Roberts Field

Redmond Municipal Airport — officially Roberts Field — sits on the high desert plateau of central Oregon, 10 miles north of downtown Bend. The airport handles roughly 600,000 passengers annually, connecting central Oregon to hubs like Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Denver. Flights are primarily operated by Alaska Airlines, United, Delta, and Avelo. The terminal is compact but functional, designed to move passengers efficiently without the sprawl of larger airports. What makes Redmond useful is its location: it is the closest commercial airport to popular outdoor destinations such as Smith Rock State Park and the Cascade Lakes, and it provides year-round access to a region that sees heavy tourism in all seasons.

Getting There

Redmond Municipal Airport is located at 2522 SE Jesse Butler Circle in Redmond, Oregon. The airport is accessible from U.S. Highway 97, the main north–south artery through central Oregon. From downtown Redmond, the airport is a 10-minute drive via Airport Way. From Bend, the drive is about 20 minutes north on Highway 97. From Sisters, it is roughly 25 minutes east. From Prineville, about 30 minutes west.

Parking is straightforward. The airport offers both paid and free parking lots. The free lot is a short walk from the terminal, while the paid lot is closer. Daily rates for the paid lot are modest — around $10 per day — and the lot rarely fills, even during peak travel times. Ride-share services like Uber and Lyft operate in the area, and taxis are available by calling local companies. Rental car counters are located inside the terminal, with major agencies including Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise. The airport also has a cell-phone waiting lot for those picking up passengers.

For cyclists, the airport is near the Redmond Cline Falls Highway bike route, but bike parking is limited. If you are cycling to the airport, bring a lock and secure your bike to a signpost or rack near the terminal entrance — there are no dedicated bike lockers.

Inside the Terminal

The terminal at Redmond Municipal Airport is single-story with a straightforward layout. Upon entering, the check-in counters are immediately to the left, with airline kiosks and bag drop areas. Security screening is straight ahead, with a single checkpoint that handles both TSA PreCheck and standard lanes. Wait times at security are generally short — under 15 minutes on most days — but can reach 30 minutes during peak travel windows, such as ski-season Friday afternoons and holiday weekends.

After security, the concourse has a small waiting area with seating, a few shops, and a café. Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal free of charge, though speeds can be slow during peak hours. The airport has a wheelchair-accessible entrance, wheelchair-accessible car park, and wheelchair-accessible toilet. Changing tables are available in both men's and women's restrooms. There is also a family restroom for added privacy.

Gates are numbered 1 through 4, all within a short walk of the security checkpoint. Boarding is done by group call, and passengers line up near the door. The terminal is not airside-secured beyond the gate area; once you leave the secure zone, you must re-clear security to return. The airport does not have a lounge, but the café offers sandwiches, snacks, and beverages. Vending machines are available near the baggage claim area.

Arrival experience is similar: baggage claim is on the ground floor near the rental car counters. The carousel is compact, and luggage typically appears within 15 minutes of landing. The airport is served by year-round flights, though some seasonal routes operate only in summer. Check the airline’s schedule for specific dates.

Redmond Municipal Airport and Redmond

Redmond Municipal Airport is more than just a transit point; it is the front door to a region defined by stark natural beauty and outdoor recreation. Redmond itself is a city of about 35,000 people, historically a railroad and ranching town that has grown into a bedroom community for Bend and a base for high-tech and manufacturing. The airport’s location on the high desert means clear skies and dry air — excellent for aviation and for visitors who come to hike, bike, climb, and ski.

The surrounding area includes Smith Rock State Park, a world-class climbing destination with towering tuff and basalt formations. The park is a 15-minute drive from the airport. To the west, the Cascade Range offers ski resorts like Mount Bachelor (45 minutes away) and endless trails in the Deschutes National Forest. To the east, the volcanic landscapes of Newberry National Volcanic Monument and the high desert of the Oregon Outback stretch for miles.

Redmond itself has a modest downtown with historic buildings, local breweries, and a few restaurants worth visiting. The city’s proximity to Bend (20 minutes south) means that most visitors fly into Redmond and then head to Bend for lodging, dining, and nightlife. Bend is the larger city (about 100,000 residents) with a vibrant downtown, breweries like Deschutes and 10 Barrel, and cultural events year-round. The airport thus serves as the arrival point for one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier outdoor recreation destinations.

Why do people travel here? Ski trips, mountain biking (the area has over 300 miles of singletrack), fly-fishing on the Deschutes and Metolius rivers, camping, climbing at Smith Rock, and attending events like the Oregon Solar Eclipse or the Leslie Gulch hikes. The airport is also used by business travelers visiting companies like Les Schwab Tires, which is headquartered in Bend, and by families visiting Sunriver, a resort community 30 minutes south. The airport’s reliability — few weather cancellations due to the dry climate — makes it a preferred alternative to flying into Portland or Eugene when visiting central Oregon.

In short, Redmond Municipal Airport is the practical and pleasant entry point to a region that attracts visitors for its outdoor activities and small-city charm. It does not pretend to be a destination itself, but it efficiently delivers travelers to one.

Practical Information

Hours: The airport terminal is open daily from approximately 4:00 AM to 12:00 AM. However, the airport is not open 24 hours. If you have a very early departure, confirm your airline’s check-in window because the doors may be locked before 4 AM. The busiest times are weekdays around noon, especially Mondays through Thursdays.

Contact: Phone: +1 541-504-3499. Website: http://www.flyrdm.com/. The website has current flight information, parking rates, and terminal maps.

Parking: Free lot and paid lot are both on-site. The free lot fills occasionally during peak seasons (summer, holidays), so plan an extra 10 minutes if driving yourself. The paid lot has accessible spaces and a clear path to the entrance.

Amenities: Free Wi-Fi (connect to "RDM Free Wi-Fi"), wheelchair accessibility throughout, restrooms with changing tables, vending machines, and a café. No luggage storage or lockers are available. If you need to store bags, look for local storage services in Redmond or Bend.

One concrete tip: While the airport is small and easy to navigate, the café and seating area are limited. If you are on a long layover or have a delayed flight, bring your own snacks and entertainment — the seating near the gates has no power outlets, so charge your devices before leaving the check-in area.