Bend, OR Road Trips

The city of Bend, which is nestled between the Cascade Range and the Maury Mountains, is a vacation destination in both summer and winter, known for its year-round offering of outdoor activities. Bend Visitor Center, 750 NW Lava Rd, Suite 160 (At Oregon Ave), ☏ +1 541-382-8048, toll-free: +1-877-245-8484, [email protected]. M-Sa 10AM-4PM; Su 10AM-2PM. Sells forest, State Parks, and Sno-Park passes. (updated Dec 2025)

1 High Desert Museum, 59800 US-97, ☏ +1 541-382-4754. Daily: April 1-Oct 31: 9AM-5PM; Nov 1-March 31: 10AM-4PM. The High Desert Museum is just south of Bend on Highway 97. The High Desert Museum is a great way to gain educational experience about some of the animals and habitat that go along with Central Oregon. (updated Jan 2020) 2 Deschutes Historical Museum, 129 NW Idaho Ave, ☏ +1 541-389-1813. (updated Mar 2019) 3 Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint, ☏ +1 541 388-6055. A 500-foot-tall cinder cone in the center of Bend that offers an excellent view of the city and surroundings. Pilot Butte makes Bend one of the few cities in the U.S. to have a volcano within its boundaries. Drive or hike to the top. Free. (updated Dec 2018) 4 Drake Park and Mirror Pond, 777 NW Riverside Blvd, ☏ +1 541-389-7275. 5AM-10PM. Free. (updated Oct 2019) 5 Tumalo State Park, ☏ +1 541 388-6055. Day use $5/vehicle, tent site $21, yurt $46. (updated Feb 2018)6 Newberry National Volcanic Monument (south of Bend), ☏ +1 541-383-5300. See lava flows, explore lava caves and ice caves, fishing for trophy rainbow and brown trout in the two alpine lakes at the Newberry caldera (East Lake & Paulina Lake) and explore the massive Obsidian Flow, where very little has been able to grow for several thousand years. There are hiking trails, camping and resorts. Also snow parks, winter cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Visit the Lava Lands Visitor Center for information. $5/vehicle/day, Interagency Passes and NW Forest Pass accepted. (updated Jan 2020) 7 Smith Rock, ☏ +1 541-548-7501.

1 Mt. Bachelor (30 minutes west of Bend, follow Century Drive until it becomes Forest Road 372), ☏ +1 541-382-1709. 10AM-7PM. Bachelor is Central Oregon's best Ski/Snowboard mountain. It was home to the Olympic snowboard trials years back as well. When the summit is open (depending on weather) it is some of the best skiing you will find in Oregon with 360-degree access to the entire mountain. The northwest territory is also great with lots of black diamond runs. It's probably not a bad idea to take some 2-way radios for the other members of your party. The mountain is quite big and keeping track of everyone is sometimes difficult. Ranges from $109 for online weekday ski pass to $159 to an onsite purchased weekend pass. (updated Jul 2021) 2 Pine Mountain Observatory (follow U.S. 20 east for 30 minutes, then take Forest Road 2017 south 20 minutes to the top of the mountain), ☏ +1 541 382-8331. Great place to go see the stars. Camping available onsite. Check the website to see when the observatory is open or if events are occurring. Free. (updated Jul 2021) 3 Hayden Homes Amphitheater (formerly Les Schwab Amphitheater), ☏ +1 541-318-5457. The Ticket Mill store: M-Sa 10AM-7PM, Su 11AM-6PM. In the summer time Bend offers many Sunday concerts that are performed at the Les Schwab Amphitheater. In the past artists such as Cold Play, Keith Urban, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top and Jack Johnson have performed there. Buy tickets at The Ticket Mill store in the Old Mill District, or online.

Bend has a great selection of restaurants located all over town. Downtown has dozens of restaurants on its own to suit anyone's taste, and a short drive, bike, or walk across the river or down to the Old Mill District will turn up even more options. Most of the brewery pubs and tasting rooms offer quality food as well, so check the Template:Section link section for more details. 1 Longboard Louie's, 62080 Dean Swift Rd., ☏ +1-541-383-5889. 8AM-8PM. A great burrito shack on the east side of Bend that offers great food at prices college kids can afford. Louie's has all of the character of the locals and it is a couple hundred yards the base of Pilot Butte. (updated Jul 2021) 2 Miyagi Ramen, 550 SW Industrial Way, ☏ +1-541-797-7700. 11AM-9PM. Great ramen shop centrally located in Bend. (updated Jul 2021) 3 The Sparrow Bakery Northwest, 2748 NW Crossing Dr #110, ☏ +1 541-647-2323. The Sparrow Bakery Northwest is the second of their restaurants in Bend. In addition to Ocean Rolls and breakfast sandwiches, they offer a variety of foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. about $10/sandwich. (updated Jul 2021) 4 Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, ☏ +1 541-382-9242. Notable for its world-renowned dark brews, the Deschutes Brewery Public House offers excellent burgers and sandwiches with a laid-back atmosphere in the heart of downtown Bend. (You can also visit the brewery and get a tour of the beer production facilities). (updated Jul 2021) 5 Wild Rose Northern Thai Eats, 150 NW Oregon, ☏ +1-541-382-0441. 11AM-9PM weeknights, 11AM-10PM weekends.

