Frequently Asked Questions...

• What is the elevation?
• What is the population?
• What are the taxes?
• Where is the closest airport?
• Is transportation available from the airport to area hotels?
• How can I find out road conditions?
• What is the speed limit?
• Is there a public transit system?
• What is the climate like?
• Where can I buy liquor?
• What is the name of the main newspaper?
• When does the season begin at Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort?
• How far is Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort from Bend? From Sunriver?
• When are the trails accessible for hiking / mountain biking?
• Where can I camp?
• Where can I find visitor information for the entire State of Oregon?

What is the Elevation?

The City with the highest elevation point for Central Oregon is La Pine at 4,200'/1280m and the City with the lowest elevation point is Madras at 2,130'/650m.  Bend sits at an elevation of 3,625'/1104m.  The summit of Mt. Bachelor is at an elevation of 9065 feet with a base elevation of 6300 feet.  For a complete listing of the elevation ranges for communities within Central Oregon, click here.

Deschutes County is home to approximately 167,000 people with 80,995 residing in Bend. For population information for the nearby communities: Sisters, Sunriver, Redmond, Prineville, La Pine, Madras, click here.

For additional demographics, click here to view the Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) profile.

Oregon does not have a sales tax. Bend has a permanent property tax rate of $2.80 per $1000 of tax assessed value. Oregon State Measures 5 and 50, passed in the 1990's limit property tax revenues that Oregon cities can raise by establishing permanent tax rates and limiting growth in tax assessed values to three percent a year. To find out property tax information for the other Cities within the region, click here to contact the Chambers of Commerce representing each City.

Roberts Field - Redmond Airport (RDM) is the regional commercial airport located in Redmond which is 16 miles/24km north of Bend and 30 miles north of Sunriver. It is serviced by Horizon/Alaska Airlines; United Express; Delta Connection/SkyWest and Allegiant Air. There are direct flights from Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix/Mesa, Salt Lake City, Denver (Seasonal) and San Francisco. Two general aviation airports also serve business charter and private pilots: the Bend Municipal Airport, Bend and Sunriver Airport at Sunriver.

Some major hotels offer a shuttle service. For a list of for hire taxi and shuttle services, click here.

For information on Oregon roads and interstates, call 511 from within Oregon or from outside Oregon, call the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) at 1-800-997-6368. You can also view road cams and reports for current road conditions via the internet, by visiting the Oregon Department of Transportation's travel information website: TripCheck.com.

What is the Speed Limit?

Oregon's maximum speed limit on Interstates is 65 mph. The maximum speed limit on highways within Central Oregon is 55 mph.

The Bend Area Transit system (BAT) provides public transportation within the City of Bend. There are 7 routes, and a convenient downtown to Old Mill District loop. Buses do not run on Sundays. Fares are $1.00 each way.

Central Oregon enjoys a pleasant, dry, high desert climate with an average of 300 days of sunshine a year.  The area is a popular year round destination with four moderate seasons. Locals, however, will tell you there can be "four seasons in a day", so it's wise to think like a local and dress in layers. Average annual precipitation is less than 12 inches with an average snowfall in the winter of 33 inches. Average winter temperatures are highs of 40F and lows of 20F.  Average summer temperatures are highs of 83F and lows of 45F. For current weather conditions, click here.

The minimum drinking age in Oregon is 21. Oregon is a control state with the exclusive right to sell packaged distilled spirits. There are 243 retail liquor stores operated by contracted agents through the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC). The OLCC was created in 1933 by a special session of the Legislature after national prohibition ended.

Only wine and beer are sold in grocery stores.

The Bend Bulletin is the largest daily newspaper in the Central Oregon area. For more information, click here.

Generally Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort opens Thanksgiving weekend and is open until mid-May depending on snow levels. For the latest snow ski conditions on the mountain, visit the website: www.mtbachelor.com.

Mt. Bachelor is approximately 20 miles/32km to the southwest of Bend and 18/29km miles west of Sunriver. It takes about 25 minutes to drive to the mountain from Bend and about 20 minutes from Sunriver, depending on road conditions. 

The lower elevation trails (below 4000'/1219m) are open by late April/early May and remain open until late October depending on the snow pack.  Trails in the high country (above 4000'/1219m) may not be accessible until July.

There are various State Parks Campgrounds and Deschutes National Forest Campgrounds within the region. Tumalo State Park is only 3 miles from Bend. Within 30 miles from Bend are the La Pine State Park Campground and multiple campgrounds within the Deschutes National Forest.

Travel Oregon is the Official Visitor Information Source for the State of Oregon.  For questions or information about other vacation destinations within Oregon, call 1-800-547-7842 or visit the website: www.traveloregon.com.