bend oregon travel

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Travel to Visit Bend, Oregon

There's just something about Bend, Oregon. The high desert oasis has something to offer visitors year-round. From nearly every vantage point in Bend, it's easy to see why this town has become an outdoor paradise. Bend, Oregon has been on dozens of best-of lists, highlighting its livability, its outdoor opportunities, its pet-friendliness. When you'll visit, you discover that's all true. But dig deeper to find just how much this place has to offer.

Things To Do In Bend

Best Time to Visit Bend, Oregon

Adventure abounds in Bend, no matter the season. Here's how to make the most of your next visit to Bend—whenever that might be.

Around Bend, cool (sunny) mornings typically turn into breezy, refreshing afternoons as families flock to the city for spring break. Rain isn't common, but much of the region's 12 or so inches of annual rainfall come between March and May; pack a light jacket and hat, just in case.

High temperatures reach the 80s or 90s, so it's the perfect time to paddle, hike through mountainous meadows, and float the Deschutes River. Rain is rare, and low temperatures typically dip into the high 40s or low 50s after the sun sets—so pack a coat if you're heading out after dinner.

Take advantage of crisp afternoons and cool evenings by shredding fast-paced mountain biking paths or by sipping patio beers at one of the roughly two-dozen breweries. High temperatures drop rapidly—from an average of about 75º in September to just less than 50º in November—so bring layers to account for changing weather and chilly evenings (where lows can drop into the 30s by October).

Wintry weather arrives as early as Thanksgiving; by December, snow lovers are hitting the ski slopes or strapping on snowshoes at sno-parks just outside of Bend. Even in town, high temperatures typically remain in the high 30s and low 40s, and lows routinely dip below freezing; even with the dry desert air, the Bend area averages more than 30 inches of snowfall each winter.

This former mill town, now the largest city in Central Oregon, has transformed into a craft beer town, the perfect base camp for outdoor adventure with a surprisingly chic downtown and dining and cultural opportunities that belie its small-town feel.

Nestled in the shadow of the Cascade Mountain range, with the Three Sisters mountains -- Faith, Hope and Charity--- and Mt Bachelor -- looming large above town, the Deschutes River runs right through the center of the city. It's possible to ski in the morning, kayak in the afternoon, and try one (or more) of the city's famed breweries in the evening. And you'd just be scratching the surface.

Lodging in Bend

The lodging options in Bend are immense, at times overwhelming, but we are here to help. Choose from a variety of options. Luxurious resorts like Tetherow or Juniper Preserve (just about 20 minutes outside of Bend) provide a variety of amenities like on-site dining, golf, outdoor adventures, pools, and spa experiences. Stay at a boutique hotel, chain hotel or cozy bed and breakfast if it's more your style. Modernized motels with dog-friendly options or vacation rentals if you are looking for a more home-like experience. And yes, camping in nature is always an option. Check out our Bend lodging directory for more specifics.

Dine in Bend

While Bend is known as Beertown USA, it is way more than just breweries (though some don't want to admit it). The city's vibrant downtown offers a huge restaurant scene -- you'll find award-winning sushi, fine dining , Mexican and Spanish inspired cuisine, food carts and everything in between. While many of the best restaurants in Bend are located in the downtown area, there are a variety of amazing options at the Old Mill, Box Factory and on the eastside of town. With many Bend restaurant options , you are bound to find a memorable meal.

Sip in Bend

Interested in sampling many of Bend's famous brews , grab an Ale Trail passport and visit some of the best breweries in Central Oregon. With more than two dozen breweries that call Bend home -- you can start downtown at Bend's oldest brewery, Deschutes Brewery, or nearby Bend Brewing Co. Head to Crux Fermentation Project, near the Old Mill or try a brewery more off the beaten path by heading to Worthy Brewing on the east side of town. Belly up to the bar next to the locals and prepare to experience some of the finest beers the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

Wine more your style? There are plenty of wine bars, and tastings in Bend, Oregon including the Bledsoe Family Winery tasting room, Stoller Wine Bar, or Willamette Valley Vineyards tasting room located right downtown. The city also offers distilleries that provide fresh-tasting perspectives as well, Bendistillery, the distiller of Crater Lake Spirits makes flavor-infused vodkas perfect for a tasty cocktail.

