Around Central Oregon, there are few better destinations for weekend trips than Sunriver, OR. The community resides in a forest of ponderosa pine and is most closely associated with Sunriver Resort, which opened in the late 1960s on the site of a former World War II training ground.
Today, the resort is at the heart of a thriving hamlet with family attractions, homegrown shops, creative eateries, and outdoor recreation. So whether you’ve booked a weekend at the resort or through another other overnight stay—including Stoneridge Townhomes at Sunriver and Sunriver vacation rentals—you’ll find plenty of fun all year long.
Spring is an especially idyllic time to book a family getaway. Cool mornings give way to crisp afternoons, springtime snowmelt opens up new outdoor opportunities seemingly every day, and families enjoy plenty of exciting activities away from the crowds. So to help you make the most of your trip, we’ve put together a guide to some of the top things to do in Sunriver:
Day 1: Explore the Village
Morning
Ease into your first day in town with a satisfying breakfast.
Cafe Sintra is a local’s favorite for serving Portuguese-inspired breakfast dishes, some with smoky linguiça sausage. For on-the-go fare, grab fresh-baked pastries and a variety of coffee drinks at Brewed Awakenings before heading out for the day.
With breakfast behind you and coffee in hand, while away your morning at the nearby High Desert Museum. The indoor-outdoor museum invites visitors of all ages to learn about Central Oregon’s earliest inhabitants, natural history, and rich variety of wildlife through informative exhibits, art exhibits, live animal displays, and more.
Midday
Return to town, and head to The Village at Sunriver, where roughly 50 businesses offer easy opportunities for shopping, dining, adventure, and more. Spend your laid-back midday perusing The Village Shops—one of the most popular things to do in Sunriver.
Find your next favorite read while browsing the stacks at Sunriver Books, pick up fishing gear and book a guided trip at The Hook Fly Shop, see what’s new at the fashion-forward Village Threads, and choose the perfect piece for your home at Happen. Finally, Sunriver Country Store offers fresh produce, local craft beer, and any ingredients you might need to make dinner back in your rental.
For more ideas, learn all about shopping near Sunriver.
Afternoon
Ready for a relaxing afternoon? Check into your stay, be it Sunriver Resort or another local lodging, slather on sunscreen, and throw on your favorite swimwear for a few hours on the water.
At Sunriver Resort, choose among the pools at Cove Aquatic Center, the Forest House, and The Quarry at Caldera Springs. Meanwhile, a (slightly) more active experience awaits at Sunriver Marina, where you can rent a variety of paddlecraft and book a Deschutes River float.
Before dinner, celebrate your day with snacks and regional craft beverages at The Village Bar & Grill—a Sunriver mainstay for more than 40 years.
Evening
Cap off the start of your epic weekend trip to Sunriver, OR with locally sourced bites and nighttime entertainment—as only Sunriver can do it.
After grabbing a light jacket from your room—the temperatures cool considerably after sunset here in the high desert—take your pick of appetizing eateries. Owl’s Nest dishes seasonal pub grub and routinely hosts live music; check our events calendar to see who’s playing on your visit.
For Italian fare, Marcello’s Cucina Italiana crafts a variety of traditional dishes and hosts occasional pairing dinners with some of Oregon’s top wineries. Campfire Cucina, meanwhile, pairs its rotating monthly special with pastas, salads, and several pizzas; takeout specials are available if you’d rather eat back at the crib.
The fun doesn’t end after dinner. Head over to Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory for some of the region’s best stargazing. At the observatory, you’ll get to look through the largest collection of telescopes for public use in the United States—where you might see star clusters, planets, and countless other celestial wonders. In summer, the Milky Way arcs overhead.
Day 2: Outdoor Activities
Morning
Weekend trips to Central Oregon aren’t complete without a little time outdoors. So whether you’re a weekend warrior who rises with the sun or you take a more laid-back approach to the outdoors, you’ll find plenty of sunny fun around Sunriver.
Horseback riding with Sunriver Stables offers a fun introduction to the activity, taking kids and adults alike through meadows and into the forests around Sunriver. Just outside of town, stop by the Lava Lands Visitor Center, home to the Lava Butte Lookout, to learn about Central Oregon’s history as a hotspot of volcanic activity; Lava Lands is typically open mid-May to mid-October, but check the visitor center’s official website for exact hours and days, which fluctuate throughout the season.
