Sunriver, Oregon: A Stunning Destination for PNW Families

Discovering my love of Sunriver, Oregon, was a happy accident when I booked a deal on a rental home in Sunriver for a planned trip to explore Bend. As it turned out, we barely explored Bend that trip because we found a family-friendly haven in Sunriver that we’ve returned to several times since. I have yet to find another place where we can bike the whole town, hike a lava field, swim in a pool regardless of weather, visit several museums, earn a junior ranger badge and watch sunsets over a volcano, all within a few miles.

Sunriver is a walkable, bikeable place perfect for families. Here are 12 of my favorite activities with kids around Sunriver, and several suggested itineraries designed to suit many types of travelers.

Things to do in Sunriver, Oregon

1. Bike the trails

Sunriver is the ultimate bikeable community with more than 40 miles of paved bike paths that will take you all over town and beyond. We’ve biked to dinner, the Nature Center, playgrounds, the pool, and just for fun. I love how safe and well-maintained the trails are, and on our most recent visit, my 9-year-old was thrilled to ride to the local market on his own to pick up snacks for the family. I prefer to bring my kids’ bikes for fit and familiarity, but rental companies have all sizes. The Bike Barn set me up with a perfect fit on this most recent trip. Many rental homes have bikes to borrow, and Sunriver Sports in town has a range of options, including e-bikes, trailers and child seats.

2. Swim in a pool

When my kids ask when we’re returning to Sunriver, it is largely because of the biking and the swimming pools. No matter the weather, Sunriver has water play for all seasons, and pool access is included in most rental options. If you book your stay through Sunriver Resort, you can access The Cove Aquatic Center where adults and kids alike will love the indoor and outdoor water slides, lazy river, hot tubs and numerous lawn games. Homes rented through other platforms generally offer day passes to the Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic and Recreation Center (SHARC), which offers various activities, including indoor and outdoor pools, a lazy river, and a giant tube slide. We’ve splashed in both, and while you won’t get a pool bar at the SHARC, both pools provide great fun.

We also got a sneak peek at the brand-new pool at Forest House of Caldera Springs on the outskirts of Sunriver. It is an impressive space with multiple pools, a double-racer waterslide, heated pavers for winter, fire pits, gourmet menus and outstanding views. One of my children didn’t even swim as he found a friend and spent hours in the family game room enjoying duckpin bowling, table tennis, shuffleboard and some of the 300-plus games offered on tabletop computers. To access this family hub, you must book through Sunriver Resort and stay at a Caldera Springs home. It’s a great option if you prefer to be a bit farther away from the (relative) hustle of town.

3. Go spelunking

Pack your headlamps because cave exploration is a unique and inexpensive activity while visiting Central Oregon. Less than a 10-minute drive from Sunriver, you can explore the mile-long lava tube at Lava River Cave Interpretive Site. There is no fee to enter the cave, but reservations are required and you must have a valid recreation pass or pay $5 per vehicle.

On our drive south, we stopped for a 30-minute stretch break at Redmond Caves, one hour north of Sunriver, to explore five different caves formed by the Newberry volcano. These caves are free to explore and open year-round, making them a quick activity to add to a full day of fun.

4. Adventure off-road in an ATV

For a truly unique experience, rent an ATV with Outriders Northwest and go off-road through forest, up mountains and over lava fields. Our two-hour guided tour was quite the adrenaline rush, best for families with older kids. By the end, I was comfortable driving and had to restrain my speed to the suggested 30 mph max. My 9-year-old had a blast, but my 6-year-old wasn’t tall enough to see out of the ATV, which made the trip less fun for him. Drivers must be 18 or older and prices begin at $299 per ATV; each seat four.

5. Take a hike

There is plenty of hiking in and around Sunriver. Benham Falls, Trail of the Molten Land and Lucky Lake are just a few close, short hikes that offer something unique to the area.

Consider traveling a bit farther or planning a stop for arrival or departure days — Smith Rock State Park is not to be missed. It is a magical place with one of my top 10 favorite hikes that I have done with children. Misery Ridge is considered a challenging hike, but the views, the rocks to climb, the climbers to watch, and the ample spots to stop and rest make it doable and memorable. On my next visit, I plan to venture south to hike to the Big Obsidian Flow.

6. Feed an alpaca

Whether on your way in or out of town (or en route to Smith Rock), a stop at Crescent Moon Ranch in Terrebonne, Oregon, makes a perfect pit stop for a stretch. Entrance is free for a self-guided walking tour past multiple alpaca fields. From March to early fall, you’ll likely meet baby alpacas during your visit, too. We lucked out and happened to be visiting on a shearing day; my kids loved watching the process. You can buy bags of feed for $5 and gorgeous alpaca wool materials in the boutique.

7. Play in the river

Rent tubes or kayaks from The Marina to enjoy adventures on the Deschutes River. I’ve spent most of my time in Sunriver during shoulder seasons, but you'll find me on the river the next time I’m there in summer. If you are an adventure buff, consider working whitewater rafting into your itinerary for an absolute thrill (generally for ages 6 and older) .

