Overview

One of the most popular vacation and recreation destinations in Central, Oregon is the beautiful city of Bend. Transportation options to the city include flying in to the Roberts Field airport in Redmond, as well as driving, taking the bus, or coming in via train. Car rentals, taxis, and public transit are available within the city.

Driving

If you’re coming from the north or south, the best route to take to Bend is Hwy 97. From the east Hwy 20 is the primary route. For those coming from the west, there are two options. From Eugene, take Hwy 126 to Hwy 20. A slightly shorter option from late spring to early fall is Hwy 126 to Hwy 242 (Hwy 242 is closed in the winter), then to Hwy 20. From Portland, take I-5 south to Salem, then Hwy 22 east to Hwy 20. Highway 20 connects with Hwy 97 about 2 miles outside of Bend.

Flying

The nearest airport to Bend is the Roberts Field-Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) in Redmond, just 16 miles north of Bend via Hwy 97. The airport is served by four airlines: United and United Express, Delta, Horizon, and Allegiant Air.

There are two general aviation airports in or near Bend - the Bend Municipal Airport and the Sunriver Resort Airport.

The nearest international airport to Bend is Portland International Airport (PDX), which is 159 miles northwest of Bend in Portland, Oregon. The other commercial airports closest to Bend are Boise International Airport (BOI), which is 318 miles east of Bend in Boise, Idaho, and Eugene Airport, which is 137 miles east of Bend in Eugene, Oregon. Most of the major airlines serve PDX and BOI, and 4 airlines serve EUG.  

Car Rentals

There are four different car rental companies located at the Roberts Field Airport. There are also several car rental companies located in Bend. You don’t necessarily need a car to get around the city, but a rental car would allow you to explore the abundance of interesting attractions and recreational spots in Central Oregon outside of Bend.

Public Buses and Shuttles

There are several taxi, shuttle, and limo companies that provide transportation from the Roberts Field Airport to Bend, Oregon. Transportation is also available via several hotel courtesy vans.

The Bend Area Transit (BAT) system provides public transportation via bus within the city. Dial-a-Ride (DAR) is a paratransit service that provides transportation to the disabled community as well as low income seniors who don’t live close to a BAT route.