If you’d rather someone else take charge, book a guided tour with one of our locally owned outfitters. Sun Country Tours leads rafting trips and floats on the Deschutes River, and Bend-based Wanderlust Tours offers a mix of excursions—including paddling, caving, and stargazing. For more ideas, learn about all the fun things to do in Sunriver.
Midday
Looking for another day trip during your weekend trip to Sunriver, OR? Spend a little time seeing some of the top sites a short drive from town.
One popular stop is Mt. Bachelor, the seventh-largest ski resort in North America. Ski season typically runs from late November to late May, and summertime activities include mountain biking, zip lining, and sunset dinners at the resort’s Pine Marten Lodge.
If you’re heading north to explore Bend, make a quick stop on the way for a short, mostly flat hike to Benham Falls on the Deschutes River. West of Bend, meanwhile, sits the 97-foot Tumalo Falls in the Deschutes National Forest; a platform affords picture-perfect views a short walk from the parking area, while numerous trails head up Tumalo Creek beyond the waterfall. Keep in mind that the road to Tumalo Falls is typically open late March or early April to October or November; check the Tumalo Falls website to see whether the gate will be open on your visit, and aim for a midweek visit for more solitude.
For similar stops around the region, check out our guide to waterfalls in Central Oregon. And if you’re wondering about the wide variety of trees you’ll see on the way, learn all about forests in Central Oregon.
Afternoon
Back in Sunriver, kick back with a casual, yet hearty lunch.
At Sunriver Resort’s Caldera Springs community, Lake House dishes burgers, sandwiches, soups, and salads alongside a lineup of craft cocktails. The Grille at Crosswater sits near its namesake Sunriver golf course, serving a family-friendly mix of pub favorites and creative fusion fare (like cheeseburger egg rolls and crab fondue). Away from the resort, Century Commons Food Trucks hosts about a half-dozen creative chefs who churn dishes from around the world; savor it all under ponderosa pine trees or with a local craft beer in the taproom.
Evening
You’ve had a busy day, so spend your last night in Sunriver sampling homemade ales and lagers, as well as Pacific Northwest-inspired cuisine. With two outposts in the area, a visit to Sunriver Brewing Company is undeniably one of the top things to do in Sunriver. The award-winning brewery’s tasting room specializes in its extensive ales and lagers, while its restaurant in The Village dishes creative pub grub and offers a spacious play area for young children. Lodge Kitchen at Sunriver Resort, meanwhile, looks out over the resort’s wide-open meadows—and pairs those views with an elegant, farm-to-table dinner menu that includes locally sourced steaks, regional seafood, and filling pasta.
For more inspiration, check out our guide to restaurants in Sunriver.
Day 3: Last Day
Morning
All weekend trips must end at some point—usually on Sundays—and you’ll go out on a high note with a casual breakfast at one of two beloved eateries.
Grab a breakfast burrito or sando (the latter made with a locally baked sandwich roll) at Josie K’s Deli & Kitchen—or grab a light breakfast dish, sandwich, or fresh-made pastry from Hot Lava Bakery. If you still have energy after eating and aren’t yet ready to go home, see which hiking trails are on the way home.
Tips For Planning Your Weekend Trip
Ready to book your next weekend trip to Sunriver, OR? Here’s the skinny on how to plan a great vacation:
What to pack: It’s hard not to spend at least some of your trip outside in Sunriver, even if that simply means lounging poolside. Either way, bring plenty of sunscreen and a reusable water bottle, no matter the season. If you’re hiking, pack along the 10 Essentials so you’re prepared for a day on the trail.
Overnight stays: Groups of every size have plenty of options for overnight stays. Sunriver Resort offers well-kept lodge rooms, condos, spacious vacation homes, and more across a handful of communities. Sunriver vacation rentals, meanwhile, are offered by several companies and feature a variety of amenities—ranging from plush bedding and full kitchens to on-site hot tubs and expansive patios.
Weather: We’re lucky to enjoy plenty of sun in Central Oregon—but it can’t hurt to check the weather forecast and, if visiting in fall or winter, look at road conditions on TripCheck. Even when the day’s high temperatures look warm, don’t be shy about wearing layers; evenings can get chilly around Sunriver, no matter the season.