Best Things to See + Do in Bend, Oregon

Kid-Friendly
Mt. Bachelor

Summertime Activities

If it's an outdoor adventure you seek, Bend is the perfect spot. In summertime, try paddleboarding , kayaking or floating and put in on the Deschutes River for a scenic trip through town. Walk along the Deschutes River until you arrive at the Bend Whitewater Park, which features a hydraulic wave in the center of the Deschutes that allows for surfing and sport kayaking.

Swing out to Tumalo Falls, 15 minutes from Bend for an easy hike with an epic view of the waterfall, or walk to the top of Pilot Butte to see the Cascade Mountain range. Or stay close to town and access the city's exceptional park and trail system. Drake Park is the crown jewel of Bend, with views of Mirror Pond and old-growth trees shading you from the high desert sun.

With access to a variety of trails, mountain biking , road and gravel are all possible from your door. Head to Phil's Trailhead for access to an extensive mountain bike trail system. If it's your first time on a mountain bike, consider a lesson from Grit Clinics, a Bend-based, woman-owned company that lives by the credo “Ride Bikes, Be Happy.”

Central Oregon Golf Trail

Golf courses abound in and around Bend, where the climate allows access to the sport nearly year-round. Basecamp in Bend, and try out a different course daily. With over 30 courses in Central Oregon , there is a course for every skill level, and the views will more than makeup for any slices or duffed shots.

Winter Activities

In winter, it's time to pray for snow. Spend the day skiing or snowboarding at Mt. Bachelor or Hoodoo, or taking the kids tubing in the snow. Not a skier, no problem. There are plenty of activities for all ages. Depending on your level of excitement, a short 15-minute drive puts you in proximity for snowshoeing , cross-country skiing, or sledding. Or if you're a snowmobiler, you'll find plenty of designated areas with incredible views for the activity.

Interested in staying around town? There's an NHL-sized ice skating rink located at the Pavilion or take a short scenic drive 10 minutes out of Bend towards Mt Bachelor and stop by the Inn at the Seventh Mountain for another place to skate.

Kid-Friendly Activities for All Seasons

Happy kids means happy parents. And happy parents means a successful vacation! Rain, shine, or snow, Bend has a variety of activities inside, outside, and underground. (Yes, we mean caves). With over 80+ parks, pump tracks, ice skating rinks, indoor play centers, you (I mean your kiddo) can take their pick. Find out more with this kid-friendly guide .

The Mountain is Calling

Mt. Bachelor sits just a half-hour away - as the 6th largest ski resort in North America (with 4,323 skiable acres, 3,365 feet of vertical drop), it's one not to miss. In the winter, the mountain offers a ski and snowboard playground, a terrain park, on-mountain day-lodges, sunny decks and and runs for all skill levels. The Nordic center also offers 56 km of groomed trails perfect for skate or cross country skiing. In the summer, Mt. Bachelor offers hiking, a zipline, disc golf, lift-access mountain biking, chairlift rides, and sunset dinners.

Take a Virtual Tour

Take a Guided Tour

So you know you're interested in sampling the suds of some of Central Oregon's 30 breweries? Or excited for a wilderness adventure? Why not book a tour and let the local experts guide you around. There are a handful of activities and tour options to experience year-round in Bend.

Shop 'til You Drop

You'll find a wide range of shopping experiences around Bend. The city's brick-lined downtown core is chockablock with locally owned mom-and-pop shops—where the friendly cashier ringing up your souvenir, book, dog toy, or skin care product just might be the owner. Next to downtown is the Box Factory, which hosts more than three-dozen local retailers, restaurants, tasting rooms, and more in a onetime industrial hub that dates back to 1916. Further south, sitting along the banks of the Deschutes River, is the Old Mill District—home to an eclectic mix of boutiques from local and national brands alike. And on Bend’s east side, more than a dozen big-name retailers are always offering big savings at the Bend Factory Outlet Stores.

