Origin
Kenton, OR
Evening in Kenton on Thursday
Local time
8:58 PM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kenton, OR to Medford, OR
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
5h 32m
Distance
277.5 mi
447 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 19m
★
6 AM
5h 33m
8 AM
5h 59m
10 AM
5h 42m
12 PM
5h 39m
3 PM
5h 43m
5 PM
5h 58m
8 PM
5h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kenton, OR
Google DeepMind
Medford, OR
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Kenton, OR to Medford, OR covers 277.5 miles and takes about 5h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, Court Street, North Central Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 274.7 miles on I 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.28 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
138.7 miles from Kenton, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 45m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 32m. Total distance: 277.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 32m highway drive covering 277.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and Court Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 274.7 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 13 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 274.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Court Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Watts Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 32m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Watts Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Montana Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 30 Bypass / North Lombard Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Watts Street
Turn left onto North Watts Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Montana Avenue
Turn right onto North Montana Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 30 Bypass / North Lombard Street
Turn left onto US 30 Bypass / North Lombard Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
275.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 26m in
Take the exit toward OR 62: Crater Lake Highway, Medford, Klamath Falls
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.
Toward OR 62: Crater Lake Highway, Medford, Kla...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 274.7 mi | 5h 24m |
| Court Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Central Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Crater Lake Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Montana Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| East 4th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Fir Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Watts Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 274.7 mi, about 5h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kenton, OR and Medford, OR.
1
Start on this road
115 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto North Watts Street
304 ft
·
15 sec
·
North Watts Street
3
Turn right onto North Montana Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Montana Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 30 Bypass
102 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Lombard Street
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 5 South
6
Merge onto I 5
275 mi
·
5 hr 24 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward OR 62: Crater Lake Highway, Medford, Klamath Falls
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto OR 62
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Crater Lake Highway
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto OR 99
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Court Street
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on OR 99
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Central Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn right onto East 4th Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East 4th Street
12
Turn left onto North Fir Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
North Fir Street
13
Arrive at destination
North Fir Street
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 138.7 miles from Kenton, OR, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 274.7 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 61 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.7 miles or 2h 45m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Medford, OR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kenton, 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 Kenton, OR
This is one driving day of about 277.5 miles and 5h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Kenton, 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 274.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 138.7 mi from Kenton, OR · 2h 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
139 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 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 138.7 miles from Kenton, 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 274.7 miles.
Arriving in Medford, OR
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.
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
$55.28 one way
$110.56 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
97 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $58.50 | $117.01 |
| premium | $5.59 | $61.08 | $122.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $61.27 | $122.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.3 | 1 | $29.14 | $13.32 |
| Efficient EV | 69.4 | 0 | $24.28 | $11.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 111 | 1 | $38.85 | $17.76 |
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 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.
Destination
Medford, OR
Evening in Medford on Thursday
Local time
8:58 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°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
6 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 32m 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 Kenton, OR to Medford, OR covers 277.5 miles and takes about 5h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, Court Street, North Central Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 138.7 miles from Kenton, OR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $55.28 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 is a straightforward 5h 32m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Watts Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Montana Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 30 Bypass / North Lombard Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Kenton, OR to Medford, OR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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