Trip from Pendleton, OR to Medford, OR

Drive Time

7h 39m

Distance

414.6 mi

667 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$83

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
7h 29m ★
6 AM
7h 39m
8 AM
7h 59m
10 AM
7h 46m
12 PM
7h 44m
3 PM
7h 47m
5 PM
7h 58m
8 PM
7h 33m

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

Downtown Pendleton, OR, OR

Pendleton, OR

Ali Kazal

Downtown Medford, OR, OR

Medford, OR

Diana Orey

Trip Overview

The drive from Pendleton, OR to Medford, OR covers 414.6 miles and takes about 7h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Southwest Court Avenue, Southwest 20th Street, Old Oregon Trail Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $82.51 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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

207.3 miles from Pendleton, OR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 49m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 7h 39m drive with frequent turns across 414.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 55 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Southwest Court Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 39m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pendleton, OR to Medford, OR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Southwest Court Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
Southwest 20th Street Unavailable Refreshing
Old Oregon Trail Highway Unavailable Refreshing
Columbia River Highway Unavailable Refreshing
US 97 Unavailable Refreshing
Sherman Highway Unavailable Refreshing
E Street Unavailable Refreshing
The Dalles-California Highway Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Southwest Court Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pendleton, OR and Medford, OR.

1

Start on the route

95 ft · 12 sec · the route
2

Turn left onto Southwest Court Avenue

0.6 mi · 58 sec · Southwest Court Avenue
3

Keep slight left to continue on Southwest Court Avenue

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Southwest Court Avenue
4

Turn left onto Southwest 20th Street

0.2 mi · 15 sec · Southwest 20th Street
5

Turn right

282 ft · 6 sec
6

Take the ramp right

0.4 mi · 54 sec
7

Merge slight left onto Old Oregon Trail Highway

41 mi · 45 min · Old Oregon Trail Highway
8

Continue on Columbia River Highway

63 mi · 1 hr 7 min · Columbia River Highway
9

Take the exit slight right toward US 97: Yakima, Bend

0.2 mi · 37 sec · US 97: Yakima, Bend
10

Turn left onto Sherman Highway

55 mi · 1 hr 12 min · Sherman Highway
11

Continue on E Street

0.4 mi · 53 sec · E Street
12

Turn straight onto Sherman Highway

12 mi · 16 min · Sherman Highway
13

Continue on The Dalles-California Highway

25 mi · 29 min · The Dalles-California Highway
14

Continue on Northeast 6th Street

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Northeast 6th Street
15

Turn left onto 4th Street

266 ft · 12 sec · 4th Street
16

Continue on Southwest 4th Street

1.0 mi · 3 min · Southwest 4th Street
17

Continue on The Dalles-California Highway

26 mi · 37 min · The Dalles-California Highway
18

Turn right onto Southwest Veterans Way

502 ft · 14 sec · Southwest Veterans Way
19

Turn left onto Southwest Canal Boulevard

0.3 mi · 47 sec · Southwest Canal Boulevard
20

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Southwest Canal Boulevard

59 ft · 1 sec · Southwest Canal Boulevard
21

Exit the roundabout onto Southwest Canal Boulevard

1.4 mi · 3 min · Southwest Canal Boulevard
22

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Southwest Canal Boulevard

112 ft · 2 sec · Southwest Canal Boulevard
23

Exit the roundabout onto Southwest Canal Boulevard

0.8 mi · 1 min · Southwest Canal Boulevard
24

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Southwest Canal Boulevard

125 ft · 3 sec · Southwest Canal Boulevard
25

Exit the roundabout onto Southwest Canal Boulevard

3.8 mi · 6 min · Southwest Canal Boulevard
26

Continue on Old Bend Redmond Highway

3.5 mi · 6 min · Old Bend Redmond Highway
27

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Old Bend Redmond Highway

121 ft · 3 sec · Old Bend Redmond Highway
28

Exit the roundabout onto Old Bend Redmond Highway

3.1 mi · 5 min · Old Bend Redmond Highway
29

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward McKenzie-Bend Highway

276 ft · 4 sec · McKenzie-Bend Highway
30

Exit the roundabout onto McKenzie-Bend Highway

0.7 mi · 1 min · McKenzie-Bend Highway
31

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward McKenzie-Bend Highway

131 ft · 2 sec · McKenzie-Bend Highway
32

Exit the roundabout onto McKenzie-Bend Highway

