Bend, Oregon is truly an outdoorsy person’s paradise. With tall mountains, rushing rivers, and luscious forests there are an incredible amount of adventurous activities to take on. So, find out the very best things to do in Bend for your vacation. ✨
I’ve been all over the country and really Bend is one of the few places that I could see myself living. With endless opportunities of natural landscapes to explore, it’s no wonder it’s a growing destination. From skiing the mountains in winter ⛷ to swimming in bright blue water 🏊♀️, you’ll be stunned at what Bend has to offer.
Honestly, it can be overwhelming to visit Bend, because there are too many things to do! Read my guide below of the 10 best things to do for your trip to this incredible area. I know that you will find something that you absolutely love.
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Table of Contents
Planning a Trip to Bend, Oregon
How to Get to Bend
Bend is a fantastic destination with many options for getting there. Because it’s in central Oregon, it’s conveniently located to many other areas! It’s just 3.5 hours from Portland and 20 minutes from Portland. You can fly in or add it as a road trip stop. 🚗
Portland is the largest airport nearby, but it’s a bit farther than the Redmond one. ✈️ Regardless of how you choose to get to Bend, you will want a car to explore. So, I recommend renting a car or driving there in your own.
Best Time to Visit Bend
Honestly, one of the best things about Bend is that it’s a fantastic destination year round. It really depends on what kind of adventures you want to do on your trip to this fun area!
In the winter, you can spend your time doing fun winter activities like skiing at Mount Bachelor or taking a snow mobile around the National Forests. While in the spring, you can begin chasing waterfalls. Then, fill your time in the summer doing all of the outdoorsy things like hiking, swimming, biking 🚴♀️, or climbing!
One thing to keep in mind is that the forests around Bend can get a lot of snowfall. ❄️ This means some trails and areas don’t open up until mid-June or even later!
Where to Stay in Bend
Bend has tons of great places to stay from hotels to camping! There’s something for everyone in the area. I recommend staying in downtown Bend for hotels and then venturing to the forests for camping. But, you can also stay in nearby towns of Sisters or Redmond as well.
It’s a hot spot for van campers like me, so you can find a wide array of free campsites to choose from! It may be one of the best destinations for van lifers. 🚐
Best Hotels in Bend:
How Much Time Do You Need in Bend
It’s really tough to say how much time to visit Bend. You can fit a lot of fun things into just a couple of days, however, to really see all of the incredible outdoors destinations in the area I’d give at least a week.
I think people who live here would say that there are still a ton of things they haven’t seen or done yet!
We have spent a couple weeks throughout the area on a couple different occasions and yet I still have spots on my bucket list. ⭐️ So, I’d say do whatever you can in the time that you have. If you only have a long weekend or a couple days, you will be able to see a bunch of great things!
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Things to Do in Bend, Oregon
1. Venture to Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Visit an active volcano and explore this incredible geologic formation. Newberry Volcanic National Monument is over 54,000 acres and encompasses large lava fields 🌋, underground lava tubes, and incredible lakes. It’s a must see!
You could spend a whole weekend just exploring this National Monument. But, no matter what you should stop by to see some of the highlights of this wild landscape!
Things to See at Newberry Volcanic National Monument:
- See Paulina Falls
- Visit the Lava River Cave
- Go up to Lava Butte
- Boat on Paulina Lake
2. See Tumalo Falls
Tumalo Falls is a can’t miss destination on your next trip to Bend! This 97 foot cascade gushes over the cliff and streams down the creek below. In the summer, you can simply access this waterfall by parking at the short Lower Viewpoint.
But, if you want more of a hike or you are visiting in the winter, you will need to go on a larger trek. 🥾 The falls are about 2.5-3 miles from the access point in the off season. It’s definitely worth it to see.
Get all of my favorite hiking and outdoors gear here!
3. Explore Smith Rock State Park
Smith Rock is one of my favorite state parks that I have ever visited. Tall canyon walls rise up into the sky, while a river winds through them. It creates an wonderfully dramatic scene with rugged landscapes.
