before booking a stay, including tips, prices, room options, must-eat restaurants, kid-friendly attractions in Lincoln City, and why supporting Indigenous-owned businesses matters.
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Jump To...
- Why Visit Chinook Winds Casino Resort with Kids
- Getting there
- Quick Tips (When to visit, before you go, what to pack)
- Amenities for parents and kids
- Room options - what families should book & costs
- Chinook Winds Dining with Kids
- A day at Chinook Winds Casino Resort with Kids - family-friendly itinerary
- Supporting Indigenous-owned businesses
Why Visit Chinook Winds Casino Resort with Kids
Chinook Winds is a wonderful family-friendly destination to:
Our Experience
- Destination: Lincoln City, OR
- age of our kid: 5 & 8 years
- Length of stay: 2 nights
- time of year: November
Getting There
Chinook Winds Casino Resort is located in Lincoln City, about a two hour drive south from Portland Oregon.
The resort is made up of many buildings, including two hotel buildings, multiple restaurants, a separate building for the arcade and childcare center, and a hotel across a large parking lot. Be sure to ask for a map at registration so you can get your bearings.
travel
Quick Tips
When To Visit
The Oregon Coast is beautiful year round. It is cold and can be rainy in the winter, with warm summers and mild shoulder seasons. We’ve been chilly on the beach in August and November during our visits.
In our opinion, any time of year is a wonderful time to visit the Oregon Coast!
The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians host a Restoration Pow-Wow in November and Nesika Illahee Pow-Wow in the summer held at or near the casino. Check the website for more information.
Before You go
- Check the website for upcoming events
- Bring cash to gamble - if you're interested
Costs
| Item | base cost |
|---|---|
| Accomodations | $120-$200/ night/room |
| Meals | $25 adult, $15 child |
| Add-Ons | |
| Arcade | ~$20 |
| Childcare | $12/childhour |
Room Types & Rates at Chinook Winds
Chinook Winds Casino Resort offers a range of room types for families, from ocean view double bed rooms to suites. Standard rooms and suites can come with kid-friendly amenities like cribs or extra bedding at your request.
- Typical pricing range (e.g. off-season vs. peak season estimates). Include approximate rates (e.g. $120–$200/night standard, $200–$300+ for ocean view or suites — check the website current rates).
- Best room for families – the double queen rooms were clean and spacious, offering plenty of room for our family of four. The room included a small table, a mini fridge, a television, and a bathroom. The sink was outside of the bathroom, and there was no closet, although there was a clothing rod and hangers to hang our clothes.
- Tips for booking – consider calling ahead or asking at the front desk to get adjoining rooms if needed, or to request a room on the bottom floor. I wish I had done this, because my husband was on crutches and somehow we ended up on the third floor, without an elevator! Be mindful that the oceanfront building does not provide an elevator – so pack lightly!
History Corner
The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians represents 30 different bands, and has stewarding the land of Lincoln City since time immemorial.
The tribe’s federal recognition was terminated in 1955 but was restored in 1977. This happened to many tribal communities during the Termination period.
As I learned from our own tribal history, Native people had to advocate for restoration – raise funds to travel to Washington D.C. and fight for their lands and rights back. This was no easy feat – and the tribe celebrates their restoration annually through the restoration pow wow during the second weekend of November.
our experience
The staff at Chinook Winds Casino Resort were a mix of white and BIPOC people, as were the guests. We did not encounter many families during our stay, however heard from staff that more families visit during the summer months. Staff and other guests were kind to us, and greeted us with smiles. We felt welcomed and safe. I also appreciated the historic pictures and details about the confederated tribes on the walls of the casino, although I wish the presence of the tribe was felt throughout the hotel.
Learn More
1. Watch this video about the history of the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians’ reservation
2. Read the book “The People Are Dancing Again” to learn more about the community
3. Learn more about how Chinook Winds Casino Resort supports the local community.
Antiracist Travel Considerations
Why stay at chinook winds casino resort
Chinook Winds is unique because it’s both a casino resort AND a family-friendly destination — think Vegas meets Oregon Coast, but cozy, calmer, and way more kid-friendly.
1. On-site
Restaurants
Chinook Seafood Grill
Chinook Seafood Grill is the perfect location for families for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The friendly staff greeted our family and took us to the under 21 section, complete with beautiful views of the ocean. The kid menus came with crayons and offered great selections and ocean-themed coloring on the back. Our kids loved the French toast for breakfast, and shrimp Caesar salad for dinner. The location, just across from the hotel registration building, was easily accessible and walkable from our room.
Rogue River Restaurant
Rogue River Restaurant is a nicer steakhouse located on the top floor of the casino. From the hotel, we had to catch the hotel shuttle to get to the casino, then made our way through the casino floor to reach the restaurant. Navigating the short walk past the shiny gambling machines was difficult because our kids were so distracted, but the restaurant felt like a reprieve from the flashing casino lights. Once inside the restaurant, we found ourselves in a beautiful dining room with stunning views of the ocean. We ordered from the kids’ menu, and had steak, seafood, and pasta.
2. Ocean Views
One of the best features of this hotel!
Most rooms along the seaside resort have epic ocean views. The windows face west, offering beautiful sunsets, and the sound of ocean views while you sleep. It was exciting to walk into our room and see the waves crashing just past the window, or wake up to the foggy beach and seabirds.
3. a full casino
Great for adult-only fun
- Free
- 1 Hour
If the stars align and you’re interested in a round of black jack or slot machines, the casino has it all!