0.4 mi · 36 sec · McKenzie-Bend Highway
33

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward McKenzie-Bend Highway

118 ft · 2 sec · McKenzie-Bend Highway
34

Exit the roundabout onto McKenzie-Bend Highway

0.8 mi · 58 sec · McKenzie-Bend Highway
35

Turn straight onto Northeast 3rd Street

440 ft · 13 sec · Northeast 3rd Street
36

Turn left onto Empire Avenue

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Empire Avenue
37

Take the exit right

0.3 mi · 33 sec
38

Merge slight left onto Bend Parkway

5.5 mi · 9 min · Bend Parkway
39

Continue on The Dalles-California Highway

71 mi · 1 hr 28 min · The Dalles-California Highway
40

Turn right onto State Highway 138

6.3 mi · 8 min · State Highway 138
41

Continue on East Diamond Lake Highway

8.4 mi · 11 min · East Diamond Lake Highway
42

Continue on North Umpqua Highway

3.0 mi · 4 min · North Umpqua Highway
43

Turn left onto Diamond Lake Highway

24 mi · 35 min · Diamond Lake Highway
44

Continue on Crater Lake Highway

50 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Crater Lake Highway
45

Turn right onto Rogue Valley Expressway

4.4 mi · 6 min · Rogue Valley Expressway
46

Continue on Crater Lake Highway

0.4 mi · 40 sec · Crater Lake Highway
47

Turn left onto Poplar Drive

0.9 mi · 1 min · Poplar Drive
48

Turn right onto East McAndrews Road

0.2 mi · 20 sec · East McAndrews Road
49

Turn left onto Biddle Road

512 ft · 18 sec · Biddle Road
50

Keep slight right to continue on Biddle Road

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Biddle Road
51

Keep slight right to continue on Biddle Road

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Biddle Road
52

Keep slight right to continue on Biddle Road

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Biddle Road
53

Continue on East 4th Street

0.4 mi · 56 sec · East 4th Street
54

Turn left onto North Fir Street

0.1 mi · 16 sec · North Fir Street
55

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 207.3 miles from Pendleton, OR, or about 3h 49m into the drive.

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 91 miles or 1h 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 207.3 miles or 3h 49m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 32m

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 Pendleton, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Pendleton, OR

This is one driving day of about 414.6 miles and 7h 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 91 miles from Pendleton, OR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 207.3 mi from Pendleton, OR · 3h 49m into the drive

Downtown Bend, OR, OR

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bend, OR

207 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

Madras, OR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 91 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bend, OR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 207.3 miles from Pendleton, OR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$82.51 one way

$165.02 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 145 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.34 $87.13 $174.26
premium $5.59 $91.20 $182.39
diesel $5.64 $92.11 $184.22

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$83

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$108–$133

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 145.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 124.4 1 $43.53 $19.90
Efficient EV 103.7 1 $36.28 $16.58
EV Truck/SUV 165.8 2 $58.04 $26.53

Gas CO2

145 kg

EV CO2

49 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Pendleton, OR

Afternoon in Pendleton on Sunday

Local time

2:54 PM

PDT

Current temp

35°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Medford, OR

Afternoon in Medford on Sunday

Local time

2:54 PM

PDT

Current temp

41°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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

7h 39m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Pendleton, OR to Medford, OR covers 414.6 miles and takes about 7h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southwest Court Avenue, Southwest 20th Street, Old Oregon Trail Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 207.3 miles from Pendleton, OR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $82.51 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 39m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pendleton, OR to Medford, OR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Pendleton, OR to Medford, OR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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