Pendleton, OR Road Trips
Pendleton, OR serves as a quiet starting point in the Pacific Coast, connecting drivers to 2 outbound routes across the area. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 218-mile quick runs to 417-mile cross-state drives. Most routes from Pendleton, OR head west, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
5
Longest Drive
416.6 mi
Medford, OR
Quickest Drive
4h 9m
Beaverton, OR
Plan Around Pendleton, OR
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Pendleton, OR is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Pendleton, OR
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Pendleton, OR
Driving from Pendleton, OR
The typical drive from Pendleton, OR covers about 317 miles and takes around 6h 37m. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 417 miles (9h 5m), while the shortest is just 218 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from Pendleton, OR include Medford, OR (416.6 mi, 9h 5m) and Beaverton, OR (218.3 mi, 4h 9m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in OR currently averages around $4.95 per gallon. For the typical 317-mile trip from Pendleton, OR, budget about $62 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
These are full-day drives. Start by 7 or 8 AM if you want to arrive at a reasonable hour without rushing. Most routes head west — leaving in the morning keeps the sun behind you for a more comfortable drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 2 mapped routes leaving Pendleton, OR and 3 routes heading into Pendleton, OR, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 218 to 417 miles.
The longest mapped route from Pendleton, OR covers 417 miles and takes approximately 9h 5m. Shorter options start at just 218 miles.
The average route from Pendleton, OR runs about 317 miles with a drive time of roughly 6h 37m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $4.95/gallon for regular), the average 317-mile trip from Pendleton, OR costs roughly $62 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Pendleton, OR include Medford, OR and Beaverton, OR. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Pendleton, OR by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
17,070
Median Income
$70,179
Median Home Value
$276,400
Median Age
36.5
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Pendleton, OR at a Glance
Founded
1851
Elevation
1,200 ft
Area
11 mi²
Sister Cities
Notable People from Pendleton, OR
A sampling of people born in Pendleton, OR.
Gordon H. Smith
1952
American politician
George Hackathorne
1896–1940
actor (1896-1940)
Dave Cockrum
1943–2006
American comics artist (1943–2006)
Elaine Miles
1960
American actress
Frances Moore Lappé
1944
American researcher and author
Cork Hubbert
1952–2003
American actor (1952-2003)
John M. Gearin
1851–1930
American politician (1851-1930)
Kenneth Snelson
1927–2016
American artist (1927–2016)
Michael J. Kopetski
1949
American politician
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Pendleton, OR.
John F. Kilkenny United States Post Office and Courthouse
courthouse in Pendleton, United States of America
Masonic Temple
historic building in Pendleton, Oregon, United States
Pendleton Center for the Arts
art center in Pendleton, Oregon, USA
City data from Wikidata (Q944507), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Pendleton, OR
Pendleton is a city of 17,000 people (2019) in Eastern Oregon. The city is set in a pleasant valley set among hilly cropland on the I-84 several hours east of Portland. It is the location of one of the manufacturing plants of Pendleton Woolen Mills.
The town is the cultural center of Eastern Oregon. Pendleton's "Old town" is listed as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation have their property nearby. They have established the Wildhorse Resort & Casino and golf course on the reservation to generate revenue for development and welfare. They have also built the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, for education and interpretation of their cultures. A European-American commercial center began to develop here in 1851, when Dr. William C. McKay established a trading post at the mouth of McKay Creek. The city was named Pendleton, after politician and diplomat George H. Pendleton (1825–1889), who served as a U.S. representative and senator from Ohio. By 1900, Pendleton had a population of 4,400 and was the fourth-largest city in Oregon. The Pendleton Woolen Mills and Pendleton Round Up became features of the city captured in early paintings by Walter S. Bowman. Like many cities in Eastern Oregon, where thousands of Chinese immigrant workers built the transcontinental railroad, it had a flourishing Chinatown that developed as the workers settled here. The sector is supposed to have been underlain by a network of tunnels, which are now a tourist attraction. The authenticity as a Chinese tunnel system has been questioned. Pendleton has a semi-arid climate with short, cool winters and hot summers.
