Day trips from Sunriver for a group: Newberry, the Cascade Lakes, Smith Rock, and Crater Lake

How to plan day trips from Sunriver for a group

Pick one day trip per day, and keep the closest ones for arrival and departure days. Newberry National Volcanic Monument starts 4.9 road miles from Sunriver, at Lava River Cave, and the High Desert Museum is 10.7. Elk Lake on the Cascade Lakes byway is 53 minutes and Smith Rock is 58 minutes, by Rome2rio. Crater Lake is 91.9 miles each way, so it takes the whole day.

Entry at every park on this page is charged per vehicle, not per person. The exceptions are the $5-per-person Lava Butte shuttle and the museum, which posts its own rates. The vehicle fee is $5 at the Newberry sites, $10 or $12 at Smith Rock, and $30 at Crater Lake in summer. A group of 30 in six cars pays six fees; in three vans it pays three. The estate has parking for up to 15 vehicles, so the caravan forms at the house.

Miles, seasons, and passes for each day trip from Sunriver

Road miles and drive times are Rome2rio's figures from Sunriver; the estate is about ten minutes from Sunriver Resort. Every number comes from a page listed in the sources at the end.

Newberry National Volcanic Monument: Lava Lands and Lava Butte

Newberry is the closest day trip and the easiest to do with 30 people. The monument was created in November 1990 inside the Deschutes National Forest and covers more than 54,000 acres. Lava Lands Visitor Center, at its northern end, sits at 58201 S. Highway 97, 6.2 road miles from Sunriver. The center has a picnic area under the pines, ranger talks, and flush toilets, but no drinking water.

Lava Butte rises 500 feet above the visitor center, with a cinder trail around the rim and a working fire lookout on top. From June 13 to September 7, 2026, a shuttle ran to the summit every 20 minutes at $5 per person. Private cars may not drive up on shuttle days. Outside those dates, free timed permits for the butte road are handed out at the welcome station. Vehicles longer than 22 feet cannot go up at any time.

The 5.5-mile Sun-Lava paved path runs from the center past Benham Falls to Sunriver, so part of the group can ride instead of drive. Lava River Cave, a mile-long lava tube at 42 degrees, is 4.9 road miles from Sunriver. Its 2026 season ran May 15 to September 15, Friday through Monday, by timed ticket from Recreation.gov, one per vehicle.

Paulina Peak and the Newberry Caldera: the top of the volcano

Paulina Peak caps a Newberry day, and the road is the thing to plan around. The summit is 7,984 feet, the highest point on Newberry Volcano. On a clear day the view runs from Mt. Shasta in California to Mt. Adams in Washington. From Bend, the Forest Service directions are 23.5 miles south on Highway 97 and 12.9 miles east on County Road 21. The last 4.1 miles are on Forest Road 2100 500.

That last stretch is steep and dusty, rough and narrow in places, and limited to vehicles under 23 feet. Snow often closes driving access until early July, and it closes again in late October or early November. Paulina Lake, inside the caldera, is reached by Highway 97 south and County Road 21 east.

Below the peak, the 17-square-mile caldera holds Paulina Lake, East Lake, Paulina Falls, and the Big Obsidian Flow. The falls drop 80 feet over volcanic cliffs. The Big Obsidian Flow is about 1,300 years old, the youngest lava flow in Oregon, with a one-mile interpretive trail. Posted day-use sites in the caldera charge $5 per vehicle or accept a Forest pass.

Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway: Sparks, Elk, and Hosmer lakes

The Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway is the summer day trip for a group that wants to swim, paddle, and picnic rather than hike. Travel Oregon lists it at 66 miles, from Bend's west side past Mt. Bachelor to OR-58 near Crescent and Odell lakes. Allow 3 to 5 hours of driving. The best months are June through October, and the road closes beyond Mt. Bachelor in winter.

The lakes come in order from the mountain. Sparks Lake, about 250 acres, has a short loop hike near the boat ramp. Elk Lake has cabins, dining, a marina, and boat rentals, and its Beach Picnic Area is a sandy swimming beach. Hosmer Lake has views of Mt. Bachelor and good fishing. About 5 miles farther south, Little Lava Lake is where the Deschutes begins; the same river passes the dock at the house.

From Sunriver, Rome2rio lists Elk Lake at 31.7 road miles and 53 minutes, and Sparks Lake at 26.4 miles and 46 minutes. Bring your own water toys and PFDs; none are provided at the house.

