Origin
Molalla, OR
Evening in Molalla on Wednesday
Local time
6:09 PM
PDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Molalla, OR to Hillsboro, OR
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
45.1 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
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.
Molalla, OR
Ahmad Shaufi
Hillsboro, OR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 45.1-mile journey from Molalla, OR, to Hillsboro, OR, is a manageable 1-hour and 9-minute drive, making it a perfect day trip. You'll navigate primarily on local roads, with only a 6% share of highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $9, which is quite economical for a trip of this distance. Given its relatively short length and the 'turn-heavy' nature of the drive, it's best suited for a single day, allowing ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, so you'll be exploring within familiar territory.
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 Molalla, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the majority of this route, as indicated by the low 6% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9.5 miles along Southwest Hillsboro Highway. This suggests a driving experience characterized by frequent turns and changes in road type, rather than long, straight highway runs. You'll likely experience a mix of smaller county roads and potentially some faster sections as you transition between them, offering a varied feel behind the wheel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 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. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.1 miles in near I 5.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.1 miles you will encounter 19 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 22.1 miles (I 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.3 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles (Southwest Elligsen Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
22.1 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 5
Take the exit onto I 5 toward Elligsen Road, Boones Ferry Road
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.
Exit 286
Toward Elligsen Road, Boones Ferry Road
8
22.3 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 toward Boones Ferry Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward Boones Ferry Road
6
22.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
Southwest Elligsen Road
Turn left onto Southwest Elligsen Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
26.1 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
Southwest Tualatin Sherwood Road
Turn left onto Southwest Tualatin Sherwood Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
34.1 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
OR 210 / Southwest Scholls Ferry Road
At end of road, turn left onto OR 210 / Southwest Scholls Ferry Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Hillsboro Highway | 9.5 mi | 12m |
| South Barlow Road | 6 mi | 8m |
| Wilsonville-Hubbard Highway | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road | 4.8 mi | 7m |
| Woodburn-Estacada Highway | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| South Arndt Road | 2.2 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 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Molalla, OR and Hillsboro, OR.
1
Start on South Molalla Avenue
61 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Molalla Avenue
2
Turn left onto OR 211
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on OR 211
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Woodburn-Estacada Highway
4
Turn right onto South Highway 170
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Highway 170
5
Turn left onto South Barnards Road
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Barnards Road
6
Turn right onto South Barlow Road
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
South Barlow Road
7
Turn left onto South Arndt Road
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Arndt Road
8
At end of road, turn left onto South Arndt Road
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Arndt Road
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
10
Merge onto OR 551
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Wilsonville-Hubbard Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto I 5
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 5
Exit 286
Toward Elligsen Road, Boones Ferry Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
158 ft
·
9 sec
·
I 5
Toward Boones Ferry Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto Southwest Elligsen Road
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Southwest Elligsen Road
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on Southwest Boones Ferry Road
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Southwest Boones Ferry Road
15
Turn left onto Southwest Day Street
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
Southwest Day Street
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto Southwest Grahams Ferry Road
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Southwest Grahams Ferry Road
17
Turn left onto Basalt Creek Parkway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Basalt Creek Parkway
18
Continue on Southwest 124th Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Southwest 124th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto Southwest Tualatin Sherwood Road
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Southwest Tualatin Sherwood Road
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on Southwest Roy Rogers Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Southwest Roy Rogers Road
21
Turn left onto Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road
22
Keep slight right at fork onto Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road
23
At end of road, turn left onto OR 210
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Scholls Ferry Road
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto OR 219
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Southwest Hillsboro Highway
25
Continue on OR 219
7.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Southwest Hillsboro Highway
26
Continue on OR 219
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South 1st Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
North 1st Avenue
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just over an hour, this drive offers great flexibility. You can leave Molalla at your leisure, perhaps after a relaxed morning, and still arrive in Hillsboro with plenty of daylight. Since there are no designated stops mentioned, consider pacing yourself and taking short breaks as needed, especially since the route is described as 'turn-heavy'. Keep an eye on your navigation as you'll be on local roads for much of the way; a good tip is to familiarize yourself with the main roads like Southwest Hillsboro Highway, South Barlow Road, and Wilsonville-Hubbard Highway before you depart to anticipate the frequent turns.
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 Molalla, OR, or about 33m 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 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.5 miles or 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hillsboro, OR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Molalla, OR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Molalla, OR
This is one driving day of about 45.1 miles and 1h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 10 miles from Molalla, 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 Molalla, OR · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.5 miles from Molalla, OR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hillsboro, OR
The final approach into Hillsboro, 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
$8.98 one way
$17.97 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $9.51 | $19.02 |
| premium | $5.59 | $9.93 | $19.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.96 | $19.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.95 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.31 | $2.89 |
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.
Destination
Hillsboro, OR
Evening in Hillsboro on Wednesday
Local time
6:09 PM
PDT
Current temp
43°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 cooler 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 Molalla, OR to Hillsboro, OR covers 45.1 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, Wilsonville-Hubbard Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.5 miles from Molalla, OR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.98 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.1 miles you will encounter 19 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 22.1 miles (I 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.3 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles (Southwest Elligsen Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Molalla, OR to Hillsboro, OR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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