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Trip from Damascus, OR to Keizer, OR

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 4m

Distance

48.6 mi

78 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
0h 59m ★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m

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

city in Oregon, USA

Damascus, OR

Wikimedia Commons

city in Oregon, USA

Keizer, OR

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Spanning 48.5 miles, this straightforward trek from Damascus to Keizer typically takes about 57 minutes of driving time. You can easily complete this journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay, making it a convenient transit route within the Pacific Coast region. Budgeting approximately $10 for fuel should be sufficient to cover the distance given current estimates. Because the route involves navigating through local roads before connecting to major thoroughfares, it functions best as a direct trip rather than a leisurely sightseeing tour. Keep in mind that this is a practical commute between two Oregon communities, so plan your schedule accordingly to avoid potential peak-hour congestion.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 5 27.8 mi 32m
I 205 11.3 mi 14m
Southeast Highway 212 5.8 mi 10m
Chemawa Road Northeast 1.8 mi 3m
River Road North 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 5 — 27.8 mi, about 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Damascus, OR and Keizer, OR.

1

Start on OR 212

5.8 mi · 10 min · Southeast Highway 212
Use the left lane.
2

Turn left

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Toward I 205 South, OR 213 South: Oregon City Use the left lane.
3

Merge onto I 205; OR 213

11 mi · 14 min · I 205; OR 213
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Keep slight left at fork

508 ft · 6 sec
Toward I 5 South: Salem Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Continue on this road

0.9 mi · 1 min · this road
Toward I 5 South: Salem
6

Merge onto I 5

27 mi · 31 min · I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit onto I 5

0.4 mi · 43 sec · I 5
Exit 260B Toward Chemawa Road Northeast: Keizer
8

Turn right onto Chemawa Road Northeast

0.1 mi · 12 sec · Chemawa Road Northeast
Use the right lane.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto Chemawa Road Northeast

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Chemawa Road Northeast
Use the left / straight lanes.
10

Continue on Chemawa Road Northeast

0.8 mi · 1 min · Chemawa Road Northeast
Use the left lane.
11

Enter roundabout onto Chemawa Road Northeast

98 ft · 1 sec · Chemawa Road Northeast
12

Continue on Chemawa Road Northeast

0.7 mi · 1 min · Chemawa Road Northeast
13

Turn left onto River Road North

0.5 mi · 1 min · River Road North
14

Turn left

125 ft · 9 sec
15

Keep slight left at fork

205 ft · 15 sec
16

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Oak Grove, OR, OR

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Oak Grove, OR

24 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

Oregon City, OR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

King City, OR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.3 miles from Damascus, 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 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 46.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
5.8 mi into trip | ~10m in

Turn left toward I 205 South, OR 213 South: Oregon City

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward I 205 South, OR 213 South: Oregon City
5
6.2 mi into trip | ~11m in | I 205; OR 213

Merge onto I 205; OR 213

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
17.5 mi into trip | ~25m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Salem

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 5 South: Salem
5
18.5 mi into trip | ~26m in | I 5

Merge onto I 5

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
46.4 mi into trip | ~59m in | Chemawa Road Northeast

Keep slight right at fork onto Chemawa Road Northeast

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.68 one way

$19.36 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $10.25 $20.49
premium $5.59 $10.70 $21.40
diesel $5.61 $10.73 $21.46

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.6 0 $5.10 $2.33
Efficient EV 12.2 0 $4.25 $1.94
EV Truck/SUV 19.4 0 $6.80 $3.11

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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

Damascus, OR

Night in Damascus on Saturday

Local time

10:57 PM

PDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Keizer, OR

Night in Keizer on Saturday

Local time

10:57 PM

PDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

41°F

Oak Grove, OR

24 mi in

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

24 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

1h 4m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This 48.5-mile journey is defined by its turn-heavy local feel, transitioning from suburban roads onto high-speed arteries. You will begin by navigating local connections like Highway 212 before merging onto I-205 South and eventually I-5 South to finish the trip. While the drive is relatively short, the initial segments require more focus due to the technical nature of the local roads. Since the highway share is low, expect a mix of stop-and-go suburban driving followed by the steady pace of the interstate. Staying alert during those first few miles is key, as the character of the road shifts significantly once you reach the larger highway system.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.8 mi on I 5.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and I 205. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 5.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.2 miles (I 205; OR 213): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Damascus, OR to Keizer, OR, road signs begin pointing toward Chemawa Road Northeast: Keizer along the way.

Chemawa Road Northeast: Keizer

45.8 mi in | ~58m | via I 5

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 48.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 27.8 miles on I 5. 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 Keizer, 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 5.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.2 miles (I 205; OR 213): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Keizer, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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