1 Pendleton Underground Tours, 37 SW Emigrant Ave, toll-free: +1-800-226-6398. 9:30AM-3PM. Knowledgable and enthusiastic guides. A definite must, if you're into underground tours. $15. 2 Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame, 1114 SW Court Ave, ☏ +1 541-278-0815. M–Sa 10AM – 4PM. (updated Oct 2016) 3 Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, 47106 Wildhorse Blvd, ☏ +1 541-429-7700. Tu-Sa 10AM-5 PM; Cafeː Tu-Sa 11AM-2PM. Exhibits & videos detailing the impact of the Oregon Trail & pioneer settlement on Native tribes. Adults $12, Age 55+ ̩$10, Students $5, Age 5 and under free. (updated Apr 2025) 4 Heritage Station Museum (Umatilla County Historical Society), 108 SW Frazer (Old train station building along Frazier between 4th & Main in downtown), ☏ +1 541 276-0012. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. Museum complex featuring an old schoolhouse, barn, caboose & more, with exhibits on local history. Adults $5, seniors (62+) $4, students $2. (updated Jun 2017) 5 Pendleton Center for the Arts, 214 N Main St, ☏ +1 541 278-9201. (updated Oct 2018)
1 Wildhorse Resort and Casino, 46510 Wildhorse Blvd. (I-84, Exit 216), toll-free: +1-800-654-9453, [email protected]. (updated Feb 2017) 2 Pendleton Family Aquatic Center, 1901 NW Carden (Next to Pendleton High School), ☏ +1 541-276-0104 (answered during open hours), +1 541-276-8100 (parks office). Summer only: noon-8PM. Two tower water slides with open and closed tubes and 3 pools- a zero-depth pool, 50-meter pool, and dive well, plus children`s water features and a picnic area. Adults $6, youth (3-17) $4. (updated Jan 2017) 3 Children's Museum of Eastern Oregon, 400 S. Main St, ☏ +1 541 276-1066. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. $5 per person, free under age 1. (updated Jun 2017) 4 McKay Creek National Wildlife Refuge, ☏ +1 509 546-8300. Sunrise to sunset (Except for hunting- access is 1.5 hr. before, to 1.5 hr after, legal hunting hours). (updated Jul 2017)
1 Roosters, 1515 Southgate Pl (Southbound 395 from exit 209 on the I-84). 7AM- 8PM (F Sa until 8:30PM). Good breakfast menu served until 3PM. 2 Great Pacific, 403 South Main (S Main & SW Emigrate), ☏ +1 541 276-1350. M-Th 10AM-9PM, F Sa 10AM-10PM. Great and friendly atmosphere. Several beers on tap, and quite the wine selection. Not open Sunday.
1 The Prodigal Son Brewery and Pub, 230 SE Court Ave, ☏ +1 541 276-6090, [email protected]. (updated Mar 2021)
A number of hotels presented are clustered around SE Nye St & 3rd off of Exit #210 of I-84 and in the downtown area along Court, Dorian or Emigrant Ave (the main east west streets through town). 1 Best Western Pendleton Inn, 400 SE Nye Ave, ☏ +1 541 276-2135, fax: +1 541 278-2129. 2 Holiday Inn Express, 600 Se Nye Ave, ☏ +1 541 966-6520. 3 The Hotel Pendleton, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, 105 SE Court Ave (SE Court Ave & SE 1st St), ☏ +1 541-429-4342. (updated Sep 2019) 4 Motel 6, 325 SE Nye Ave, ☏ +1 541 276-3160, fax: +1 541 276-7526. Check-out: =. 5 Oxford Suites Pendleton, 2400 S.W. Court Pl (west end of town at SW Court & 23rd. It can be accessed from I-84 at Southgate (US Hwy 395), at Exit #209), ☏ +1 541 276-6000. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. 6 MotoLodge Pendleton, 310 SE Dorian St (SE Dorian & SE 3rd), ☏ +1 541-612-0790. (updated Sep 2019) 7 Red Lion Pendleton, 304 SE Nye Ave, ☏ +1 541 276-6111. (updated Sep 2019) 8 Travelodge by Wyndham, 411 SW Dorian (SW Dorian & SW 4th), ☏ +1 541 276-7531. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Sep 2019) 9 Working Girls Hotel, 17 SW Emigrant Ave (Next to the Pendleton Underground Tours on Main & SW Emigrant Ave), ☏ +1 541 276-0730. An operating bordello until the 1950s, this intimate hotel sits in the center of historic Pendleton, a 5-minute walk from shops, restaurants and the Umatilla River walkway. The hotel is owned & operated by the Pendleton Underground Tours. $75-95 depending on season & room.
1 Eastern Oregon Regional Airport (PDT IATA), ☏ +1 541 276-7754. Located 4 mi (6.4 km) northwest of town in Pendair Heights neighborhood via Airport Rd. From I-84 it accessible through Exit #207. It is a general aviation airport with limited commercial service by Boutique Air to and from Portland. More distant airport options include: Walla Walla (ALW IATA) (40 miles away on OR-Hwy 11/WA-Hwy 125) with Alaska/Horizon service to Seattle Pasco's Tri-Cities Airport (PSC IATA) (70 miles away via divided Interstate highways) with multiple connections on Alaska, Allegiant, Delta, and/or United Express. 2 Kayak Public Transit (operated by Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation (CTUIR)), (bus stops) Wal-Mart @ SW 20th; Pendleton City Hall @ SW Dorian & 4th; and Til Taylor Park @ SE 8th & Emigrante (Major stops are Arrowhead Travel Plaza, Wildhorse Casino and SW 20th St next to Walmart. Check schedules for specific locations and additional stops), ☏ +1 541 429-7519. Connections to Walla Walla, Hermiston, La Grande and Mission (on Umatilla Indian Reservation). They also operate a local shuttle in town as public transportation. Grant County (Oregon) People Mover, (bus stop) Wal-Mart @ 2203 SW Court Ave, ☏ +1 541 575-2370. Connects Walla Walla, WA to Monument, OR through Milton-Freewater, Pendleton, Pilot Rock, Ukiah, Dale and Long Creek. Passengers transfer in Monument to reach John Day and Bend in Central and Eastern Oregon. Schedules are limited so check schedules closely before using this option. Additional stop at the airport by prearranged reservation only.
Travel tips adapted from Pendleton on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
Trips to Pendleton, OR
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