When it comes to family travel, I think you’ll agree: Farther does not always equal better. That’s one reason why my family often sticks close to our home outside of Portland, Oregon. So when we had a rare weekend free of any plans, I set my sites on Central Oregon! But I had our dog, Finn, to bring along, too—which is why we needed a pet friendly hotel in Bend, Oregon.

I worked with Visit Bend for some suggestions on fun family things to do in Central Oregon, and they connected me with the Riverhouse on the Deschutes. This dog friendly hotel in Bend, Oregon was just what we needed, and they were gracious enough to provide a room for us for two nights.

As always, all opinions are my own. But truly, I wanted to share this pet friendly hotel in Bend with y’all because I know how hard it can be to find dog friendly lodging. I was beyond pleased with the Riverhouse—and much more importantly, so was Finn!

For a full review of the Riverhouse on the Deschutes, a pet friendly hotel in Bend, Oregon, read on. I’ll share info on accommodations, the property, dog friendly details plus a few tips on visiting Bend with dogs! The best part? Riverhouse on the Deschutes is offering a 15% discount on all bookings exclusive to To and Fro Fam readers using this link!

My favorite pet friendly hotel in Bend, Oregon

All you readers who travel with pets, raise your hand! (Your furry friends can raise a paw, too.) This Bend, Oregon hotel review is for you.

Pet friendly lodging in Bend

Some people stay in the Old Mill District when they visit Bend, but to be 100% honest, I often prefer to stay just a little outside of the main downtown areas of a town. Why? Because it’s quieter, which is a better environment for me, my kids and my dog, who gets anxious with weird outside noises.

So we wanted a Bend hotel outside of the core commercial district. Riverhouse on the Deschutes is a 5-minute drive or a 15-minute bus ride from downtown Bend, making it super convenient to the town’s restaurants and fun things to do, but far enough for peace and quiet.

Finn and my girls were so excited when we arrived! They both got to work exploring our ground-level, river-facing room. I was thrilled that this pet friendly hotel room had enough space for me, my two kids and our medium sized dog. (All you parents out there totally understand a more spacious hotel room totally helps when you’re sharing it with kids.)

The pet friendly room had all the amenities we needed:

• mini fridge – crucial for us, since we travel with perishable snacks for my kids and wet dog food for my pup, who’s allergic to just about everything
• TV – the girls felt so spoiled that I allowed them to watch Nick Jr! (We don’t have a TV at home)
• a sink outside the main bathroom – having a place where someone can brush their teeth or get water while another person is showering or using the toilet is so handy for families

One of my dog’s favorite parts of this pet friendly hotel in Bend: The enormous glass sliding door! He loved sitting on his dog bed and watching everything outside. Ok, he maybe didn’t love seeing the squirrels skitter by—so close yet so impossible to catch them!

Walking your dog at the Riverhouse

Since we were on the ground floor with a huge sliding glass door, it was beyond easy for my girls and I to take Finn on walks. All we had to do was step outside and we were on a well maintained trail directly next to the Deschutes River.

Finn practically dragged me along, sniffing from one spot to the next. He and my girls scrambled down a little side trail that led to huge rocks right on the edge of the river. With its wildflowers and rushing water, I felt as if we were in our own little patch of the great outdoors, not mere feet away from a hotel.

When we walked Finn here at night, we watched for bats swooping overhead. They were eating bugs that like to hang out around the river. I have to say thank you, bats, because I didn’t get a single mosquito bite!

Throughout the Riverhouse on the Deschutes property, dog waste bag stations were never far away. That way, if I didn’t bring enough bags from my room, I could still clean up after Finn. Also, side note: Everyone must have followed the same courtesy, because during our weekend at the Riverhouse I never saw a single pile of dog waste.

Bonuses for this dog friendly hotel in Bend, Oregon

When we checked in at the Riverhouse on the Deschutes, one of the front desk staff slipped away and came back with a whole goodie package for Finn! It included a dog food bowl, treats and even a brand-new toy. Finn is about 11 years old (roughly, since we don’t know exactly how old he was when we adopted him), but I swear that toy brought out his inner puppy. The girls took turns throwing the toy for him and he zipped back and forth, all over the room!

I was also grateful that this pet friendly hotel in Bend provided a door hanger to show a dog was inside our room. I’d hate for someone in housekeeping to go in the room not knowing a dog was inside.

I also learned that dogs are allowed on the restaurant deck. We didn’t have a chance to eat at Currents, the Riverhouse restaurant, but it has a ton of outdoor seating overlooking the Deschutes River. Dogs are totally allowed to join your meal—just one more perk of staying at a pet friendly hotel in Bend, Oregon.

Logistics for staying at the Riverhouse on the Deschutes

Pets are welcome at many of the Riverhouse rooms. (For those of you without pets, or who are allergic to animal hair, request to stay in one of the wings that doesn’t allow animals.) You’ll pay an extra $25 per night if you bring your pet and remember to book your stay using the To and Fro Fam link to qualify for a 15% discount!

Next time I’ll totally splurge for the Riverhouse’s one-bedroom suites. These rooms have a separate bedroom with a door that closes from the rest of the living space. That would have been nice, but I ended up hanging out in the bathroom when my kids were sleeping and I was awake. (Parents, how many of you have done that, too?)

My bottom line: I would 100% recommend this pet friendly hotel in Bend, Oregon to anyone traveling with a dog (or cat, or bunny, or ferret… ?). We’ll definitely book our lodging here the next time we stay in Central Oregon.

Hotel bed flip from Catherine Ryan Gregory on Vimeo.

Tips to visit Bend, Oregon with dogs

Bend, Oregon loves dogs—in fact, it was named DogTown USA as the most dog friendly city in America by Dog Fancy back in 2012. It’s full of off-leash dog parks, but my favorite is the Riverbend Dog Park. There, your pup can jump into the Deschutes River to cool off or chase a stick.

Here’s a full list of off-leash dog parks in Bend, Oregon.

Whenever you’re outside with your pup—especially in hot weather—make sure to bring water for him or her, too. Dogs can get dehydrated and overheated just like humans, so make sure to offer water often. That’s what we did when we hiked in Tumalo State Park, thanks to a Bend Pet Express collapsible bowl my friends at Visit Bend left us. (Maxine actually used it more than Finn, since my dog just drank out of the river!)

If you visit Bend in the summer, walk your dog in the morning and evening. During the heat of the day, pavements can get super hot. Think of it: Your dog doesn’t wear shoes, and the sidewalk could be uncomfortable under his paws! If the street feels hot to your hand, it’s definitely hot to his paws.

And most of Bend’s restaurants with patios or outdoor areas—including many of the breweries on the Bend Ale Trail—welcome on-leash pooches.

I’m curious: Do you travel with your dog? What do you look for in pet friendly hotels or destinations to bring your dog?