The hotel offers a free shuttle that runs all night, giving hotel guests free rides to and from the casino. Just call the number provided to get a pick up at your room and be whisked away in a warm shuttle to the casino! Or, you can make the short, 10 minute walk on your own. Either way, it is not hard to get to the casino from the hotel.
My husband went to play cards one evening during our stay and said that everyone he met was friendly and welcoming to him. He had a great time!
4. walkable beach access
Beach time is obligatory when visiting the Pacific Coast
- 3+ Hours
There are multiple beach access points directly from the hotel. You cannot get any closer to the beach than the Chinook Winds Casino Resort! Parking at the hotel is basically parking to go to the beach.
We walked to the beach from our hotel room one morning and found ourselves on a huge beach, full of sand dunes, sea birds, and endless waves. We went for a long walk on the beach, finding seashells and drawing hopscotch runs on the cold sand. Even on a cloudy day, our kids found so much to do.
5. A Central location to explore Lincoln City or the Oregon Coast
Chinook Winds Casino Resort is located right in the heart of Lincoln City, with outlet shopping, breweries, and local shops to explore.
Drive 15 minutes south to Depoe Bay to see the smallest boat launch in the world, or 30 minutes to Newport to visit the aquarium.
Just a 40 minute drive east will take you to the Grand Ronde Reservation where you can visit their cultural museum. Or, drive an hour north to go cheese and ice cream tasting at Tillamook Dairy.
The options are endless!
Family-friendly amenities
Chinook Winds Casino Resort offers a ton of family-friendly amenities that both kids and their grown-ups enjoy. Here’s what our kids loved the most during our stay-
Play at the arcade
Great for playing games with your family
- 30 Minutes
The Chinook Winds Arcade is located in a separate building behind the pool. It had both arcade games like car racing and shooting games, as well as ticket-winning games like skeeball, basketball, and more.
Take your tickets to an automated prize wall to pick out prizes ranging from eraser caps for a handful of tickets to a purse! We settled on a few squishies.
Purchase a card that you can use to pay for games at the entrance to the arcade. There were no staff present at the time of our visit.
Swim in the heated indoor pool
Great to get some exercise
- 1 Hour
Chinook Winds Casino Resort offered an indoor pool with lounge chairs and small towels provided.
The indoor pool was completely empty when we arrived, and a warm respite from the chilly day on the beach. Our kids splashed and played in the shallow end while we swam a few laps.
A supervised childcare center
Great to drop of the kids for some adult-only time
- $12/hour, with a 10% discount for hotel guests
- 1 hour +
Although our kids were not as excited about checking out a childcare center at a hotel, once we entered into the Childcare Palace, our kids’ eyes grew wide with surprise. The childcare center was an indoor play place full of climbing structures, art activities, and much more!
Before the kids could enter, we had to sign a few waivers, one being if we were ok with nail painting – um, yes! The kids were bummed we could only stay for a short amount of time. Kids ages 3-11 are welcome daily. Bring grippy socks or purchase them at the front desk upon arrival.
A Day at Chinook Winds with Kids: What a Family Can Do
Oregon coast resort day itinerary with kids:
- 20 Minutes
- Morning: Wake up to the sound of the ocean. Walk to the Chinook Seafood Grill for a pancake breakfast while watching the waves crash over the ocean rocks. Walk just a few steps from the restaurant entrance to the beach access and walk along the beach. Bring sand toys and beach chairs.
- Late morning: Return to the hotel room to grab your swimwear and head to the indoor pool to warm up. Swim until you’re ready for lunch.
- Lunch at the resort or hop in the car to check out another Lincoln City restaurant.
- Afternoon: visit the arcade for a few rounds of skeeball before you drop the kids off at the childcare center for an early drink or a little parent connection time without the kids.
- Evening: Pick up the kids in time for dinner at the Rouge River Restaurant. Enjoy a steak and salmon dinner then catch the shuttle back to the hotel.
Why Supporting Indigenous-Owned Businesses Matters
Chinook Winds Casino Resort is proudly owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, whose ancestors have lived across Western Oregon since time immemorial. Tribal ownership means your stay directly supports:
- Tribal healthcare programs
- Language and cultural revitalization
- Housing and elder programs
- Educational scholarships
- Community jobs and economic sovereignty
For families raising culturally aware kids, your travel dollars become a teaching moment.
We can enjoy beautiful places AND support the Native communities who steward this land.
Read on
We’ve curated children’s book recommendations that feature native and local voices to deepen our understanding of the places we visit.
Looking for more?
Browse Storybook Lists’ full catalog of recommended children’s books on Japan.
Final Thoughts
Chinook Winds Casino Resort was a family-friendly coastal escape with direct access to many amenities, while being conveniently located to other attractions in Lincoln City and the Oregon coast. It was the perfect balance of resort comfort with coastal adventure, giving us easy beach access with a few easily accessible activities as a reprieve from the wind and cold.
I appreciated the activities that appealed to both adults and kids. Staff were friendly, kind, and seemed happy to see a family there enjoying all the resort has to offer. We were happy to be there, too! I was also glad to spend my vacation dollars at an Indigenous-owned resort and hotel, putting our money and values front and center.
I will never forget the excitement we felt as we opened our hotel door for the first time and saw the view of the ocean. The girls ran to the window and said “wow – look mama!” in awe. We’ve never had a beachfront vacation that was as affordable and kid-friendly as Chinook Winds Casino Resort.
If your little ones love beaches, arcades, and running wild in salty coastal air, this is a fantastic place to stay on your next Oregon adventure.
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