This 96.5-mile drive from Brownsville, OR to Hillsboro, OR is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 4 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, with a significant portion on I-5. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $19. Given its manageable length and highway-focused profile, it's perfect for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, so you'll be staying within a familiar geographic and climatic zone for this Oregonian drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.2 miles from Brownsville, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
69.3 mi
1h 21m
Southwest Hillsboro Highway
9.5 mi
12m
Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road
4.8 mi
7m
Halsey-Sweet Home Highway
3.2 mi
4m
Southwest Tualatin Sherwood Road
1.9 mi
3m
Southwest 124th Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
Southwest Roy Rogers Road
1.3 mi
2m
Southwest Scholls Ferry Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 69.3 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brownsville, OR and Hillsboro, OR.
1
Start on Park Avenue
100 ft·6 sec·Park Avenue
2
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.4 mi·49 sec·North Main Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto OR 228
0.4 mi·39 sec·West Bishop Way
4
Continue on OR 228
3.2 mi·4 min·Halsey-Sweet Home Highway
5
Continue on OR 228
0.2 mi·16 sec·Highway 228
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·26 sec
7
Merge onto I 5
69 mi·1 hr 20 min·I 5
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit onto I 5
0.3 mi·27 sec·I 5
Exit 286Toward Elligsen Road, Boones Ferry RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
158 ft·9 sec·I 5
Toward Boones Ferry RoadUse the left lane.
10
Turn left onto Southwest Elligsen Road
0.2 mi·27 sec·Southwest Elligsen Road
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on Southwest Boones Ferry Road
0.3 mi·43 sec·Southwest Boones Ferry Road
12
Turn left onto Southwest Day Street
0.6 mi·54 sec·Southwest Day Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto Southwest Grahams Ferry Road
0.4 mi·48 sec·Southwest Grahams Ferry Road
14
Turn left onto Basalt Creek Parkway
0.7 mi·1 min·Basalt Creek Parkway
15
Continue on Southwest 124th Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·Southwest 124th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Southwest Tualatin Sherwood Road
1.9 mi·3 min·Southwest Tualatin Sherwood Road
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on Southwest Roy Rogers Road
1.3 mi·2 min·Southwest Roy Rogers Road
18
Turn left onto Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road
0.5 mi·47 sec·Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road
19
Keep slight right at fork onto Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road
4.3 mi·6 min·Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road
20
At end of road, turn left onto OR 210
0.7 mi·1 min·Southwest Scholls Ferry Road
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto OR 219
1.8 mi·2 min·Southwest Hillsboro Highway
22
Continue on OR 219
7.7 mi·10 min·Southwest Hillsboro Highway
23
Continue on OR 219
0.7 mi·2 min·South 1st Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
North 1st Avenue
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 2-hour drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits you best. With no specific stops recommended, you can decide on the fly if you need to pull over for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before departing Brownsville, as the longest stretch on I-5 is quite substantial at 69.3 miles. The total fuel cost is estimated at $19, so planning for that is straightforward. A practical tip for this route is to be aware of potential traffic on I-5, particularly during peak commute hours, which could extend your travel time beyond the estimated 2 hours and 4 minutes.
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 48.2 miles from Brownsville, OR, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.3 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.2 miles or 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hillsboro, OR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brownsville, OR so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Brownsville, OR
This is one driving day of about 96.5 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Brownsville, OR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 69.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 73.5 and 85.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
73.5 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|I 5
Take the exit onto I 5 toward Elligsen Road, Boones Ferry Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 286
Toward Elligsen Road, Boones Ferry Road
8
73.8 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 toward Boones Ferry Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward Boones Ferry Road
6
73.8 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|Southwest Elligsen Road
Turn left onto Southwest Elligsen Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
77.5 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|Southwest Tualatin Sherwood Road
Turn left onto Southwest Tualatin Sherwood Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
85.5 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|OR 210 / Southwest Scholls Ferry Road
At end of road, turn left onto OR 210 / Southwest Scholls Ferry Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.22 one way
$38.45 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$20.34
$40.69
premium
$5.59
$21.24
$42.48
diesel
$5.61
$21.31
$42.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.13
$4.63
Efficient EV
24.1
0
$8.44
$3.86
EV Truck/SUV
38.6
0
$13.51
$6.18
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Brownsville, OR
Afternoon
in Brownsville on Saturday
Local time
1:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hillsboro, OR
Afternoon
in Hillsboro on Saturday
Local time
1:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
King City, OR
48 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 4m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the most part, with 73% of the route utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 69.3 miles on I-5, offering a consistent pace. As you transition from I-5 to Southwest Hillsboro Highway and eventually Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road, the character of the drive will shift from interstate travel to more localized roads closer to your destination. This progression offers a change of scenery and pace as you near Hillsboro.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.3 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Southwest Hillsboro Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 73.5 miles in near I 5.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 96.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 73.5 miles (I 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.8 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.8 miles (Southwest Elligsen Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 96.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.3 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Hillsboro, OR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 73.5 miles (I 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.8 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.8 miles (Southwest Elligsen Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hillsboro, OR before heading back.
