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Trip from Barlow, OR to Gladstone, OR

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

23m

Distance

12.7 mi

20 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 6 min
4 AM
0h 21m ★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Barlow, OR, OR

Barlow, OR

Helena Jankovičová Kováčová

Downtown Gladstone, OR, OR

Gladstone, OR

Marcus Ireland

Trip Overview

This short 12.7-mile drive from Barlow, OR to Gladstone, OR takes approximately 23 minutes and is ideal as a single-day trip. You'll spend about 41% of your time on highways, navigating through the Pacific Coast region in both locations. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $3, making it an economical option for a quick excursion. The mixed nature of the drive means you'll experience varied road conditions, keeping things interesting for the relatively brief travel time. This route is perfectly suited for a spontaneous outing or a short leg of a larger adventure.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

6.4 miles from Barlow, OR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive offers a mixed experience, blending highway speeds with local road navigation. You'll encounter South Highway 99E and McLoughlin Boulevard as your primary arteries, with South McLoughlin Boulevard also playing a role. With 41% of the journey on highways, expect some stretches of faster travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.2 miles on South Highway 99E. This route's character shifts as you progress, moving from more highway-oriented sections to those with more local traffic and intersections.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Highway 99E is the longest continuous segment at about 5.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Barlow Road.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 12.7 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Barlow Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (OR 99E / Southwest Pacific Highway East): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 10.8 miles (Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Barlow Road

Turn left onto South Barlow Road

Navigation decision point

5
0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | OR 99E / Southwest Pacific Highway East

Turn sharp left onto OR 99E / Southwest Pacific Highway East

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

6
10.8 mi into trip | ~18m in | Main Street

Turn right onto Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
6
11.2 mi into trip | ~19m in | 14th Street

Turn left onto 14th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
5
11.2 mi into trip | ~19m in | OR 99E / McLoughlin Boulevard

Turn right onto OR 99E / McLoughlin Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Highway 99E 5.2 mi 7m
South McLoughlin Boulevard 2.4 mi 4m
McLoughlin Boulevard 1.1 mi 2m
Southeast 1st Avenue 0.9 mi 2m
Southwest Pacific Highway East 0.9 mi 1m
Southwest 1st Avenue 0.9 mi 1m
West Dartmouth Street 0.4 mi 1m
Main Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: South Highway 99E — 5.2 mi, about 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Barlow, OR and Gladstone, OR.

1

Start on East 1st Street

522 ft · 28 sec · East 1st Street
2

Turn left onto South Barlow Road

0.2 mi · 27 sec · South Barlow Road
3

Turn sharp left onto OR 99E

0.9 mi · 1 min · Southwest Pacific Highway East
4

Continue on OR 99E

0.9 mi · 1 min · Southwest 1st Avenue
Use the left lane.
5

Continue on OR 99E

0.9 mi · 2 min · Southeast 1st Avenue
6

Continue on OR 99E

5.2 mi · 7 min · South Highway 99E
7

Continue on OR 99E

2.4 mi · 4 min · South McLoughlin Boulevard
8

Turn right onto Railroad Avenue

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Railroad Avenue
9

Turn right onto Main Street

0.3 mi · 54 sec · Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
10

Turn left onto 14th Street

168 ft · 7 sec · 14th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
11

Turn right onto OR 99E

1.1 mi · 2 min · McLoughlin Boulevard
Use the right lane.
12

Turn right onto West Dartmouth Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · West Dartmouth Street
13

Turn left onto Portland Avenue

163 ft · 7 sec · Portland Avenue
14

Arrive at destination

Portland Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the short 23-minute duration and 12.7-mile distance, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You likely won't need extensive stops, but if you do, consider breaking up the 5.2-mile stretch on South Highway 99E. Departing mid-morning or early afternoon should help you avoid the most intense local traffic. With a fuel cost of only $3, you can be confident in your budget for this short hop. The primary tip for this route is to be aware of the transitions between highway speeds and the more stop-and-go conditions typical of McLoughlin Boulevard as you approach Gladstone.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 6.4 miles from Barlow, OR, or about 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.2 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 12.7 miles or 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 6.4 miles or 11m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gladstone, OR than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Barlow, OR.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Barlow, OR

This is one driving day of about 12.7 miles and 23m.

At 12.7 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on South Highway 99E for about 5.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 6.4 mi from Barlow, OR · 11m into the drive

Pacing Suggestions

Oregon City, OR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Oregon City, OR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 6.4 miles from Barlow, OR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Gladstone, OR

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Gladstone, OR if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.53 one way

$5.06 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $2.68 $5.36
premium $5.59 $2.80 $5.59
diesel $5.61 $2.80 $5.61

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$28–$53

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.8 0 $1.33 $0.61
Efficient EV 3.2 0 $1.11 $0.51
EV Truck/SUV 5.1 0 $1.78 $0.81

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026

Origin

Barlow, OR

Afternoon in Barlow on Wednesday

Local time

2:52 PM

PDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gladstone, OR

Afternoon in Gladstone on Wednesday

Local time

2:52 PM

PDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

17 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

23m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Barlow, OR to Gladstone, OR covers 12.7 miles and takes about 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Highway 99E, South McLoughlin Boulevard, McLoughlin Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.4 miles from Barlow, OR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.53 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 12.7 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Barlow Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (OR 99E / Southwest Pacific Highway East): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 10.8 miles (Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Barlow, OR to Gladstone, OR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Gladstone, OR to Barlow, OR

Plan the drive back the other way.

12.7 mi 23m

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