Getting from Portland to Bend
Portland , also known as the “City of Roses” , is one of the greenest cities in the entire world. It is known its scenic beauty , microbreweries and lively music scene, along with the excellent food and variety of ways to enjoy the nature.
Bend is located between the Cascade and Maury mountains and is a well known travel destination year round. It is an excellent vacation destination for those who enjoy walking, hiking, cycling, and generally spending time in nature. The city is best enjoyed on bicycle, thanks to the many lanes and walking paths available.
Quick summary
The fastest way to travel between Portland and Bend is by plane (40 minutes). But it’s cheaper (from $55* one way) to travel by bus.
Flights from Portland (airport code: PDX) to Bend
Portland is served by Portland International Airport (PDX), the largest airport in Oregon. It is located within the city’s city limits and has direct connections with Europe, other countries in North America, Asia , as well as domestic connections to major hubs in the USA. The airport is hub for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air.
Bend is served by Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) , located about 15 minutes from the city of Bend. A variety of low cost carriers operate on the airport. Flights to/from Portland are run by Alaska Airlines and United Express. The flight time is 40 minutes. Regardless of when you fly in 2012, expect to pay from $80 per person one way on Delta or United.
>>read more about Airfare to Portland
Trains and buses from Portland to Bend
There isn’t a direct train service from Portland to Bend, but it’s possible to travel by train and bus:
- Portland to Chemult by train : Coast Starlight leaves Portland daily at 2:25 p.m. and arrives in Chemult after 5 h 43 min.
- Chemult to Bend by bus: buses depart Chemult at 8:10 p.m. and arrive in Bend after 1h 35min.
The ticket (train and bus) costs $86 per person, one way.
On the way back, catch the bus in Bend at 10:55 a.m., change to another bus in Albany at 3:40 p.m. and arrive in Portland at 5:25 p.m. The total travel time is 6 h 30 min and the ticket costs $55 per person, one way.
Greyhound also offers bus connections between Portland and Bend, but with a stop in Salem. The bus leaves Portland at 6:30 a.m and arrives in Bend after 4h 10 min. The advanced purchase fare is $63.00 one way and the web only fare is $62.10 one way. On the way, catch the bus in Bend at 10:55 a.m. or 3 p.m. The travel time is 4 h 30 min or 6 h. The same fares apply.
Driving from Portland to Bend
You can rent a car in Portland and drive the 162 miles to Bend. The drive time is about 3 ½ h. There are three possible routes but the shortest is via US-26 E and US-97 S. The same travel time (but longer distance) can be obtained via I-5 S, OR-22 E and US-20 E.
Note: * at the time the article was written