Where to Stay in Bend (A Guide to the Best Places & Areas)

👉 Jump to: Best Places to Stay in Bend | Best Areas | Tips | FAQs

I live in the Pacific Northwest and Bend, Oregon is one of my favorite places to go for outdoor adventures.

I recommend booking a stay in downtown Bend for your first visit. The Campfire Hotel is my favorite because of its central location and super cozy atmosphere. 

However, there’s a lot to see and do in and around Bend, so feel free to explore other options. In this guide, I’ll break down the pros and cons of the best areas to stay. But first, scroll down for a short list of my favorite hotels.

Best Places to Stay in Bend

If you’re short on time, these are my top picks: 

• 🏆 Best Overall Hotel – Campfire Hotel
• 🗺️ Best Location – Riverhouse Lodge
• 💎 Best Luxury Hotel – FivePine Lodge
• 👨‍👩‍👦 Best for Families – Holiday Inn & Suites South Bend
• 💻 Best for Business – Waypoint Hotel
• 🏨 Best Boutique – McMenamins Old St. Francis School
• ✨ Best Near Old Mill District – Hilton Garden Inn
• 🛏️ Best Budget – Holiday Motel Bend

Click here to see all top Bend hotels or here for apartments.

Ok, now scroll down for a deep dive into the pros (and cons) of each area in Bend: 

4 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Bend

Downtown Bend sits on the eastern bank of the Deschutes River. The Century West neighborhood lies across the river to the southwest of downtown. The town of Sisters is located 23 miles northwest of Bend and the town of Redmond is 18 miles north of Bend.

Downtown Bend (Old Bend)

👉 Best Area For First-Timers | ✨ Best Downtown Bend Hotels: Campfire Hotel • McMenamins Old St. Francis School • Waypoint Hotel

The creature comforts of downtown Bend complement the area’s abundant natural beauty perfectly. Foodies will find an endless array of eateries for refueling after a day on the trails. Many places feature live music or performances, so there’s never a lack of nightlife either.

In addition to being a great base camp for exploring the area, there are adventures to be had in town. The Bend Whitewater Park offers thrilling whitewater activities on the Deschutes River, which flows through the heart of the downtown area.

Speaking of Deschutes, downtown is also home to the famous Deschutes Brewery. There are several other breweries here, so you’ll never be far from a good drink when in Bend.

The hotels in downtown Bend are some of the coziest I’ve seen in all my travels. The Campfire Hotel and Waypoint Hotel offer outdoors-themed accommodations with sunny pools, fire pits, and on-site bars. 

I still remember my first-ever trip to Bend, sitting by the fire, enjoying a drink on a cool November night as snowflakes gently fell — what chain hotel offers you an experience like that?

Pros of Staying in Downtown Bend

• Wide selection of hotels, several of which are super-charming boutiques
• Excellent restaurants, famous breweries, and boutique shopping

Cons of Staying in Downtown Bend:

• Hotels are expensive in peak season
• Some places have a presence of homeless persons

Century West-Tetherow

👉 Best Area For Trail Access | ✨ Best Century West Hotels: LOGE Bend • Pine Ridge Inn • Hotel Peppertree Bend

Century West is an excellent place to stay if you want to be close to hiking trails in the Deschutes National Forest, like the Three Sisters Loop Trail. The neighborhood is removed from the busier downtown area, but only a few minutes’ drive away.

My favorite place here is the LOGE Bend. This property, in my opinion, does the outdoors theme best. The property is tucked in the woods, and each room comes with a hammock and a bike rack! They rent bikes for free, should you choose to head downtown or out to the trails.

Hotel Peppertree is another solid pick in this part of town. It features bright, spacious rooms and other amenities such as a 24-hour fitness center, hot breakfast, and on-site gastropub.

Pros of Staying in Century West-Tetherow:

• Quieter than downtown
• Closer to trailheads

Cons of Staying in Century West-Tetherow:

• Not as many options for stays, food, and drink as downtown
• Hotels are expensive in peak season

Sisters

👉 Best Area For Luxury Stays | ✨ Best Sisters Hotels: The Scout Boutique Cottages • FivePine Lodge • Sisters Inn & Suites

The small town of Sisters lies northwest of Bend. The aesthetic here is more frontier/Old West, but doesn’t feel touristy or put-on. There are some great luxury stays here, with properties such as The Scout Boutique Cottages and FivePine Lodge featuring snug, but thoroughly modern cabins that are the perfect getaway year-round.