Best of all: Oregon shoppers don't pay sales tax on apparel, accessories—you get the idea. What you see on the price tag is what you'll pay at the register, a development that has led to Bend becoming a premier shopping destination in Central Oregon.

Small Town Vibe, Big City Offering

All year long, you’ll find arts offerings that showcase Bend’s creative spirit, the city’s fascinating past, and its industrious spirit. Arts lovers find plenty to enjoy about Bend. Right in downtown, the historic Tower Theatre routinely screens films and welcomes a variety of touring performers—musicians, authors, and more. Nearby, the single-screen, 30-seat Tin Pan Theater engages cinephiles with seasonal hits, documentaries, under-the-radar films, and more. And every October, BendFilm , an independent, thought-provoking, and Academy Award-qualifying film festival, takes over screens across Bend and pairs its films with filmmaker discussions and question-and-answer sessions.

Live music fans, meanwhile, flock to the cozy Volcanic Theatre Pub and, in summer, the Hayden Homes Amphitheater—which welcomes some of music's top touring acts on the shores of the Deschutes River. And every spring, the Bend Brew Festival showcases the city’s famous beer culture through tastings and exclusive tappings over the course of two sun-kissed days.

Indoor and Outdoor Museums

If you're interested in arts, culture, and Bend's history, check out the one of Central Oregon's most acclaimed museums , The High Desert Museum, just south of town. The Smithsonian-affiliated museum provides in-depth and beautifully curated indoor and outdoor exhibits about Bend and Central Oregon, complete with animals (think birds of prey, porcupines and river otters) and an authentic sawmill and family ranch with reenactors.

Or swing by the Deschutes Historical Museum in downtown Bend, which has a rich trove of historical artifacts from the area, as well as dedicated volunteers who will find all the information you seek.

Upcoming Events in & around Bend, Oregon

More Events in and around Bend

Experience the Beauty of Other Cities in Central Oregon

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Top things to do in Bend, Oregon, from climbing volcanoes to surfing the river

May 20, 2022 • 5 min read

Cascade Lakes Highway in Central Oregon travel destination transportation vacation

Choosing what to do in Bend , Oregon, could almost be considered a burden. With so many options for exploring the great outdoors and plenty to discover in town, it’s tough to pick your poison. From incredible outdoor experiences to mini-adventures within city limits, Bend offers a variety of tour options for visitors to pack in as much as possible.

Drink your way along the Bend Ale Trail

Thirsty for a beercation? Bend is the number one destination for such a holiday. With an official passport and map, thanks to Visit Bend Travel Bureau , Bend offers a brew-loving scavenger hunt like no other city. It isn’t called the largest beer trek in the west for nothing. Start by ordering your paper passport or downloading an app to guide you. There’s even a "Drinkable Diversions" tour, which includes locally made spirits, kombucha, cider and wine. Bottoms up!

Since 1993, Wanderlust Tours has delivered top-tear, regional eco outings, including paddling and canoe trips, lava tube cave tours, lunar eclipse hikes and brews and views beer tastings. Volcano sunsets, snowshoe tours and more are available seasonally.

Take an alleyway and roundabout art tour

The award-winning T in Pan Alley Art Collection can be viewed all over Bend's historic downtown – you'll find pieces in parking garages and other urban outdoor nooks and crannies. If you spot a piece, stop and use it as a conversation starter with your travel partners. As you drive throughout Bend, look for all the sculpture installations centered in roundabouts . To get organized, stop in at Visit Bend’s downtown brick and mortar, and grab a guide for each collection.

A bicyclist rides across a bridge with multi-colored flags that crosses the Deschutes River at the Old Mill District in Bend in Central Oregon

Check out Bend’s budding arts & entertainment scene

Although Bend is still considered a small town, it’s a rising star when it comes to arts and entertainment. After a busy day burning calories on the trail or river, head to a concert or see some performance art. Music venues like Hayden Homes Amphitheater, the Domino Room and the Volcanic Theater Pub attract must-see local talent and popular regional and national musicians.

