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Trip from Altamont, OR to Medford, OR

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 44m

Distance

82 mi

132 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 37m ★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 40m

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

Best Time
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Altamont, OR, OR

Altamont, OR

Maximilian Ruther

Downtown Medford, OR, OR

Medford, OR

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

The drive from Altamont, OR to Medford, OR covers 82 miles and takes about 1h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Falls Highway, Lake of the Woods Highway, Rogue Valley Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.4 miles on Falls Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.89 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

41 miles from Altamont, OR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Falls Highway 36.4 mi 46m
Lake of the Woods Highway 32.3 mi 36m
Rogue Valley Expressway 4.4 mi 6m
OR 39 Business 2.7 mi 4m
The Dalles-California Highway 1.6 mi 1m
Poplar Drive 0.9 mi 1m
Crater Lake Highway 0.9 mi 1m
Biddle Road 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Falls Highway — 36.4 mi, about 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 97 Business; OR 39

146 ft · 2 sec · Crater Lake Parkway
2

Turn right onto OR 39 Business

2.7 mi · 4 min · OR 39 Business
3

Turn left onto US 97 Business; OR 39 Business

0.6 mi · 1 min · Main Street
4

Take the ramp onto US 97 Business

0.2 mi · 27 sec · US 97 Business
5

Merge onto US 97

1.6 mi · 1 min · The Dalles-California Highway
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward OR 66, OR 140: Lakeview, Medford
7

Merge onto OR 140

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Greensprings Drive
8

Turn right onto OR 140

36 mi · 46 min · Falls Highway
9

Continue on OR 140

30 mi · 33 min · Lake of the Woods Highway
10

Keep slight right at fork onto OR 140

0.7 mi · 45 sec · Lake of the Woods Highway
11

Enter roundabout onto OR 140

107 ft · 1 sec · Lake of the Woods Highway
12

Continue on OR 140

1.7 mi · 1 min · Lake of the Woods Highway
13

Turn left onto OR 62

0.5 mi · 34 sec · Crater Lake Highway
14

Turn right onto OR 62

4.4 mi · 6 min · Rogue Valley Expressway
15

Continue on OR 62

0.4 mi · 39 sec · Crater Lake Highway
16

Turn left onto Poplar Drive

0.9 mi · 1 min · Poplar Drive
Use the left lane.
17

Turn right onto East McAndrews Road

0.2 mi · 20 sec · East McAndrews Road
18

Turn left onto Biddle Road

512 ft · 18 sec · Biddle Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
19

Keep slight right at fork onto Biddle Road

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Biddle Road
20

Keep slight right at fork onto Biddle Road

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Biddle Road
21

Keep slight right at fork onto Biddle Road

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Biddle Road
22

Continue on East 4th Street

0.4 mi · 56 sec · East 4th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23

Turn left onto North Fir Street

0.1 mi · 15 sec · North Fir Street
24

Arrive at destination

North Fir Street

Trip Plan

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 41 miles from Altamont, OR, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.4 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 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 41 miles or 54m 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 Medford, OR than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Altamont, OR so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Altamont, OR

This is one driving day of about 82 miles and 1h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Altamont, OR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Falls Highway for about 36.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ashland, OR

41 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

Klamath Falls, OR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Halfway reset

Meal break

The midpoint is around 41 miles from Altamont, OR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 5.1 and 81.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
5.1 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit toward OR 66, OR 140: Lakeview, Medford

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward OR 66, OR 140: Lakeview, Medford
5
80.7 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in | Biddle Road

Turn left onto Biddle Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
5
80.8 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in | Biddle Road

Keep slight right at fork onto Biddle Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
81 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in | Biddle Road

Keep slight right at fork onto Biddle Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
81.2 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in | Biddle Road

Keep slight right at fork onto Biddle Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.89 one way

$31.79 round trip

$4.92/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.20 $16.79 $33.59
premium $5.44 $17.55 $35.11
diesel $5.60 $18.08 $36.15

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: 28.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.6 0 $8.61 $3.94
Efficient EV 20.5 0 $7.18 $3.28
EV Truck/SUV 32.8 0 $11.48 $5.25

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 Aug 30, 2026

Origin

Altamont, OR

Evening in Altamont on Thursday

Local time

7:10 PM

PDT

Current temp

43°F

Clear

NNE 3 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued August 30 at 1:30AM PDT until August 31 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued August 29 at 8:50PM PDT until August 30 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR

Destination

Medford, OR

Evening in Medford on Thursday

Local time

7:10 PM

PDT

Current temp

49°F

Clear

WSW 2 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued August 30 at 1:30AM PDT until August 31 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued August 29 at 8:50PM PDT until August 30 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR

53°F

Ashland, OR

41 mi in

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

1h 44m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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

What kind of drive is this?

82 mi in 1h 44m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.4 mi on Falls Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

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 5.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82 miles you will encounter 17 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 5.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.7 miles (Biddle Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 80.8 miles (Biddle Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Elevation Profile

High-altitude sections with notable climbs

5,109 ft 1,289 ft

Total Climb

1,157 ft

Total Descent

3,913 ft

Highest Point

5,109 ft

~41.3 mi in

Elevation Range

3,820 ft

Notable High Points

4,236 ft at ~5.9 miles +86 ft prominence
4,156 ft at ~23.6 miles +7 ft prominence
5,109 ft at ~41.3 miles +504 ft prominence

About the Cities

Starting in Altamont, OR

Full guide →

Klamath Falls (sometimes called Klamath by locals) is a small Southern Oregon city found in the eastern foothills of the Cascade Range. Klamath Falls is at the southern end of Klamath Lake in the large Klamath Basin. Klamath enjoys quite spectacular views. Snow-covered Mount Shasta, one of the most prominent peaks in the United States, can be seen on the southern horizon, and the outlying areas are filled with acres of farmland. Popular with outdoor enthusiasts, birdwatchers, history buffs, and fans of rural America, Klamath is a place many people are glad they didn't miss.

Arriving in Medford, OR

Full guide →

Founded 1884

Medford is a city in the Rogue Valley in Southern Oregon. The town is southern Oregon's largest and most diverse city, brimming with historical and cultural attractions while offering regional tax-free shopping. Medford is the county seat of Jackson County, and is the commercial and medical hub of southern Oregon. Its autumns tend to be very mild, and dry when compared to the rest of the state.

Top landmarks

  • • Barnum Hotel — historic hotel building in Medford, Oregon, USA
  • • Jackson County Courthouse — historic building in Medford, Oregon, United States
  • • James A. Redden Federal Courthouse — courthouse in Medford, Oregon, USA

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 1h 44m. Total distance: 82 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 36.4 miles on Falls Highway. 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 Medford, 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 5.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.7 miles (Biddle Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 80.8 miles (Biddle Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Medford, OR before heading back.

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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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