Bend is home to some of Oregon's most widely known breweries, including Deschutes, Worthy, and 10Barrel. Each have their own taprooms in the city, but there are certainly options beyond just these. 1 Astro Lounge, 939 NW Bond, ☏ +1 541 388-0116. Singles bar in downtown area. This is a late night hot spot in Bend. (updated Jul 2021) 2 El Rodeo, 785 SE 3rd St (south of Wilson on the west side of 3rd St). Friendly staff, family friendly, consistently fast meal preparation & a local favorite. $6-16. (updated Jul 2021) All of the large breweries based in Bend have their own tasting rooms open. Beer lovers are certainly encouraged to have a "flight a night" at each location during their stay in Bend to taste what everyone has to offer. 3 Deschutes Brewery Tasting Room, 901 SW Simpson Ave (on SW Colorado Ave), ☏ +1 541 385-8606. Some great seasonal brews as well as six others that are regularly on tap. The facility is in the heart of downtown Bend, which is next to the Deschutes River. Deschutes Brewery's "Mirror Pond Pale Ale" was once voted the number one microbrew in the United States by Men's Journal. Other Deschutes offerings have also won national and international awards. Free daily tours of the brewery at offered at the top of the hour from 1-4PM. Online reservations are encouraged for tours, but walk-ins are allowed if there's room. Known to local college students the brewery burger and a beer sampler gets you fed and watered in style for cheap. (updated Jul 2021) 4 Bend Brewing Company, 1019 NW Brooks St, ☏ +1 541 383-1599. 11AM-8PM.

1 McMenamins Old St. Francis School, 700 NW Bond St, ☏ +1 541 382-5174. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Rooms $125-185, cottages $185-395. 2 The Oxford Hotel, 10 NW Minnesota Ave, toll-free: +1-877-440-8436. Bend's only boutique hotel, with 59 stylish suites. Steam room, sauna, and fitness studio available. (updated Jul 2021) Waypoint Hotel, 1415 NE 3rd St, ☏ +1 541-382-7011. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Centrally located to downtown Bend and Highway 97. Pet-friendly, complimentary hot deluxe continental breakfast, complimentary wireless internet access, business center, room service and Black Bear Diner on property. The Riverhouse Hotel, 3075 U.S. 97 Business, ☏ +1-866-453-4480, toll-free: +1-866-453-4480. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Several rooms along the Deschutes River, with high definition TVs, fireplaces, spa, full kitchen and business suites. Free American breakfast, outdoor and indoor pools and spas, exercise room, ultra-high speed internet. $119. (updated Oct 2015) Shilo Inns Bend Hotel, 3105 O.B. Riley Rd, ☏ +1 541 389-9600. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Has outdoor pool and hot tub. (updated Jun 2021) Resorts with onsite activities and amenities are found in and around Bend. 3 Sunriver Resort, 17500 Center Dr, Sunriver (20 min south of Bend on Hwy 97), toll-free: +1-855-420-8206. Sunriver is the largest resort in Central Oregon. The size of a small town, there are many onsite activities including golf, horseback riding, and a waterpark. Lodging options range from hotel rooms in to rental condos and cabins.

1 Redmond Municipal Airport (Roberts Field RDM IATA) (Terminal Bldg is on the west side of the airport runways; it is accessed via SE Airport way). It is the major airport for commercial flights serving Redmond, Bend, Sunriver, Prineville and the surrounding communities in Central Oregon. The airport is 16.5 mi (26.6 km) north of town along US Hwy 97 in the southeastern part of Redmond. It is served by: American Eagle : (Phoenix) Breeze : (Burbank, Las Vegas & Provo) Alaska Airlines/Horizon: (Portland, Burbank, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, San Francisco) Delta Connection (Seattle, Salt Lake City) United / United Express: (Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco) CoBreeze Bus and other bus companies serving the area also serve the airport in addition to Hawthorne Station in Bend and the Redmond Transit Hub (see below under 'By bus'). The next nearest airport for commercial flights with additional airlines from more places is at Portland International Airport'PDX' IATA 160 mi (260 km) northwest of town, which is also served by Cobreeze bus. In town, there's a city-owned 2 Bend Municipal Airport FAA LID: BDN for public general aviation use. The airport is 8 mi (13 km) northeast of the city center at NE Butler Market Rd & Powell Butte Hwy. Bend is served by U.S. Routes 20 and 97. From the west, U.S. 20 carries traffic from Santiam Pass and the Willamette Valley, and from Burns and southeastern Oregon. U.S. 97 passes north-south through the city, carrying traffic from Klamath Falls to the south and the Columbia River Gorge and Yakima to the north.

To fully enjoy the city of Bend, your best mode of transportation is the bicycle. Bend has extensive bike paths and lanes and walking paths. When visiting downtown Bend, you can park for free for the first two hours during business hours and unlimited hours after 5PM. Downtown is best explored by foot. Parking can be difficult at times but a spacious parking garage is located at the corner of Bond and Oregon Streets. Outside of Bend, a car is necessary. Cascade East Transit, Hawthorne Station at 334 NE Hawthorne, ☏ +1 541 385-8680, toll-free: +1-866-385-8680. It provides limited bus service (Rt#1-11) in and around Bend from the Hawthorne Station (updated Jan 2020)