Oregon Outback: volcanoes and high desert
From Bend past lava flows and a tuff-ring fortress into the empty basins of southern Oregon, ending in Lakeview.
- Distance
- 299 km (186 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 19 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 7
- States
- OR
- Updated
- June 5, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 299 km (186 mi) with 7 stops, from Bend to Lakeview. About 3 h 19 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Oregon · More road trips from Bend
Route description
South of Bend, US-97 runs through pine forest and young lava flows. At Lava Lands you can look into a cinder cone’s crater and walk a short trail over black lava, a good introduction to the volcanic country ahead.
Near La Pine, OR-31 turns southeast into the high desert. A short detour leads to Fort Rock, a ring of volcanic rock rising from the sagebrush where ancient sandals were found in a nearby cave. Further east, gravel roads beyond Christmas Valley reach Crack-in-the-Ground, a narrow fissure you can walk through.
Back on OR-31, the road drops beneath the Winter Ridge escarpment to Summer Lake, where marshes draw huge numbers of birds in spring and fall. Paisley, a tiny ranching town, is close to caves with some of the oldest evidence of people in North America.
The route ends in Lakeview, which calls itself the tallest town in Oregon and is known for hang gliding. Distances are long and services few, so fill up in La Pine and Paisley; in summer the days are hot and the nights cold.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Bend
OR - 219 km
Lava Butte and Lava Lands
NatureBend, ORA cinder cone in Newberry National Volcanic Monument with a road to the crater rim and short trails across a young lava flow. Summer access to the top is often by shuttle.
- 378 km
Fort Rock
NatureFort Rock, ORA ring of volcanic tuff rising from the sagebrush like a ruined fortress. Sandals found in a nearby cave are some 9,000 years old.
- 439 km
Crack-in-the-Ground
OdditiesChristmas Valley, ORA volcanic fissure about two miles long and up to 70 feet deep that you can walk through. It stays cool inside even in summer; the access road is gravel.
- 551 km
Summer Lake Wildlife Area
NatureSummer Lake, ORMarshes and a shallow alkali lake below the Winter Ridge escarpment, full of migrating birds in spring and fall. A gravel tour route leaves from the headquarters on OR-31.
- 642 km
Paisley
OR - 770 km
Lakeview
OR
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Bend → Fort Rock · 60 mi · 1 h 05 minOn the way: Lava Butte and Lava Lands.Overnight nearby, for example: Rockhorse Park at Horse Ranch (6 mi); Valley View RV Park (16 mi).
- Day 2: Fort Rock → Summer Lake Wildlife Area · 56 mi · 0 h 60 minOn the way: Crack-in-the-Ground.Overnight nearby, for example: Farm Well Horse Camp (11 mi); Currier Springs Horse Camp (16 mi).
- Day 3: Summer Lake Wildlife Area → Lakeview · 70 mi · 1 h 15 minOn the way: Paisley.Overnight nearby, for example: Goose Lake Campground (13 mi); Wild Goose Meadows RV Park (2 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July–August. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Oregon Outback: volcanoes and high desert?
3-day road trip of about 299 km (186 mi) with 7 stops, from Bend to Lakeview. About 3 h 19 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Oregon Outback: volcanoes and high desert?
We suggest 3 days: about 3 h 19 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Oregon Outback: volcanoes and high desert start and end?
It starts in Bend and ends in Lakeview.
Which states does Oregon Outback: volcanoes and high desert pass through?
Oregon.
Where can you camp along Oregon Outback: volcanoes and high desert?
OpenStreetMap lists 83 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Goose Lake Campground, Valley View RV Park and Newberry RV Park.
When is the best time for Oregon Outback: volcanoes and high desert?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
