Spanning 81.7 miles, this trek from Albany to Gresham is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 34 minutes. You will traverse the Pacific Coast region entirely within Oregon, making it an ideal candidate for a simple day trip. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you should budget approximately $16 for fuel. Navigating through Albany Avenue, Salem Avenue Southeast, and Main Street Southeast offers a direct path between these two points. Since the total travel time is under two hours, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay, allowing you the flexibility to complete the trip in a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.8 miles from Albany, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
OR 99E
54.1 mi
1h 4m
I 205
16.4 mi
21m
Southeast Foster Road
3.3 mi
7m
West Powell Boulevard
2.7 mi
6m
Salem Avenue Southeast
1.3 mi
3m
Southeast Jenne Road
0.9 mi
2m
2nd Avenue Southwest
0.7 mi
1m
Southeast 174th Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
OR 99E
— 54.1 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albany, OR and Gresham, OR.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue Southwest
0.7 mi·1 min·2nd Avenue Southwest
2
Turn right onto Main Street Southeast
222 ft·4 sec·Main Street Southeast
3
Enter roundabout onto Salem Avenue Southeast
225 ft·4 sec·Salem Avenue Southeast
4
Continue on Salem Avenue Southeast
1.3 mi·3 min·Salem Avenue Southeast
5
Turn right onto Albany Avenue
436 ft·17 sec·Albany Avenue
6
Turn left onto OR 99E
251 ft·4 sec·Pacific Boulevard Southeast
7
Continue on OR 99E
0.1 mi·11 sec·Albany-Junction City Highway
8
Take the exit onto OR 99E
54 mi·1 hr 4 min·OR 99E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi·52 sec
Exit 288Toward I 205 North: Oregon CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 205
16 mi·21 min·I 205
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 17Toward Foster RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Southeast Woodstock Boulevard
0.2 mi·24 sec·Southeast Woodstock Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn slight right onto Southeast Foster Road
3.3 mi·7 min·Southeast Foster Road
14
Turn left onto Southeast Jenne Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Southeast Jenne Road
15
Continue on Southeast 174th Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Southeast 174th Avenue
16
Turn right onto US 26
0.1 mi·20 sec·Southeast Powell Boulevard
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on US 26
2.7 mi·6 min·West Powell Boulevard
18
Turn left
118 ft·8 sec
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 1 hour and 34-minute drive, try to depart during off-peak hours to avoid heavy local traffic that could extend your travel time. Since there are no designated stops planned for this 81.7-mile route, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave, keeping that $16 estimate in mind as a baseline for your trip budget. Flexibility is your greatest advantage here, so feel free to adjust your departure to suit your personal schedule. A key tip for this specific drive is to keep your navigation tools handy, as the reliance on local roads like Salem Avenue Southeast and Albany Avenue requires careful attention to turn-by-turn directions.
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 40.8 miles from Albany, OR, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.1 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.8 miles or 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gresham, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Albany, OR
This is one driving day of about 81.6 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Albany, OR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on OR 99E for about 54.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 78.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|Salem Avenue Southeast
Enter roundabout onto Salem Avenue Southeast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
56.4 mi into trip|~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 205 North: Oregon City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 288
Toward I 205 North: Oregon City
7
73.6 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward Foster Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17
Toward Foster Road
7
73.9 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|Southeast Woodstock Boulevard
Turn right onto Southeast Woodstock Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
78.8 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|US 26 / Southeast Powell Boulevard
Turn right onto US 26 / Southeast Powell Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.26 one way
$32.51 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$17.20
$34.41
premium
$5.59
$17.96
$35.92
diesel
$5.61
$18.02
$36.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.5
0
$8.57
$3.92
Efficient EV
20.4
0
$7.14
$3.26
EV Truck/SUV
32.6
0
$11.42
$5.22
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Albany, OR
Night
in Albany on Saturday
Local time
10:57 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Gresham, OR
Night
in Gresham on Saturday
Local time
10:57 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°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
13 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
1h 49m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will be navigating surface streets for the duration of the 81.7-mile trip. The road profile is defined by constant maneuvering rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed cruising. As you move between Albany and Gresham, the path requires your full attention to manage the frequent turns along the local road network. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that prioritizes local navigation over highway efficiency.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.1 mi on OR 99E.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Salem Avenue Southeast.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.7 miles (Salem Avenue Southeast): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 56.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Gresham is the fourth largest city within the state of Oregon, with a population of 114,000 in 2020. It's the home of an annual jazz festival. It is a part of the Portland Metropolitan Area and is generally considered a Portland suburb.
The downtown area of Gresham can be easily missed by those driving along W Powell Blvd, but has a handful of restaurants and shops to offer, as well as Main City Park.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 81.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.1 miles on OR 99E. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Gresham, OR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Salem Avenue Southeast): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 56.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gresham, OR before heading back.
