Travel to Visit Tumalo, Oregon
Ancient forests of juniper, the bubbling Deschutes River, and sweeping mountain peaks—you're never far from epic views around Tumalo (but not the falls). The next time you're in the area, here are a few reasons to make time for Tumalo and its wide range of fun attractions.
Things To Do In Tumalo
Best Time to Visit Tumalo, Oregon
Sitting where the Deschutes River meets the Central Oregon high desert, the community of Tumalo sees enjoyable weather all year long. No matter the season, clear skies allow views of the nearby Three Sisters most days. Here’s what to expect in Tumalo.
Spring
Daytime highs range from 55º in March to 75º in June, with cool mornings giving way to crisp afternoons. Take full advantage by paddling the Deschutes River, fishing for trout, or hiking around the sun-kissed Tumalo State Park day-use area.
Summer
High temperatures around Tumalo typically range from 75º to 85º all summer long, buoyed by cool mornings and breezy afternoons. When the weather warms up, floating the Deschutes River is a local tradition. After a fun day outdoors, cozy up around the campfire at Tumalo State Park.
Fall
You'll enjoy a few extra weeks of summer around Tumalo, where high temperatures may still reach 75º well into September (and possibly early October). Savor the season by kicking back at a local restaurant or noshing on creative fare from The Bite food cart pod.
Winter
High temperatures range from 45º to 55º in March, bringing a pleasant briskness to Tumalo. It's the perfect time to head indoors to try the latest releases from Tumalo's cider makers or creative offerings from Crater Lake Spirits.
About Tumalo
Just 15 minutes from Bend, you'll enjoy a little of everything that makes Central Oregon great in the community of Tumalo (a community of about 500). Love the outdoors? Enjoy an easy hike, try fly fishing, or float the lazy Deschutes River. If you're a fan of craft beverages, sample local favorites at two cider makers and an award-winning distillery. And if you're hungry, you'll find a bustling food cart pod and filling restaurants—all surrounded by bucolic farmland and high-desert hillsides.
Stay in Tumalo
A few minutes south of town, the well-maintained Tumalo State Park hosts 77 tent and full-hookup sites, along with seven yurts, near the shores of the Deschutes River; amenities include flush toilets and hot showers. Nearby, you'll find hotels, motels, and even a hostel 15 minutes away in Bend—and clean motels, opulent lodges, and scenic campgrounds 20 minutes away in Sisters.
Dine in Tumalo
Tumalo is home to a handful of family-friendly restaurants popular with locals and travelers alike. Tumalo Feed Co. Steakhouse, for instance, has been serving filling steak and seafood dishes since 1991—and pairs its meat-forward menu with live music on the restaurant's patio. Pisano's Woodfired Pizza, meanwhile, serves a wide range of artisan pizzas made with fresh, local ingredients whenever possible. And if you're feeling indecisive, Tumalo is also home to The Bite—a food truck pod comprising five carts that dish tacos, pizza, sushi, American comfort food, and Thai cuisine; a partially covered outdoor space invites diners to sample their way through the pod’s many offerings, occasional live music adds to the atmosphere, and several taps pour some of Central Oregon’s best-loved beers and ciders.
Sip in Tumalo
Tumalo is home to a few watering holes that boast friendly atmospheres, extensive drink selections, enjoyable diversions, and more. Tumalo Tavern, for instance, offers plenty of natural light (and not just Natural Light) to go along with local beers and wines, pool tables, karaoke, and wood-fired pizza.
The town is also home to one cider maker—and it just happens to be one of Central Oregon's best. Tumalo Cider Co launched in 2014 and, since then, has made a name for itself crafting crisp, dry ciders that bypass sweeter flavors for a more balanced approach. Popular offerings include huckleberry lemon, raspberry, and pomegranate pear.
Things to Do in Tumalo, OR
Enjoy the Sights
Just south of town sits one of Central Oregon’s most popular parks. Discover Tumalo State Park for pleasant camping (the park hosts 77 sites and seven yurts, with showers and flush toilets throughout the campground) alongside a day-use area next to the Deschutes River—where anglers can fish for brown and rainbow trout, paddlers can put in and take out, hikers can access the 12-mile Deschutes River Trail, and picnickers can relax in a forest of juniper and ponderosa pine.
Float the Deschutes
Most floaters around Central Oregon put their tubes and rafts in the Deschutes River around Bend—but a quiet stretch around Tumalo offers the opportunity to spend a lazy summer day away from the biggest crowds, all surrounded by grasslands and peaceful forests of ponderosa pine. Would-be floaters can walk the Deschutes River Trail to find a good put-in spot along the slow, shallow stretch of river near Tumalo State Park—or put in at the park and float through the heart of town, up to an hour away. Interested in more? Learn about other floating spots in the region.
Sample Local Spirits
Just about two miles west of Tumalo, the Crater Lake Spirits tasting room pairs its award-winning, small-batch spirits with views of nearby Cascade peaks. The distillery has been going strong since 1996 and, today, produces a wide range of whiskeys, flavored vodkas, and gins (with wild juniper berries picked in Central Oregon). Looming to the west are the snow-covered Three Sisters. And if you're curious about the craft spirits scene around the region, learn more about distilleries in Central Oregon.