8. Learn at a museum

Have you ever seen solar storms (sunspots) through a telescope? I hadn't until we visited the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory. Budding astronomers will love to know that Sunriver is designated as Oregon’s first International Dark Sky Place, and the observatory prides itself on being the largest publicly accessible observatory in the nation. Kids will love meeting the birds and other desert creatures at the Nature Center. Daily admission is $6–$9, and free for children younger than 4. Tickets for nighttime viewing sessions are available online.

Do not miss the High Desert Museum. I recommend packing lunch and planning to spend several hours exploring the indoor and outdoor exhibits. Be sure to check the interactive show times — the raptor talk is outstanding. The cost of admission ranges from $11–$20; admission is free for kids 2 and younger.

9. Wander The Village at Sunriver

The Village at Sunriver has everything you need to eat, shop and play. Grab an ice cream cone at Goody’s or a new board game at the incredible toy store, Tumbleweed Toys. Alpine Entertainment runs activities like bumper cars, rock climbing, power jump, mini golf, and bounce houses (ticket prices vary). Our favorite spot is the all-you-can-play arcade games at Riverscape Arcade. At $7 for 30 minutes, this quiet (yes! quiet!) arcade space is filled with games from an ‘80s childhood and is a bargain that doesn’t leave kids overstimulated like most arcades.

Pro tip: If your kids are independent enough to play alone, drop them at the arcade and cross the walkway to Sunriver Brewing to enjoy a beverage on the patio. You’ll have eyes on the arcade and a few minutes to enjoy alone.

10. Earn a junior ranger badge

For an absolute geologic wonder, drive (or bike 5.5 miles) to the Newberry National Volcanic Monument and Lava Lands Visitor Center. The indoor museum is packed with information about volcanoes, and outdoors, you can embark on walks/hikes to suit all abilities. Kids and adults alike will marvel at hardened lava as you walk amongst the 9+ acres of lava field. My kids enjoyed completing the outdoor scavenger hunt and junior ranger book. A valid recreation pass is required.

11. Hone your skills on a putting green

Or, you can read a book like I did while your kids hone their skills on the 18-hole putting green behind The Lodge at Sunriver Resort. The pro shop offers free clubs to kids ($15 for adults), and this idyllic space is the perfect place to lounge by a fire, sip a beverage and watch the sunset behind Mt. Bachelor while the kids play. When they tire of golf, the adjacent lawn is perfect for a game of tag or cornhole.

12. Spend a day in Bend

Bend is a destination worthy of its own trip, but we love to spend a few hours at either end of our time in Sunriver. Play on the playground or climb at Alpenglow Park’s free bouldering area. Grab a coffee at Cafe des Chutes and browse beautiful local ceramics at Mud Lake Studios while you wait. Watch surfers and whitewater kayakers at Bend Whitewater Park. Sample the spicy dill pickle popcorn at Brown Bag Popcorn while you window shop downtown. Shop and dine at the Old Mill District.

Staying at Sunriver Resort

We had an incredible stay at Sunriver Resort. Our perfectly appointed room in Lodge Village had everything we needed for a multi-day stay. The bed was comfortable, and I loved the decor. I enjoyed coffee on our private deck each morning and watched the light change over Mt. Bachelor. Staying at the resort gave us access to The Cove and proximity to the resort’s many amenities, including a free shuttle and beautiful hot tubs around the property. The resort offers a range of accommodations, from hotel-style rooms to entire homes.

If you choose not to stay at Sunriver Resort, privately owned homes can be rented through your favorite booking platform — I’ve done that twice with excellent results.

Sunriver restaurants

Both Sunriver Resort and The Village host many great dining options. My favorite dishes from Lodge Kitchen included salmon benedict for breakfast and perfectly cooked steak and shared vegetable plates for dinner. Sunriver Pub makes a perfectly balanced bleu cheese, bacon and fig jam burger. As a bonus, they also have a kids play area and an outdoor patio. The Fold made a pizza with pineapple, goat cheese and jalapenos that I’m still thinking about. I waited for dinner at our outdoor table while the kids drove bumper cars. Everyone was happy.

How to get to Sunriver

Sunriver is a six-hour drive south of Seattle or a one-hour flight into Redmond (RDM), where you can rent a car to drive an hour south to Sunriver.

I prefer to drive for the convenience and the beauty — there’s a stretch of Highway 97 where, on a clear day, you can see nine distinct snowcapped peaks off in the distance. I’ve both driven straight through and stopped halfway to play in Portland. We’ve enjoyed many great spots en route to stretch our legs. In Washington, we love Penny Playground in Chehalis and Marshall Park in Vancouver. Favorite stops in Oregon include Jonsrud Viewpoint and Meinig Memorial Park, Wildwood Recreation Site, Little Zigzag Falls, and the Museum at Warm Springs. Download some audiobooks and enjoy the adventure!

Whether you’re hoping to take in as much of Central Oregon as possible or want to park your car and hide the keys for three days, Sunriver has more options for fun than you will have time to do. Trust me. I always feel we need just one more day — or week.

Editor’s note: This trip was hosted by Visit Central Oregon and Sunriver Resort, but all opinions expressed here belong to the writer.