While other areas of Oregon are known for getting rain, Smith Rock gets 300 days of sun a year! ☀️
This park is a huge destination for rock climbers 🧗🏻♀️ with more than 1000 climbs throughout the area. But, it’s also a fantastic destination for hikers, bikers, and people who just want to see a view from a parking lot.
I recommend doing the Misery Ridge Trail, if you don’t mind a challenege!
4. See the Birds at the High Desert Museum
One of the coolest things to do in Bend is to see the birds of prey at the High Desert Museum. We went to the Raptors of the Desert Sky show on our first trip to Bend and I was absolutely blown away. 🦅
This show occurs every day at 11:30, but it often sells out by 10 am! 😯 Tickets are $7 per adult and $5 for children under 12.
You’ll sit in an open area of the forest with a few bird handlers standing all around. Then, they will introduce one bird of prey at a time. First, they’ll show it off and then, the magic happens, as the birds soar all around your heads! They get so close to you and it’s incredible to see.
5. Float on the Deschutes River
Floating on the Deschutes River is a classic summer activity in Bend! There are a number of drop off and pick up points that you can choose from when you go. So, grab some friends and some floats and head to the river. 😎
6. Visit the Last Blockbuster on Earth
One of the most unique things that Bend boasts, is they are home to the last Blockbuster on Earth! 🌎 If you want to feel nostalgic, then you have to visit. It will take you right back to the days where you went and painstakingly chose a movie to rent.
Now, this Blockbuster is still functioning, so you can rent movies there 🎥, get your snacks, or even buy some merch. It’s a fun place to go and everyone should add it to their Bend itinerary!
7. Take a Day Trip to Crater Lake
Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the US and one of the snowiest places in the US. It’s the only National Park in Oregon and it’s an incredible destination. 💙 Although it’s technically not in Bend, it’s an added bonus to a trip to the area.
Because it’s incredibly snowy there, you’re likely to have snow covering the road throughout the month of June. Which means the best time to visit this beautiful landscape is sometime in July or August, when the roads and trails are clear!
8. Ski at Mount Bachelor
Did you know that Mount Bachelor is the sixth largest ski resort in the US? So, if you are a snow sports fan, then you need to visit this area. It’s just 22 miles from downtown Bend and it is home to world class skiing and snowboarding. 🏂
Because of the large snowfall this area gets, it has one of the longest ski seasons in the country. The season usually lasts from November all the way through May. Which means you have plenty of time to try and hit the slopes!
9. Eat Delicious Food
Bend is a hopping city with lots of people moving there every year. That means that it’s a hot spot for good restaurants and shops. We have had the pleasure of spending a few weeks in Bend over the last few years to try some great places! 🍜
Make sure to visit some of these great restaurants to your visit. I highly recommend Wild Rose, but you will need to make a reservation in advance!
Best Restaurants in Bend:
- Sparrow Bakery
- Kanpai
- Miyagi Ramen
- Wild Rose Thai
- Jackelope Grill
- El Sancho Taco
10. Spend Time in Nearby National Forests
One of the amazing things about Bend is that there are three National Forests nearby: Deschutes, Umpqua, and Willamette. So, there are so many incredible trails and ourdoor adventures to explore nearby!
Can you believe there are three National Forests just outside of Bend? 🌳
While the Deschutes forest is the closest one, all of them have endless adventures to explore. Go skiing in the winter, waterfall chasing in the spring, and swimming in the summer. There’s truly stuff to do all year long in these vast forests!
Things to See in the National Forests:
- Willamette National Forest
- Tamolitch Blue Pool
- Clear Lake
- Terwilliger Hot Springs
- Sahalie and Koosah Falls
- Deschutes National Forest
- Paulina Peak
- Newberry Volcanic National Monument
- Mt Bachelor
- Deschutes River
- Umpqua National Forest
- Umpqua Hot Springs
- Toketee Falls
- Watson Falls
- Clearwater Falls
Final Tips for Visiting Bend
After visiting Bend, you will seriously be amazed at how many incredible things you can do there! Just remember, that Bend does get somewhat crowded in the summer, so it’s best to book things a few months out. Although it’s a small town, tourism is on the rise. So, get to places early in the morning or go on week days. I hope you enjoy your time.
Let me know if you enjoyed this guide in the comments!
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