Bend,OR.

The closest gateway is Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM), just 17 miles north of Bend — about a 20-minute drive via Highway 97. Several major airlines offer direct daily service to RDM from West Coast hubs including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland. Car rentals are available at the airport; Uber and Lyft also serve the Central Oregon region. If you prefer to fly into Portland International Airport (PDX), expect a roughly 3.5-hour drive south on US-26 or US-20. Bus travelers can use Central Oregon Breeze for scheduled daily service between Portland and Bend, or Greyhound for connections to Portland, Eugene, and beyond. Amtrak's Coast Starlight stops in nearby Chemult; from there, an Amtrak Thruway bus connects to Bend in about 90 minutes.

A car is the most practical way to explore Bend and its surrounding trails, lakes, and mountains — the city is spread out and driving culture is deeply embedded. That said, car-free options are expanding. Cascades East Transit (CET) operates nine fixed bus routes across the city, Monday–Saturday, with plans to expand hours and routes through 2025–2026. Download the Transit App to track real-time arrivals and snow-schedule alerts in winter. For skiers, CET partners with Mt. Bachelor to run a dedicated ski bus from the SW Columbia Street Park-N-Ride; tickets cost $7 one-way or $10 round-trip via the Umo app. Uber and Lyft operate reliably throughout Bend, Redmond, and Sunriver. Bike share is available through the Veo app — pick up, ride, and drop at any designated station. The city is actively adding protected bike lanes and pedestrian crossings; over half of daily trips in Deschutes County are under 3 miles, making cycling a growing option for short trips.

Bend earns its reputation as a year-round destination, but each season has a distinct personality. Summer (June–August) is peak season: warm highs in the 80s°F, barely half an inch of rain per month, long daylight hours, and a packed calendar of river floats, outdoor concerts at Hayden Homes Amphitheater, and festivals. Book accommodation well in advance — especially around the Fourth of July — and be aware that wildfire smoke can push August air quality into unhealthy ranges; June and early July tend to offer the clearest skies. Winter (December–April) brings excellent skiing and snowboarding at Mt. Bachelor, which averages around 370 inches of snowfall annually and typically runs lifts from Thanksgiving through late May. Shoulder seasons are increasingly popular. Fall (September–October) is arguably Bend's best-kept secret: highs still averaging 65°F in September, dramatically fewer crowds, lower accommodation rates, and a rich calendar including the BendFilm Festival, Bend Fall Festival, and Oktoberfest. Spring (April–May) offers wildflower blooms, rushing Tumalo Falls, and a rare window to ski in the morning and hike at lower elevation in the afternoon.