Origin
Medford, OR
Afternoon in Medford on Thursday
Local time
3:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Medford, OR to Merlin, OR
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
47m
Distance
36.6 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Medford, OR
Stephen Leonardi
Merlin, OR
Bejan Adrian
Trip Overview
The drive from Medford, OR to Merlin, OR covers 36.6 miles and takes about 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, Merlin Road, North Riverside Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.7 miles on I 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.29 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 36.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 47m highway drive covering 36.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and Merlin Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 30.7 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 11 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 30.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Merlin Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West 4th 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 47m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (OR 99 / North Riverside Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
OR 99 / North Riverside Avenue
Turn left onto OR 99 / North Riverside Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
32.9 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward Merlin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Merlin
6
33.1 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
Merlin Road
Turn left onto Merlin Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 30.7 mi | 35m |
| Merlin Road | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| North Riverside Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Crater Lake Highway | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West 4th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Merlin Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Riverside Avenute Connection #1 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Fir Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 30.7 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Medford, OR and Merlin, OR.
1
Start on North Fir Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Fir Street
2
Turn right onto West 4th Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
West 4th Street
3
Turn left onto OR 99
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Riverside Avenue
4
Turn slight right onto Riverside Avenute Connection #1
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Riverside Avenute Connection #1
5
Turn straight onto OR 62
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Crater Lake Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
7
Merge onto I 5
31 mi
·
35 min
·
I 5
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward Merlin
9
Turn left onto Merlin Road
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Merlin Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto Merlin Avenue
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Merlin Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
Merlin Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.3 mi from Medford, OR · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.3 miles from Medford, OR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Merlin, OR
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Merlin, OR if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.29 one way
$14.58 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $7.72 | $15.43 |
| premium | $5.59 | $8.06 | $16.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.08 | $16.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.84 | $1.76 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.20 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Merlin, OR
Afternoon in Merlin on Thursday
Local time
3:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
11 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
47m 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 Medford, OR to Merlin, OR covers 36.6 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, Merlin Road, North Riverside 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 18.3 miles from Medford, OR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.29 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 is a straightforward 47m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (OR 99 / North Riverside Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Medford, OR to Merlin, OR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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