Where to Stay in Bend, Oregon

Thirsty for a taste of the real Bend? This hotel, where the front desk doubles as a bar rigged with taps of local beer, cider and wine, is the place for you. After checking in, allow the hotel to take care of your luggage while you grab a pint of something cold and pair it with a pork-belly taco from the food truck in the parking lot. Then be kind and rewind the clock with a stop at the world’s last Blockbuster branch, right up the road.

If you’re here on business, your overnight trip to Bend might all too easily turn into an extended stay at the Riverhouse on the Deschutes. With a large work desk, a private balcony or patio, a coffee maker and in-room dining, it’ll put your pokey home office in the shade. If you have good cell reception, you might even be able to take that work call while walking the Deschutes River Trail, which starts right outside the front door.

For putting, pampering and lip-smacking pints of microbrewed beer, Pronghorn Resort has your back – and your back nine. Its two 18-hole, par-72 courses were designed by architect Tom Fazio and legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus, respectively, to test your mettle. As for the pampering part, how about deep-tissue, Swedish and Himalayan salt-stone massages to untangle those knots? There are also poolside plates of dungeness crab cakes and fragrant Pronghorn martinis, made with orgeat and crème de violette.

The rooms at Loge Bend are camping-chic cool (think hammocks, wall-mounted bike racks and industrial-style lighting). Meanwhile, its coffee is top-notch, and its various outdoor events, such as movie screenings and concerts, create a relaxed communal vibe. However, you’re unlikely to have time to experience any of them because Loge’s gear rental center will keep you out on the trail nearly every second of your vacation. Bikes, skis, sleds, snowshoes – you name it, and it’s probably available for hire.

Beyond just checking you in with a smile, the staff at Campfire Hotel will provide you with expert advice on the best adventures in and around Bend. Whenever you’re not heading off on a hike, enjoy complimentary coffee or savor cocktails by the pool. Alternatively, take a seat around the outdoor firepit (you didn’t think a hotel called Campfire would be without one, did you?) for a s’more-making session or a bit of kumbaya.

Surrounded by ponderosa pines and hugging the banks of the Deschutes, the peaceful Pine Ridge Inn is a homey retreat within walking distance of downtown Bend. The suites are as soothing as the surroundings, too; each one features a gas fireplace, a king-size bed and a private patio or balcony – many with river views – best enjoyed while sipping your complimentary check-in beer. Just don’t spend too much of your trip channel surfing; whitewater rafting the Deschutes is the preferred method of streaming in these parts.

Daytime bike rides and evening fires await you at Wall Street Suites. The cozy, cabin-like studios and one-bedroom suites have character and privacy, making for a romantic night in. However, if you’re craving camaraderie, you’ll find plenty of action – and drinks – in the guest lounge. Order a round of local brews (either beer or coffee), and get to know your fellow adventure-loving travelers. Chances are, they’ll be keen to swap trail tales and help you map out some jaw-dropping walks.

Just outside Bend are a handful of cool cabins in Sunriver. Only a 20-minute drive from downtown, Circle 4 Cabin 23 has room for eight across two floors. The wraparound deck has a few extra seats in the hot tub, while the community pool also has a little more room to stretch your legs. If you don’t feel like heading into Bend, interesting attractions such as the Oregon Observatory, Newberry National Volcanic Monument and High Desert Museum are nearby.