Athena, OR to Beaverton, OR is 236.9 miles and takes about 4h 35m via Columbia River Highway, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Oregon, moving from the Pacific Coast region towards the same region. Expect a route that primarily uses surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate drive. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 158.3 miles on the Columbia River Highway, this is a manageable drive for a single day.
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
118.4 miles from Athena, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Columbia River Highway
158.3 mi
2h 56m
Old Oregon Trail Highway
43 mi
46m
New Oregon-Washington Highway
12.3 mi
17m
Banfield Freeway
6.8 mi
9m
Oregon-Washington Highway
4.8 mi
6m
US 26
4.8 mi
6m
Beaverton-Tigard Freeway
1.5 mi
1m
I 5
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Columbia River Highway
— 158.3 mi, about 2h 56m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,630 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,160
Quietest
2 AM
~159 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Athena, OR and Beaverton, OR.
1
Start on 3rd Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·3rd Street
2
Turn right onto OR 11
4.1 mi·5 min·Oregon-Washington Highway
3
Continue on OR 11
12 mi·17 min·New Oregon-Washington Highway
4
Keep slight left at fork onto OR 11
226 ft·3 sec·New Oregon-Washington Highway
5
Continue on US 30; OR 11
0.7 mi·1 min·Southeast Court Avenue
6
Turn left onto OR 11
0.8 mi·1 min·Oregon-Washington Highway
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
8
Merge onto I 84
43 mi·46 min·Old Oregon Trail Highway
9
Continue on I 84; US 30
158 mi·2 hr 56 min·Columbia River Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on I 84; US 30
6.8 mi·9 min·Banfield Freeway
Toward PortlandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·32 sec
Toward I 5 South: Salem, OMSI, City Center
12
Keep slight left at fork
261 ft·4 sec
Toward I 5 South: Beaverton, SalemUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 5
1.1 mi·1 min·I 5
14
Take the exit onto Stadium Freeway
0.3 mi·30 sec·Stadium Freeway
Toward I 405, US 26: Beaverton
15
Merge onto I 405
0.7 mi·59 sec·Stadium Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto US 26
4.8 mi·6 min·US 26
Exit 1DToward US 26 West: BeavertonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 69BToward Park Way, Barnes RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto Southwest Baltic Avenue
0.1 mi·19 sec·Southwest Baltic Avenue
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto Southwest Barnes Road
0.1 mi·18 sec·Southwest Barnes Road
20
Turn left onto OR 217
1.5 mi·1 min·Beaverton-Tigard Freeway
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 2AToward OR 8, OR 10: Canyon Road, Beaverton-Hillsdale HighwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·33 sec·this road
Toward OR 217 SouthUse the straight / left / right lanes.
For this 4.5-hour drive, leaving in the morning offers ample daylight to complete the trip. Consider starting your drive right after breakfast to maximize your time. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $47, you have flexibility in pacing. Pay attention as you transition between the main highways and the surface roads; the longest stretch on the Columbia River Highway covers a significant portion of the route, so be prepared for that change in driving environment.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 118.4 miles from Athena, OR, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 158.3 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 52 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.4 miles or 2h 16m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beaverton, OR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Athena, 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 Athena, OR
This is one driving day of about 236.9 miles and 4h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Athena, OR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Columbia River Highway for about 158.3 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 226.7 and 235.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
226.7 mi into trip|~4h 19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Salem, OMSI, City Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 5 South: Salem, OMSI, City Center
8
227.1 mi into trip|~4h 19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Beaverton, Salem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Beaverton, Salem
7
229.2 mi into trip|~4h 23m in|US 26
Take the exit onto US 26 toward US 26 West: Beaverton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1D
Toward US 26 West: Beaverton
8
234 mi into trip|~4h 29m in
Take the exit toward Park Way, Barnes Road
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 69B
Toward Park Way, Barnes Road
8
235.9 mi into trip|~4h 33m in
Take the exit toward OR 8, OR 10: Canyon Road, Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway
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 2A
Toward OR 8, OR 10: Canyon Road, Beaverton-Hill...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.98 one way
$83.96 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$44.96
$89.91
premium
$5.04
$47.03
$94.05
diesel
$4.80
$44.73
$89.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.1
0
$24.87
$11.37
Efficient EV
59.2
0
$20.73
$9.48
EV Truck/SUV
94.8
1
$33.17
$15.16
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Athena, OR
Night
in Athena on Saturday
Local time
11:58 PM
PDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny then Patchy Smoke
W 8 to 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 5:11AM PDT until July 18 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Destination
Beaverton, OR
Night
in Beaverton on Saturday
Local time
11:58 PM
PDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
N 2 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 5:11AM 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
5 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
4h 35m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive primarily utilizes surface roads, with highways making up about 6% of the total mileage. You'll experience a long stretch of 158.3 miles on the Columbia River Highway before transitioning. Expect to encounter more frequent intersections and local traffic as you move away from any limited-access sections.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 158.3 mi on Columbia River Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 226.7 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 236.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 226.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 227.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 229.2 miles (US 26): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,723 ft49 ft
Total Climb
364 ft
Total Descent
1,892 ft
Highest Point
1,723 ft
Elevation Range
1,675 ft
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 Athena, OR to Beaverton, OR, road signs begin pointing toward Portland along the way.
Beaverton is a western suburb in the Portland Metropolitan Area. Beaverton is an economic center for Washington County along with neighboring Hillsboro. It is home to the world headquarters of Nike, Inc., and to about 100,000 people (2019).
Top landmarks
•Fanno Farmhouse — historic house in Beaverton, Oregon, USA
•Beaverton Downtown Historic District — historic district in Oregon, USA
•John Quincy Adams Young House — historic house near Portland, Oregon, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 35m. Total distance: 236.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 158.3 miles on Columbia River Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Beaverton, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 226.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 227.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 229.2 miles (US 26): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Beaverton, OR, but most travelers stay overnight.
