Sunriver
- Not to be confused with Sun River Montana.
Sunriver is a resort town in Central Oregon. The Sunriver Resort is a major year-round attraction in the region, especially for families, and this article primarily focuses on resort amenities.
Get in
editBy plane
edit- 1 Sunriver Airport (SUO IATA), ☏ +1 (541) 593-4603. Mid May-Mid Sep. 7AM-7PM; Mid-Sep-Mid May 8AM-6PM. is an airport owned by and located at the Sunriver Resort, and is available for public use. The airport has no commercial passenger service. Airport staff can arrange shuttle or rental car service if you call ahead.
- Redmond Municipal Airport (also known as Roberts Field) (RDM IATA) located about 45 minutes north of Sunriver, is the closest airport with commercial passenger service. Several regional airlines offer service to western hubs, including San Francisco, Denver, Portland, Salt Lake City, and Seattle. There are no public transit services from RDM to Sunriver. Rental cars are available at the airport from a number of major rental companies. Taxi/shuttle services for service to/from Sunriver include:
- Enviro Shuttle, ☏ +1-541-598-5384. Reserve by phone or online. Rideshare with other parties of 1-3 people available for a reduced fare. $62.
- Sunriver Towncar, ☏ +1-541-706-0626. Reserve by phone or online. $75 SUV/$120 Van.
- Portland International Airport (PDX IATA) is the closest major and international airport to Sunriver. Portland is approximately three and a half hours north-west of Sunriver. Rental cars are available at the airport from a number of major rental companies.
By car
editSunriver lies 15 miles south of Bend on US Highway 97. From US-97, you can take Cottonwood Road (exit 151) to the north end of town, or take S Century Drive (exit 153) to the south end of town.
Some of the companies that serve Redmond Municipal Airport (see above) also can provide transportation to and from Bend (around $40-50 each way) or Portland (around $230 each way). Check their websites or call for more information.
Get around
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By car
editDriving in Sunriver can be confusing, as the roads wind through the resort and meet and roundabouts, rather than having straight roads meet at intersections in your typical town. The roundabouts, known as "circles", are numbered 1 through 11, and there is no circle 8 (if a local tells you to go to circle 8, they're just picking on the tourists). It can be tricky to find your destination without specific directions, however there are free maps available at many local business as well as both the entrances to Sunriver from Highway 97.
By foot
editSunriver has over 30 miles of well maintained paved paths designated for pedestrian use (biking and walking). The paths can take you anywhere in town, and are also kept clean for walking during the winter months.
By bike
editBiking is a very popular mode of transportation in Sunriver since there are many bike rental shops and over 30 miles of paths that go anywhere in town. The paths are well maintained, and are separated from the roads so riders don't need to worry about being alongside traffic.
See
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- 1 Oregon Observatory at Sunriver, 57245 River Rd, ☏ +541-598-4406. Visit the Oregon Observatory on a clear night and you will be in for a treat. The observatory possesses many telescopes including over ten telescopes between 8 and 20 inches in diameter. Being outside the city there is little light pollution making viewing celestial objects much more clear. Adults $20; Kids 4-12 $8; Solar viewing (daytime) Free.
- Sunriver Nature Center, ☏ +1 541-593-4394. The Nature Center is a great place to learn about the Central Oregon wildlife. It offers a botanical garden, nature trail, and hands-on animal exhibits. The nature trail lets you view a forest and marsh environment, you can also see a resident bald eagle, exotic marsh birds, animal tracks, and a dormant volcano.
Do
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If you enjoy outdoor activities then Sunriver is the place to be. Sunriver offers things such as White Water rafting tours, Fishing Tours, Biking Tours, and Hiking Tours in the summer time. When the winter months show up, Sunriver turns into a winter recreation town. Sunriver offers skiing/snowboarding rentals, Snowmobiling tours, Cross Country Skiing trails, and there is an Ice skating rink located in Sunriver as well. Depending on the time of year Sunriver offers activities that correlate well with the changing seasons.
Golf
editSunriver offers three well known championship golf courses, the Woodlands course, the Meadows course, and Crosswater. The Caldera Links family friendly course is also part of the resort. The courses close for the off-season in October/November until spring.
