Trip from Hillsboro, OR to Molalla, OR

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 9m

Distance

45 mi

72 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min

4 AM

1h 4m ★

6 AM

1h 9m

8 AM

1h 20m

10 AM

1h 13m

12 PM

1h 12m

3 PM

1h 14m

5 PM

1h 20m

8 PM

1h 6m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city and county seat of Washington County, Oregon, United States

Hillsboro, OR

Wikimedia Commons

Molalla, OR

Ahmad Shaufi

Trip Overview

This straightforward 45-mile drive from Hillsboro, OR to Molalla, OR takes about 1 hour and 9 minutes and is easily manageable as a one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with only about 14% on highways, making for a relaxed pace. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $9, which is quite budget-friendly. This route offers a practical way to travel between two points within the Pacific Coast region of Oregon. Given its short duration, you have plenty of flexibility in planning your departure and any brief stops along the way.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

22.5 miles from Hillsboro, OR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 45-mile journey. The route predominantly utilizes roads like Southwest Hillsboro Highway, South Barlow Road, and Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road, with a minimal highway share of 14%. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 9.5 miles on Southwest Hillsboro Highway. This means you'll be actively navigating, with frequent adjustments rather than long, straightaways. It's a driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local landscape and road network.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Southwest Hillsboro Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 9.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10.2 miles in near OR 210 / Southwest Scholls Ferry Road.

Route Complexity 6/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45 miles you will encounter 15 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 10.2 miles (OR 210 / Southwest Scholls Ferry Road): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles (Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road): Navigation decision point; at 21.3 miles (Southwest Grahams Ferry Road): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

10.2 mi into trip | ~15m in | OR 210 / Southwest Scholls Ferry Road

At end of road, turn left onto OR 210 / Southwest Scholls Ferry Road

Navigation decision point

11 mi into trip | ~16m in | Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road

Turn right onto Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road

Navigation decision point

21.3 mi into trip | ~33m in | Southwest Grahams Ferry Road

Turn right onto Southwest Grahams Ferry Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

22.5 mi into trip | ~36m in | I 5

Take the ramp onto I 5 toward I 5 South: Salem

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 5 South: Salem

26.1 mi into trip | ~40m in | I 5

Take the exit onto I 5 toward OR 551: Canby, Hubbard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward OR 551: Canby, Hubbard

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 Hillsboro, OR to Molalla, OR, road signs begin pointing toward Hubbard along the way.

Hubbard

26.1 mi in | ~40m | via I 5

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Southwest Hillsboro Highway	9.5 mi	13m
South Barlow Road	6 mi	8m
Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road	4.8 mi	7m
Woodburn-Estacada Highway	4.7 mi	7m
I 5	4.3 mi	6m
South Arndt Road	2.3 mi	2m
South Barnards Road	2.1 mi	2m
Southwest Tualatin Sherwood Road	1.9 mi	3m

Longest stretch: Southwest Hillsboro Highway — 9.5 mi, about 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hillsboro, OR and Molalla, OR.

Start on North 1st Avenue

0.7 mi · 2 min · North 1st Avenue

Continue on OR 219

7.7 mi · 10 min · Southwest Hillsboro Highway

Continue on OR 219

1.8 mi · 2 min · Southwest Hillsboro Highway

At end of road, turn left onto OR 210

0.7 mi · 1 min · Southwest Scholls Ferry Road

Turn right onto Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road

4.3 mi · 6 min · Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road

Continue on Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road

0.6 mi · 54 sec · Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road

At end of road, turn right onto Southwest Roy Rogers Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Southwest Roy Rogers Road

Keep slight right at fork onto Southwest Roy Rogers Road

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Southwest Roy Rogers Road

Continue on Southwest Tualatin Sherwood Road

1.9 mi · 3 min · Southwest Tualatin Sherwood Road

Turn right onto Southwest 124th Avenue

1.6 mi · 2 min · Southwest 124th Avenue

Continue on Basalt Creek Parkway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Basalt Creek Parkway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto Southwest Grahams Ferry Road

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Southwest Grahams Ferry Road

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto Southwest Day Street

0.6 mi · 53 sec · Southwest Day Street

Turn right onto Southwest Boones Ferry Road

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Southwest Boones Ferry Road

Take the ramp onto I 5

3.6 mi · 4 min · I 5

Toward I 5 South: Salem Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto I 5

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 5

Toward OR 551: Canby, Hubbard

Continue on OR 551

1.1 mi · 1 min · Wilsonville-Hubbard Highway

Turn left onto CR 428

1.8 mi · 2 min · South Arndt Road

Continue on South Arndt Road

0.5 mi · 38 sec · South Arndt Road

Turn right onto South Barlow Road

6.0 mi · 8 min · South Barlow Road

Turn left onto South Barnards Road

2.1 mi · 2 min · South Barnards Road

Turn right onto South Highway 170

1.5 mi · 2 min · South Highway 170

Turn left onto OR 211

4.7 mi · 7 min · Woodburn-Estacada Highway

Continue on OR 211

0.4 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

Turn right onto South Molalla Avenue

61 ft · 1 sec · South Molalla Avenue

Arrive at destination

South Molalla Avenue

Trip Plan

For this short 45-mile drive, consider an early morning departure to enjoy lighter traffic, especially as you leave Hillsboro. Since the total duration is just over an hour, you won't need to plan for extensive stops, but be mindful of the frequent turns. The longest stretch without a turn is 9.5 miles, so keep an eye on your surroundings during those segments. With a fuel cost of approximately $9, filling up before you leave Hillsboro is a simple way to ensure you have plenty of gas for the entire trip. This route's flexibility means you can depart whenever it's most convenient for you.

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 22.5 miles from Hillsboro, OR, or about 36m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9.5 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 10 miles or 14m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 22.5 miles or 36m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 58m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Hillsboro, OR so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Hillsboro, OR

This is one driving day of about 45 miles and 1h 9m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 10 miles from Hillsboro, OR.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on Southwest Hillsboro Highway for about 9.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 22.5 mi from Hillsboro, OR · 36m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

King City, OR

23 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

Newberg, OR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

King City, OR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 22.5 miles from Hillsboro, OR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Molalla, OR

The final approach into Molalla, OR usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.96 one way

$17.93 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.36	$9.49	$18.97
premium	$5.59	$9.91	$19.81
diesel	$5.61	$9.94	$19.87

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	13.5	$4.73	$2.16
Efficient EV	11.3	$3.94	$1.80
EV Truck/SUV	18	$6.30	$2.88

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (69% 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

Hillsboro, OR

Evening in Hillsboro on Wednesday

Local time

6:09 PM

PDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Molalla, OR

Evening in Molalla on Wednesday

Local time

6:09 PM

PDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

62°F

King City, OR

23 mi in

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

1h 9m 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 Hillsboro, OR to Molalla, OR covers 45 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Southwest Hillsboro Highway, South Barlow Road, Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 22.5 miles from Hillsboro, OR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.96 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.