Smith Rock State Park: the day trip north of Bend

Smith Rock is the one day trip that heads north, and it is best started early. Oregon State Parks lists the park near Redmond, open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. The park's own site puts it 3 miles east of Highway 97 from Terrebonne, 30 to 45 minutes from Bend. Rome2rio makes it 42.6 road miles and 58 minutes from Sunriver.

A day-use parking permit is required; buy it on site or online. Oregon State Parks charges $10 per vehicle per day for Oregon residents and $12 for non-residents. The River Trail is a mostly flat 2.5 miles, the Canyon Trail is 1.5 miles, and Misery Ridge has scree and uneven terrain.

Climbers have more than 1,800 routes, and some walls close from about January 15 to August 1 for nesting birds. Dogs stay on leash, campfires are never permitted, and drones are banned. From November 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, construction will close the overflow lot at times.

Crater Lake National Park: the long day from Sunriver

Crater Lake is a full day: 91.9 road miles and about 2 hours 3 minutes each way from Sunriver, by Rome2rio. The lake sits in the collapsed shell of Mount Mazama. At 1,943 feet, it is the deepest in the United States. The 33-mile Rim Drive circles it with 30 overlooks.

Season is the catch. The park averages 41 feet of snow a year. The North Entrance, on Highway 138, closes November 1 or with the first big storm and reopens between mid-May and late June. Rim Drive has no set reopening date; the roads are usually ready by mid-July. The Highway 62 entrances stay open all year, with chains or traction tires required on all vehicles in winter. From Sunriver, drive south on Highway 97, then take Highway 138 when the North Entrance is open or Highway 62 when it is not.

Entry is $30 per private vehicle from May 22 to October 31 and $20 from November 1 to May 21, good for seven days. The park does not take cash, and an $80 America the Beautiful pass covers it. The Cleetwood Cove Trail, the only legal way to the shore, closed in 2026 for a three-summer rehabilitation. There are no public boat tours through 2028. The trip is the rim, the overlooks, and the lodge, which is open May 15 to October 13 in 2026.

High Desert Museum: the easy day near Sunriver

The High Desert Museum is the day trip for a mixed group with small children and grandparents. It sits at 59800 S. Highway 97, south of Bend, 10.7 road miles and 17 minutes from Sunriver, by Rome2rio. The museum has 135 wooded acres and more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space. Outside are river otters, a porcupine, desert tortoises, and birds of prey, with a daily raptor flight program in summer.

Inside, a desertarium holds living desert animals, and exhibits cover the people and history of the High Desert. The museum is open daily except Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas; hours and admission are on its site. The Rimrock Café serves salads, sandwiches, and snacks. A family plan for the rest of the week is in Sunriver with kids.

Bend: the Old Mill District, the Ale Trail, and the river float

Bend is the day trip for the group that wants a town. It is 17.4 road miles and 25 minutes from Sunriver, and about 30 minutes from the estate. The Deschutes runs through the middle, and the city built Oregon's first urban whitewater park on it. The Old Mill District has more than 55 restaurants and shops along the river, with paved paths on both banks.

Travel Oregon counts more than two dozen breweries inside the city limits, and the Bend Ale Trail passport links about 30 stops. In summer, each short float takes about 45 minutes on the water: Riverbend Park to McKay Park, or McKay Park to Drake Park. The full Riverbend-to-Drake run is 120 to 140 minutes, including the mile walk back. The 2026 Park and Float season ran June 13 through Labor Day, with a $5 shuttle back.

The grocery run for 30 happens in Bend too: Costco, Trader Joe's, Fred Meyer, Whole Foods, WinCo, and Newport Avenue Market are all there. Sunriver vs Bend compares the two places.

Caravans, parking, and passes for a group leaving Sunriver

Three rules make a 30-person day trip work: fewer cars, one pass per car, and a departure time rather than a meeting place. Every entry fee above is per vehicle, so two vans at Crater Lake pay less than six cars. The house has parking for up to 15 vehicles, with room for vans and trailers, so the caravan forms in the driveway. Drive slowly on Chief Paulina Drive, a shared dirt road with families and pets.

Vehicle length matters at two stops. Lava Butte's road is closed to vehicles longer than 22 feet, and Paulina Peak's to vehicles 23 feet and longer.

