Drive Time
4h 48m
Distance
285.6 mi
460 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$56
one way
Photo: Diana Orey
The drive from Gresham, OR to Medford, OR covers 285.6 miles and takes about 4h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Powell Boulevard, Southeast Powell Boulevard, Southeast 174th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.67 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
142.8 miles from Gresham, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 48m drive with frequent turns across 285.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 48m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Gresham, OR to Medford, OR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Powell Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southeast Powell Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southeast 174th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southeast Jenne Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southeast Foster Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 205 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| OR 62 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Gresham, OR and Medford, OR.
Start on the route
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Powell Boulevard
Continue on Southeast Powell Boulevard
Turn left onto Southeast 174th Avenue
Continue on Southeast Jenne Road
At the end of the road, turn right onto Southeast Foster Road
Take the ramp left toward I 205 South: Oregon City, Salem
Merge slight left
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South: Salem
Continue on I 5 South: Salem
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward OR 62: Crater Lake Highway, Medford, Klamath Falls
Turn right onto Crater Lake Highway
Turn left onto Court Street
Continue on North Central Avenue
Turn right onto East 4th Street
Turn left onto North Fir Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.8 miles or 2h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Medford, OR than in the middle of the route.
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 285.6 miles and 4h 48m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 142.8 mi from Gresham, OR · 2h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
143 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 142.8 miles from Gresham, OR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Medford, 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 Medford, OR.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$55.67 one way
$111.34 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $60.02 | $120.04 |
| premium | $5.57 | $62.58 | $125.17 |
| diesel | $6.37 | $71.58 | $143.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 85.7 | 1 | $29.99 | $13.71 |
| Efficient EV | 71.4 | 0 | $24.99 | $11.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 114.2 | 1 | $39.98 | $18.28 |
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Gresham on Saturday
Local time
12:40 PM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Medford on Saturday
Local time
12:40 PM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
Cottage Grove, OR
143 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Gresham, OR or browse trips ending in Medford, OR.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse OR road trips.
Explore maps for Gresham, OR or Medford, OR on MapSof.net.
