Astoria, OR to Medford, OR is 355.4 miles and takes about 7h 27m via I 5, with a fuel budget near $71 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive takes you from the Pacific Coast region of Oregon down to its southern end, also within the Pacific Coast region. While it's a manageable one-day trip, be prepared for a significant portion of your journey on I 5. Consider this route if you need to cover ground efficiently within Oregon.
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
177.7 miles from Astoria, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
261.3 mi
5h 5m
Northwest Sunset Highway
33.8 mi
46m
Nehalem Highway
26.1 mi
45m
Sunset Highway
13.4 mi
15m
Oregon Route 103
9 mi
12m
Beaverton-Tigard Freeway
6.8 mi
9m
Williamsport Road
0.9 mi
2m
Court Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 261.3 mi, about 5h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Astoria, OR and Medford, OR.
1
Start on this road
77 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Exchange Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·Exchange Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto 14th Street
0.3 mi·44 sec·14th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto Jerome Avenue
358 ft·14 sec·Jerome Avenue
5
Turn right onto 15th Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·15th Street
6
Turn left onto Niagara Avenue
347 ft·9 sec·Niagara Avenue
7
Continue on 16th Street
0.1 mi·17 sec·16th Street
8
Continue on Williamsport Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Williamsport Road
9
At end of road, turn left onto OR 202
0.2 mi·24 sec·Southeast Front Street
10
Continue on OR 202
26 mi·45 min·Nehalem Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto OR 103
8.9 mi·12 min·Oregon Route 103
12
Continue on OR 103
0.1 mi·11 sec·Oregon Route 103
13
At end of road, turn right onto US 26
13 mi·15 min·Sunset Highway
14
Continue on US 26
14 mi·19 min·Northwest Sunset Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on US 26
20 mi·26 min·Northwest Sunset Highway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 69AToward OR 217 South: Tigard, SalemUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto OR 217
6.8 mi·9 min·Beaverton-Tigard Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·43 sec
Toward I 5 South: SalemUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 5
261 mi·5 hr 5 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward OR 62: Crater Lake Highway, Medford, Klamath FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn right onto OR 62
0.4 mi·52 sec·Crater Lake Highway
Use the right lane.
22
Turn left onto OR 99
0.7 mi·1 min·Court Street
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on OR 99
0.5 mi·1 min·North Central Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Turn right onto East 4th Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·East 4th Street
25
Turn left onto North Fir Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·North Fir Street
26
Arrive at destination
North Fir Street
Trip Plan
With a duration of around 7.5 hours, this trip is best tackled in a single day, allowing you to depart anytime in the morning. Plan for approximately 2 stops to break up the drive and refuel. The longest stretch on I 5 means you'll want to ensure you have adequate fuel before entering that section, as services might be less frequent. Given the 78% highway share, keeping an eye on traffic conditions, especially around urban areas on I 5, is advisable.
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 177.7 miles from Astoria, OR, or about 3h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 261.3 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 78 miles or 1h 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.7 miles or 3h 56m 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 13m
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 Astoria, 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 Astoria, OR
This is one driving day of about 355.4 miles and 7h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Astoria, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 261.3 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 353.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Exchange Street
Turn left onto Exchange Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|14th Street
Turn right onto 14th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
84.3 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward OR 217 South: Tigard, Salem
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 69A
Toward OR 217 South: Tigard, Salem
6
91.4 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Take the exit toward I 5 South: Salem
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Salem
7
353.2 mi into trip|~7h 21m in
Take the exit toward OR 62: Crater Lake Highway, Medford, Klamath Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward OR 62: Crater Lake Highway, Medford, Kla...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$70.80 one way
$141.60 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg124 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$74.93
$149.86
premium
$5.59
$78.23
$156.46
diesel
$5.61
$78.47
$156.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$71
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$96–$121
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
106.6
1
$37.32
$17.06
Efficient EV
88.9
1
$31.10
$14.22
EV Truck/SUV
142.2
1
$49.76
$22.75
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
42 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Astoria, OR
Evening
in Astoria on Saturday
Local time
6:18 PM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Medford, OR
Evening
in Medford on Saturday
Local time
6:18 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 27m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Explore the timeless rainforests and majestic coastal vistas. Discover the rich heritage of the native people. Unfold the dramatic stories of America's most famous explorers. The park encompasses site...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 78% of the route utilizing major highways like I 5. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch of 261.3 miles on I 5, which offers a consistent driving pace. The journey begins on more local roads like Northwest Sunset Highway and Nehalem Highway before transitioning to the interstate. Expect a mix of faster highway travel and potentially some slower sections as you navigate the initial and final portions of the trip.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 261.3 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Northwest Sunset Highway. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Exchange Street.
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 355.4 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: near the start (Exchange Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (14th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 84.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Astoria, OR to Medford, OR, road signs begin pointing toward Salem along the way.
Astoria is a city on the Northern Oregon Coast. It is a small rainy town on the edge of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. It is famous for being the terminus for the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the setting of the movie The Goonies, and its Victorian-era homes built into the hillside overlooking the Columbia River.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 27m. Total distance: 355.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 27m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 261.3 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Exchange Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (14th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 84.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 14.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Medford, OR before the return drive.