- 1 Woodlands Course. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. the Woodlands course is a challenge for any player. Winding through the woodlands of Sunriver the course offers an abundance of doglegs water hazards and elevation changes. With its great conditions the Woodlands course is fun for any player.
- 2 Meadows Course, ☏ +1 541-593-4402. Enjoy wonderful views of meadows and the marshlands from the actual Sun River. John Fought's design uses many directional bunkers for a fun and challenging golf experience. Public: $95/Resort guest: $85.
- The Meadows course also has an indoor golf simulator for year-round use. The cost is $30 per 30 minutes, and rental clubs are available at no extra charge.
- 3 Crosswater, ☏ +1 541-593-4402. One of "America's 100 Greatest Courses" according to Golf Digest. Crosswater is nothing short of a masterpiece as it wanders through the Deschutes and Little Deschutes rivers, and in and out of the woods. Every hole has five separate tee boxes. Crosswater has housed a few big tournaments including the 2006 men's NCAA final, PGA Tour Champions events from 2007 to 2010, and the PGA Professional Championship 2001, 2007, 2013, and 2017. This course is only open to resort guests and club members. $80-200.
- 4 Caldera Links. A family friendly 9-hole course open only to resort guests, homeowners, and golf club members. Named a "Top 10 Destination for Family Golf" by Golf Digest in 2016. $50 adult/$25 juniors.
Aquatic Activities
edit- 5 The Cove, ☏ +1 541-593-4990. 11AM-8PM. The Cove Aquatic Center is an indoor/outdoor facility owned by the resort that was updated and expanded in 2021. Waterslides, pools, and a lazy river are open year-round. No cost for resort guests.
- 6 The SHARC, 57250 Overlook Rd, ☏ +1 541-585-5000. The Sunriver Homeowners' Aquatic and Recreation Center ("The Shark") is an expansive indoor/outdoor aquatic facility that is open to resort homeowners, and guests of homeowners (including renters) year-round. If renting, the homeowner must provide you with a "Recreation Plus Card" as part of the rental to get in. This should be rolled in to the cost of the rental, but be sure to inquire when booking. In the off-season, the outdoor pools are closed, and the indoor facilities are open to the general public for a $10 fee.
Buy
edit- 1 Sunriver Village. The Village at Sunriver is the main retail center at the resort, with over 25 shops and restaurants to peruse, including a grocery store.
- 2 Sunriver Marketplace, 18160 Cottonwood Rd., ☏ +1 541-593-8166. 10AM-7PM. The Marketplace is a small grocery located at the north end of the resort near the Cottonwood entrance. A gas station is located adjacent to the market.
- 3 Sunriver Business Park. The Sunriver Business Park is located adjacent to the resort. Some retail is located here, but it is the main place to find other necessities such as the library, the post office, a hardware store, and auto repair services.
Eat
edit- Carson's American Kitchen. Located in the Sunriver lodge, the Meadows restaurant offers "Oregon First" indigenous cuisine. There is a great view of Mt. Bachelor through huge windows in the restaurant. Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and special Sunday brunches.
- Blondie's Pizza, ☏ +1 541-593-1019. Defintely the best pizza place in Sunriver, and one of the best in Central Oregon. They also serve salads, sandwiches, pasta and espresso drinks.
Drink
edit- The Mountain Jug, 56805 Venture Ln, Suite C, ☏ +1 541-390-0214. 12 rotating taps of microbrews from Central Oregon, classic music on a record player, and a large patio.
- Twisted River Tavern. Located at the resort lodge.
Sleep
editVisitors can stay right at the Sunriver Resort facilities, or you can rent private vacation homes (both at the resort, and nearby) which are available via AirBnB, management agencies, and private listings.
- 1 Sunriver Resort, 17600 Abott Dr, ☏ +1-800-801-8765. Sunriver features lodging, meeting and wedding facilities, golf, spa, ski packages, and recreation.
Go next
edit- Bend, which is 20 minutes north on US-97, is a city that offers plenty of dining and recreational opportunities. The city article for Bend also includes information about regional attractions, all of which can be reached just as easily from Sunriver.
- La Pine
| Routes through Sunriver |
| Yakima ← Bend ← | N  S |
→ La Pine → Klamath Falls |