Trip from Albany, OR to Central Point, OR
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 1m
Distance
203.3 mi
327 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Albany, OR
Wikimedia Commons
Central Point, OR
Wijs (Wise)
Trip Overview
Albany to Central Point is 203.3 miles and takes about 4h 1m via I 5, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily follows the I 5 corridor, making it a straightforward journey through Oregon's Pacific Coast region. With a highway share of 98%, expect a consistent driving experience focused on covering ground efficiently. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing to break up the drive overnight. Plan for a fuel cost of around $41, making it an economical option for a road trip.
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
101.7 miles from Albany, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 199.9 mi | 3h 53m |
| Santiam Highway Southeast | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 2nd Avenue Southwest | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Pine Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Santiam Road Southeast | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 9th Avenue Southeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Geary Street Southeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street Southeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,238 veh/hr typical · worst 1,600
Quietest
1 AM
~114 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albany, OR and Central Point, OR.
Start on 2nd Avenue Southwest
Turn right onto Main Street Southeast
Enter roundabout onto Main Street Southeast
Continue on Main Street Southeast
Turn straight onto Santiam Road Southeast
Turn right onto Geary Street Southeast
Turn left onto US 20; OR 99E
Continue on US 20
Turn straight onto US 20
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit
Turn right onto East Pine Street
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
Turn left onto Manzanita Street
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 1m duration, this is comfortably a same-day trip, so you can leave Albany at your leisure. The longest stretch is a significant 199.9 miles on I 5, so plan your fuel stops accordingly. While there's only one listed stop, you might want to factor in additional breaks for stretching or a quick meal, especially if you're traveling with others. Keep an eye on the fuel cost estimate of $41 to budget effectively for this journey through Oregon.
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.
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 45 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.7 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Central Point, OR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
Open the route before leaving Albany, 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 Albany, OR
This is one driving day of about 203.3 miles and 4h 1m.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
102 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
A short stop after about 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 101.7 miles from Albany, 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 199.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Gettings Creek Rest Area Southbound
Love's Travel Stop
Pilot Travel Center
Cabin Creek Rest Area Southbound
Gettings Creek Rest Area Northbound
Manzanita Rest Area Northbound
Manzanita Rest Area Southbound
Valley of the Rogue State Park Rest Area
Jordan Creek Rest Area
7 Feathers Truck & Travel Center
(historical)Cow Creek Safety Rest Area SB
Oak Grove Rest Area Northbound
Oak Grove Rest Area Southbound
TA
EZ Trip Travel Center
Pilot Travel Center
Service Plaza
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 203.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Enter roundabout onto Main Street Southeast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Turn right onto Geary Street Southeast
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 20; OR 99E / 9th Avenue Southeast
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward Central Point
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn left onto Manzanita Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.03 one way
$72.05 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.82 | $38.58 | $77.16 |
| premium | $5.04 | $40.36 | $80.71 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $38.39 | $76.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61 | 0 | $21.35 | $9.76 |
| Efficient EV | 50.8 | 0 | $17.79 | $8.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 81.3 | 1 | $28.46 | $13.01 |
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Albany, OR
Late night in Albany on Sunday
Local time
2:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Clear
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:40AM PDT until July 18 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Destination
Central Point, OR
Late night in Central Point on Sunday
Local time
2:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Smoke
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:40AM PDT until July 18 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
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
3 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
4h 1m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly a highway-focused experience, with 98% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 5. You'll encounter a long, uninterrupted stretch of 199.9 miles on I 5, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent speed and lane travel. While the primary roads listed include Santiam Highway Southeast and 2nd Avenue Southwest, these likely serve as approach or exit routes to the main interstate. Expect a predictable and efficient journey with minimal deviations from high-speed highway driving.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Santiam Highway Southeast. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Main Street Southeast.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 1m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Main Street Southeast): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.2 miles (Geary Street Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (US 20; OR 99E / 9th Avenue Southeast): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
2,080 ft
Total Descent
1,019 ft
Highest Point
2,002 ft
~145.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,789 ft
Notable High Points
About the Cities
Starting in Albany, OR
Full guide →Founded 1846
Albany is the 11th-largest city in the state of Oregon. Nicknamed the "Hub of the Valley", it is 69 miles (111 km) south of Portland and 44 miles (71 km) north of Eugene. The town sits at the confluence of the Willamette River and Calapooia River. Albany's streets are lined with historic homes and a carousel museum. Its location in the Willamette Valley, known for its wine, allows the town to offer locally made wine, as well as cider and beer.
Top landmarks
- • Albany Municipal Airport — airport in Oregon, United States of America
- • Albany Monteith Historic District — historic district in Albany, Oregon, USA
- • Hackleman Historic District — historic district in Albany, Oregon, USA
Arriving in Central Point, OR
Full guide →Southern Oregon is in a region of Oregon south of the Willamette Valley, east of the Coast, but west of the arid Eastern Oregon region.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 1m. Total distance: 203.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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