Origin
Gresham, OR
Morning in Gresham on Thursday
Local time
11:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gresham, OR to Merlin, OR
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 9m
Distance
252.2 mi
406 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 56m
★
6 AM
5h 10m
8 AM
5h 37m
10 AM
5h 19m
12 PM
5h 16m
3 PM
5h 20m
5 PM
5h 35m
8 PM
5h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gresham, OR
Wikimedia Commons
Merlin, OR
Bejan Adrian
Trip Overview
The drive from Gresham, OR to Merlin, OR covers 252.2 miles and takes about 5h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, I 205, Southeast Foster Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 221.3 miles on I 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.24 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
126.1 miles from Gresham, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 38m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 9m. Total distance: 252.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 9m highway drive covering 252.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and I 205. The longest continuous stretch is about 221.3 miles on I 5.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 221.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and I 205. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in near Southeast 174th Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 252.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 2.8 miles (Southeast 174th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (Southeast Foster Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles (Southeast 94th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Southeast 174th Avenue
Turn left onto Southeast 174th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
4.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Southeast Foster Road
At end of road, turn right onto Southeast Foster Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
7.9 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
Southeast 94th Avenue
Take the ramp onto Southeast 94th Avenue toward I 205 South: Oregon City, Salem
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward I 205 South: Oregon City, Salem
5
8.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 205
Merge onto I 205
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
24.8 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Salem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Salem
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 221.3 mi | 4h 18m |
| I 205 | 16.6 mi | 21m |
| Southeast Foster Road | 3.6 mi | 7m |
| West Powell Boulevard | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| Pleasant Valley Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Monument Drive | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Southeast Jenne Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Southeast 174th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 221.3 mi, about 4h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gresham, OR and Merlin, OR.
1
Start on this road
118 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 26
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
West Powell Boulevard
3
Continue on US 26
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Southeast Powell Boulevard
4
Turn left onto Southeast 174th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Southeast 174th Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on Southeast Jenne Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast Jenne Road
6
At end of road, turn right onto Southeast Foster Road
3.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Southeast Foster Road
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp onto Southeast 94th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Southeast 94th Avenue
Toward I 205 South: Oregon City, Salem
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Merge onto I 205
17 mi
·
21 min
·
I 205
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
508 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 5 South: Salem
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on this road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Toward I 5 South: Salem
11
Merge onto I 5
221 mi
·
4 hr 18 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward Hugo
13
Turn right onto Monument Drive
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Monument Drive
14
Turn right onto Pleasant Valley Road
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Pleasant Valley Road
15
Turn left onto Merlin Avenue
402 ft
·
17 sec
·
Merlin Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Merlin Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 126.1 miles from Gresham, OR, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 221.3 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 55 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.1 miles or 2h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Merlin, OR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gresham, 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 Gresham, OR
This is one driving day of about 252.2 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Gresham, OR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 221.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 126.1 mi from Gresham, OR · 2h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
126 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 126.1 miles from Gresham, OR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 221.3 miles.
Arriving in Merlin, OR
The final approach into Merlin, OR usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Merlin, OR.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.24 one way
$100.48 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $53.17 | $106.34 |
| premium | $5.59 | $55.51 | $111.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.68 | $111.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.7 | 0 | $26.48 | $12.11 |
| Efficient EV | 63.1 | 0 | $22.07 | $10.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.9 | 1 | $35.31 | $16.14 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Destination
Merlin, OR
Morning in Merlin on Thursday
Local time
11:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°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
15 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
5h 9m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Gresham, OR to Merlin, OR covers 252.2 miles and takes about 5h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, I 205, Southeast Foster Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 126.1 miles from Gresham, OR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $50.24 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 252.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 2.8 miles (Southeast 174th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (Southeast Foster Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles (Southeast 94th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Gresham, OR to Merlin, OR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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