Don’t let the upscale accommodations fool you, though. Sisters has a very down-to-earth feeling about it and a visit here doesn’t need to break the budget (you can always stay the night in Bend). As for activities, there are some excellent hikes in the surrounding area, and skiing is a popular activity in winter.

Pros of Staying in Sisters:

• Quieter and more laidback than Bend
• Charming main street area full of boutique shops, eateries, etc.

Cons of Staying in Sisters:

• Further from main attractions
• Has some of the most expensive properties in the area

Redmond

👉 Best Area For Exploring Bend’s Desert Side | ✨ Best Redmond Hotels: SCP Redmond Hotel • Comfort Suites Redmond Airport • Hampton Inn Redmond Airport

Redmond is closer to the landscapes that show the desert side of the Bend area. The areas further west are covered in pine forests, but the trees thin out in the area around Redmond, revealing a rockier terrain. Smith Rock State Park, in particular, features craggy rock formations that look more like what you’d expect from the Southwest than the Pacific Northwest.

The town of Redmond itself is charming and, if you’re traveling to Bend by air, will be your first stop. The Comfort Suites Redmond Airport is a great place to stay, conveniently close to the airport. I’d also recommend the boutique SCP Redmond Hotel in downtown Redmond. It has bright, spacious rooms and puts you within walking distance of a number of good restaurants.

Pros of Staying in Redmond:

• Close to the airport
• Good variety of places to stay, eat, and drink
• Often more affordable than other areas

Cons of Staying in Redmond:

• Further from main attractions
• Properties tend to be more of the cookie-cutter chain variety

Tips for Staying in Bend

Visit during the shoulder seasons to save money

Visiting Bend is one of the most popular things to do in Oregon. As such, the city sees higher hotel prices in summer. The shoulder months of May and (mid to late) September are the best times to visit to save money and not sacrifice warm weather and activities. October is often cheaper but significantly colder.

Read our article on the best time to visit Oregon for more advice. 

Book lodging in advance

If you’re planning to visit Bend between June and August, be sure to book well in advance. Many of its best properties (and even campgrounds) get booked solid in summer. You’re more likely to squeeze in a spontaneous stay in the shoulder months, but vacancies still can’t be counted on until the off-season. Booking in advance can also potentially save money.

Check forecasts for air quality

The area around Bend has a desert climate, so brush and forest fires are not uncommon. This could present problems if you have asthma or similar conditions, especially when on local hikes or generally outdoors. Be sure to keep an eye on weather and air quality forecasts if you’re traveling to Bend during the summer.

Stay cool and hydrated in summer

Summers in Bend tend to be warm (daytime temperatures average in the 80s) rather than hot, but the climate is arid. It can be easy to forget about staying hydrated. Make sure to include a refillable water bottle and electrolyte mixes on your Oregon packing list. 

Additionally, hotel pools are a great way to cool off and refresh, whether indoor or outdoor. You might also consider renting a kayak in town or booking a kayak tour of the nearby Cascade Lakes.

Know where to park

Bend is a smaller city and downtown doesn’t have a ton of extra parking spaces. You can find a few free spots here and there, but they will more than likely have time limits. Several paid parking lots lie spread across the downtown area and only cost $1 an hour or $10 for an all-day pass (starting at 6 hours). 

FAQs

What are the best areas to stay in Bend for first-timers?

Downtown Bend (Old Bend) is the best place for a first visit to Bend. No other area can match the amount or variety of restaurants, breweries, stores, and other attractions.

What are safe areas to stay in Bend?

Sisters is the safest of all the places to stay in and around Bend. Bend is an overall safe place, but visitors should still exercise common sense safety practices, especially after dark in urban areas. Downtown Bend does have a homeless population in certain areas.

What are the best parts of Bend to stay on a budget? 

Redmond has the best collection of budget-friendly stays. Downtown Bend tends to be expensive, but also has a few good choices on the cheaper side, such as the Holiday Motel Bend.

What are the best parts of Bend to stay in with kids? 

Downtown Bend is a great choice because of the variety of activities, parks, stores, and restaurants. Sisters is another fantastic choice because of its safety, peacefulness, and closeness to nature.

What are the best parts of Bend to stay for a long stay? 

Century West-Tetherow is good for longer stays, having a more suburban feeling and being quieter than downtown, but not too far from it. If you can afford it, Sisters is the quietest, coziest part of the greater Bend area.

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Thanks for reading my guide to the best places to stay in Bend. Visiting Portland, too? We’ve got a guide on where to stay in Portland as well. Read it next!