Central Oregon, and the city of Bend have held a special place in my heart since I was a child. I remember driving from the San Francisco Bay Area to Bend and staying in a retro-looking hotel near the Deschutes River. My husband and I recently stayed at Campfire Hotel in Bend, Oregon. It felt like old times, but with a hip vibe. If you like to gather round the campfire or splash in an outdoor pool, read on for my Campfire Hotel review.
Surrounded by pine trees and offering views of the Three Sisters mountain range, Campfire Hotel is Bend, Oregon’s answer to camping without the hassle. Located off Highway 97, you don’t have to drive far to visit downtown Bend or Mount Bachelor Ski Resort. Only 14 miles from the Deschutes National Forest, Campfire Hotel is an excellent base camp for the adventure seeker. It’s priced affordably for the folks passing through and it’s a great place to rendez vous with kindred spirits.
Gather Round Campfire Hotel in Bend
We felt welcome at the Campfire Hotel upon arrival. Our dog walked into the hotel lobby and was greeted warmly by the front desk receptionist. We arrived early and were provided with a list of local dog parks and told they would call when our room was ready. Sure enough, we got the call a little before the 4 p.m. check in time.
Our room, a Fire Lookout king, was pet-friendly and was listed from $150 – $170 plus tax per night. I liked the waterfall shower head over the bath tub, as well as the Beekman bath amenities. Hotel rates fluctuate depending on time of year and occupancy. Prices range from $109 a night to $419 with several different room categories. From suites to bunk beds, there’s room for all types of happy campers.
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Campfire Vibes and Activities
After a day of adventuring in and around the Deschutes National Forest you might like to chill in the hot tub. Perhaps you’ll take a dip in the 900 square foot, heated swimming pool? The hotel also has cruiser bikes for rent, as well as inflatable tubes for river floats. If that sounds like too much work, raise your hand if you are in need of a local beer.
What’s different about Campfire Hotel compared to a chain hotel? Each room is individually decorated with camp-style furniture. There’s a retro radio bedside and a gorgeous acoustic guitar hanging on the wall, waiting to be played. Campfire Hotel has partnered with Breedlove Guitars (made in Bend) to offer guests the opportunity to sing and strum around the campfire.
A gas fire pit, surrounded with chairs, beckons guests to get to know one another. Indeed, I met a Bend local who was staying at the Campfire Hotel to see if she should recommend it for visiting friends. She said the highlight of her stay was chatting with fellow guests around the campfire!
If you are traveling with kids, you’ll want to purchase a s’mores kit in the Camp Store before you head to the fire pit. I confess, that we were not traveling with our children and I still insisted on making s’mores by the campfire. It’s part of my vacation ritual winter, spring, summer or fall. So is checking out the local food and craft cocktail scene.
We didn’t have to go far to discover the bar scene at Canteen. New to the Campfire Hotel in Bend, this hipster bar and light bites menu is sure to be a hit with the locals and guests. We stopped at the sister property, Dogwood Cocktail Cabin in downtown Bend to sample a few libations and the wagyu sliders. We look forward to diving into the Canteen menu on our next visit to Bend.
I’m pleased to say that there were no hidden fees for WiFi, free parking or complimentary locally brewed coffee. On our stay there was no in-room coffee service, nor microwave oven. We did have a mini-fridge in our room, as well as a desk, table, chairs and flat screen tv. Coffee was available in the hotel lobby, as was a grab-and-go breakfast menu, including a tasty breakfast burrito. There were two ice machines on property, one in the North Building and one in the South Building. There was an additional nightly pet fee to bring Fido. You can book your stay directly at the hotel website, or compare rates and make a reservation at Hotels.com.
Thanks to Campfire Hotel for hosting our stay. As always, all opinions expressed are my own. All photo credits: Oregon-based travel writer Nancy D. Brown