Bend’s burgeoning burlesque scene is hot, hot, hot, with several venues to choose from. And the up-and-coming stand-up comedy collective will have you in stitches with frequent performances at Craft Kitchen and Silvermoon Brewery. Electronic music, folk, rockabilly, blues and even hip-hop all have their place on various stages in the high desert.

Drive the Cascade Lakes Highway

With miles of desert to the east, you might be surprised to find out how much freshwater is sequestered near Bend in the alpine lakes at the foot of the Cascade Mountains. Lake after lake litters Century Drive, also fittingly known as Cascade Lakes Highway. More than 10 bodies of water, some of which are hard to navigate via kayak, and some miles across, all spot the conifer forest terrain. Sparks, Devil’s, Elk, Laval, Cultus, Crane Prairie and Wikiup, with Davis, Waldo and Odell Lake not much farther, are good options. In addition, several lakes have lodges and resorts that make great stops for a sudsy brew or cup of tea. Whether you're in the mood for a driving tour, a swim, picnic or paddle, a visit to one or more of these lakes can easily fill a day's itinerary.

Bend Oregon cityscape with Mt Jefferson at sunset

Climb all the volcanoes

With epic views from their summits, several volcanoes are easily accessible to the most adventurous passer-throughs in Bend. The first is Pilot Butte . In the center of town, trek up the side or drive to the top via the seasonally open paved road. A second option is Lava Butte, about 15 minutes south of Bend on Highway 97. This butte is the entrance to Newberry National Volcanic Monument and is accessible in the summer. From the top, you’ll spy half-formed lava tubes, levees and a cornucopia of other frozen lava geometries. The third summit options – and farthest out – are Mount Bachelor and South Sister accessible via Century Drive. Mount Bachelor can also be accessed by lift in either winter or summer. To hike South Sister, the 14-mile round-trip trail and summit, a permit is required. Though the hike isn’t a technical mountain climb, many who attempt it underestimate its difficulty. Once at the top, the views are more than worth it. Bring water and be cautious.

Bike to Paulina Plunge

Considered by some to be the most unique tour in the high desert is the Paulina Plunge . Better yet, it's accessible to complete novices. This trip offers a downhill mountain bike waterfall and natural waterslide adventure at Newberry Caldera National Volcanic Monument . Similar to Crater Lake, Paulina Creek is an enormous collapsed volcano that drains Paulina Lake down the flank of Newberry. Follow this creek on mountain bikes to Paulina Waterfall and natural waterslides, where you can take a break from your bike ride, picnic and play in the pristine water.

A group of people river surfs on the Deschutes River

Tour the Deschutes River

Discover Bend’s centerpiece: the Deschutes River float. To rent an inner tube, head over to Bend Park and Float , secure your rental, hop on a shuttle and launch from Riverbend Park. Once you get to Drake Park, the shuttle will pick you up again and haul you back to your car. If floating isn’t your thing, enjoy the paved footpath on either side of the river float corridor. Whether traveling by bike, skateboard, inline skates or stroller, a trek along the urban corridor of the Deschutes River from Riverbend Park to Drake Park is an excellent way to taste the everyday outdoor eye candy Bend has to offer. Avian locals, wildflowers, volcanic rocks, cute beachy shacks and mountain modern homes are some of the scenic points of interest on your tour through the heart and lifeblood of Bend.

Not ready to Tour De Chutes Riviera on your own? Let Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe take you. They offer full- and half-day tours by kayak, canoe and paddleboard. Or, book a private tour for your family reunion or corporate soiree.

Finally, experiencing the Big Eddy Thriller whitewater adventure on the Deschutes River, just minutes from town, is a can’t-miss chance of a lifetime. Sun Country Tours and Seventh Mountain River Company , both located on Century Drive, are the best in the biz when it comes to whitewater tours. Tighten the straps on your close-toed river sandals, buckle that helmet, synch down the fittings on your lifejacket and keep paddling forward to make it through Bend’s own backyard whitewater roller coaster. Batten down the hatches and dive in.