Clatskanie, OR to Gresham, OR is 70.8 miles and takes about 1h 35m via I 5, I 205, and Lower Columbia River Highway, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Oregon, moving from the Pacific Coast region toward the greater Portland metropolitan area. Expect a highway-focused experience for most of the journey, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. It's a practical option if you need to cover ground efficiently between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.4 miles from Clatskanie, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
28.6 mi
30m
I 205
14.7 mi
19m
Lower Columbia River Highway
11.3 mi
16m
Columbia River Highway
4.7 mi
5m
Tennant Way
3.1 mi
4m
Oregon Way
2.6 mi
5m
Northeast 223rd Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
Northeast Fairview Parkway
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 28.6 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clatskanie, OR and Gresham, OR.
1
Start on South Nehalem Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·South Nehalem Street
2
Turn right onto Southeast 3rd Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Southeast 3rd Street
3
Continue on Southeast True Haak Street
516 ft·16 sec·Southeast True Haak Street
4
Turn right onto US 30
11 mi·16 min·Lower Columbia River Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward WA 433 North: Longview, SeattleUse the slight right lane.
6
Continue on WA 433
2.6 mi·5 min·Oregon Way
7
Turn right onto Tennant Way
3.1 mi·4 min·Tennant Way
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 5 South: Portland
9
Merge onto I 5
29 mi·30 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 205
15 mi·19 min·I 205
Toward I 205 South: SalemUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 22Toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The DallesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 84; US 30
4.7 mi·5 min·Columbia River Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 14Toward Fairview ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto Northeast Fairview Parkway
0.9 mi·1 min·Northeast Fairview Parkway
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto Northeast Glisan Street
0.4 mi·51 sec·Northeast Glisan Street
16
Turn right onto Northeast 223rd Avenue
1.1 mi·2 min·Northeast 223rd Avenue
17
Turn slight left
277 ft·10 sec
18
Turn left onto Northwest Fairview Drive
0.2 mi·31 sec·Northwest Fairview Drive
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on North Main Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Avenue
20
Turn right onto Northwest 1st Street
138 ft·9 sec·Northwest 1st Street
21
Turn left
63 ft·4 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 35 minutes, this drive is easily completed in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic as you approach the Portland metro area. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, planning for a single fill-up should be sufficient. Since there are no designated stops in the data, you have the flexibility to pull over for breaks as needed, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 28.6-mile stretch on I 5.
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 35.4 miles from Clatskanie, OR, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.6 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 16 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.4 miles or 47m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gresham, OR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clatskanie, OR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clatskanie, OR
This is one driving day of about 70.8 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Clatskanie, OR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 28.6 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 67.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 30 / Lower Columbia River Highway
Turn right onto US 30 / Lower Columbia River Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
11.7 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward WA 433 North: Longview, Seattle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 433 North: Longview, Seattle
7
46.8 mi into trip|~1h in|I 205
Keep slight right at fork onto I 205 toward I 205 South: Salem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 205 South: Salem
8
61.6 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles
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 22
Toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles
7
67.1 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward Fairview Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 14
Toward Fairview Parkway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.10 one way
$28.21 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$14.93
$29.85
premium
$5.59
$15.58
$31.17
diesel
$5.61
$15.63
$31.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.2
0
$7.43
$3.40
Efficient EV
17.7
0
$6.19
$2.83
EV Truck/SUV
28.3
0
$9.91
$4.53
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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 16, 2026
Origin
Clatskanie, OR
Afternoon
in Clatskanie on Saturday
Local time
12:34 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Gresham, OR
Afternoon
in Gresham on Saturday
Local time
12:34 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
13 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
1h 35m 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?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 62% of the journey on major interstates. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch of 28.6 miles on I 5, offering a chance to maintain steady progress. As you transition to I 205 and then the Lower Columbia River Highway, the character may shift slightly, but the overall feel remains focused on efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. Be prepared for consistent highway speeds for the majority of your time on the road.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 28.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and I 205. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 30 / Lower Columbia River Highway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.4 miles (US 30 / Lower Columbia River Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.8 miles (I 205): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Clatskanie, OR to Gresham, OR, road signs begin pointing toward Seattle along the way.
Gresham is the fourth largest city within the state of Oregon, with a population of 114,000 in 2020. It's the home of an annual jazz festival. It is a part of the Portland Metropolitan Area and is generally considered a Portland suburb.
The downtown area of Gresham can be easily missed by those driving along W Powell Blvd, but has a handful of restaurants and shops to offer, as well as Main City Park.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 70.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Clatskanie, OR to Gresham, OR covers 70.8 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, I 205, Lower Columbia River Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.4 miles from Clatskanie, OR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.10 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 70.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.4 miles (US 30 / Lower Columbia River Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.8 miles (I 205): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Clatskanie, OR to Gresham, OR, road signs begin pointing toward Seattle along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