One Forest pass covers the whole of Newberry. A $5 Forest day pass or a $30 annual Northwest Forest Pass covers Lava Lands, Lava Butte, Paulina Peak, and the caldera day-use sites. An $80 Interagency Annual Pass, the America the Beautiful pass, covers all of those plus Crater Lake. None of these covers Smith Rock, a state park with its own $10 or $12 daily permit. Forest passes are sold at the Lava Lands welcome station, at Forest Service offices, through local vendors, and on Recreation.gov.

Water and fuel are the last piece. Lava Lands, Paulina Peak, and Paulina Falls have no drinking water, and the Big Obsidian Flow has only a vault toilet and picnic tables. The nearest gas outside Crater Lake is 29 to 30 miles from the south fee booth, so fill up in Sunriver or Bend. Arrival details for a convoy are in getting to Sunriver.

Winter day trips from Sunriver and Bend

In winter, the list shrinks to Mt. Bachelor, the High Desert Museum, Smith Rock, Bend, and the lower end of Newberry. Mt. Bachelor is the largest ski resort in Oregon by area, about 30 minutes from the estate. Its season usually runs mid-November through the end of May, weather permitting, and opening day this winter is scheduled for December 4, 2026.

The Cascade Lakes Highway closes beyond the mountain, and Deschutes County usually starts clearing it in late March or early April. Paulina Peak's road is closed by snow until about early July. Crater Lake stays open all year, at $20 per vehicle in winter. Winter access is through the Highway 62 entrances only, with chains or traction tires required. An Oregon Sno-Park permit is required at designated Sno-Parks from November 1 through April 30. Permits are $4 a day or $25 a year, sold at DMV offices, winter resorts, and sporting-goods stores. Annual permits are also sold online, so you can buy one before the trip.

Snow weekends at the house book up early. The winter plan is on Mt. Bachelor ski trip lodging and winter in Sunriver and Bend.

Where to eat on a day trip from Sunriver

Pack lunch for Newberry and Smith Rock, and plan a sit-down meal on the other trips. Lava Lands has a picnic area under the pines but no water. In the caldera, Paulina Lake Lodge runs a restaurant and a store. In fall 2026, the restaurant was closed Monday through Wednesday, with the cabins closing for the season at noon on October 12. The lodge is under new ownership, so check hours before you go. On the byway, Elk Lake has dining and a marina.

The High Desert Museum's Rimrock Café serves salads, sandwiches, and snacks, and Bend's Old Mill District has more than 55 restaurants and shops. Back near the house, the places in where to eat near Sunriver handle dinner for a big table. Make reservations for larger groups, especially on summer weekends.

Where to stay near Sunriver for a week of day trips

Stay at Deschutes Riverfront Retreat, an 11-bedroom, 6-bath estate near Sunriver that sleeps up to 30, with a maximum of 24 adults. It sits in the Three Rivers area, about ten minutes from Sunriver Resort and about 30 minutes from Bend and Mt. Bachelor. Every trip on this page starts from its driveway, with parking for up to 15 vehicles and room for vans and trailers.

The six-bedroom Lodge sleeps up to 18 and can be booked on its own; the five-bedroom Cottage comes only with the full estate. Both sit side by side on three acres with 450 feet of private Deschutes River frontage and a private dock. A 12-foot dining table inside and four 8-foot picnic tables outside handle the debrief. A mudroom with a built-in bench and coat hooks takes the boots and packs.

Rest days need no driving: the 6-hole disc golf course, bocce, ping pong, the covered hot tub, and the river are on the property. Check-in is after 4 PM, check-out is before 11 AM, and quiet hours run 9 PM to 8 AM. The renter must be 30 or older, and occupancy limits are enforced because the home is on well and septic.

Airbnb guests rate the estate 4.99 out of 5 across 68 reviews, 49 of them from group trips. Booking direct on this site saves the service fees that Airbnb and VRBO charge. The live calendar on Book Now shows the current rate. For reunions, see family reunion house near Sunriver; the bed-by-bed plan is on large group rentals near Sunriver. Floor plans and the 3D tour of both buildings are on the whole estate page.

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What groups said about exploring from the house

“Our family enjoyed being together, floating the River, playing golf, games relaxing and seeing the sights nearby. Thanks to Scott for the opportunity! It all went well. Cheers”

“We had a great time. The house is right on the river. Plenty of hikes nearby. Scott was a great communicator as well. We’d definitely stay again.”

“Scott was an awesome host and his place was perfect. 10/10 would recommend for bigger groups looking to explore Sunriver/Bend. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.”

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Related

• Things to do in Sunriver
• Getting to Sunriver
• Large group rentals near Sunriver
• The whole estate: rooms, beds and floor plans