Dundee to Medford is 256.6 miles and takes about 5h 13m via I 5, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily follows Interstate 5, connecting two points within the Pacific Coast region of Oregon. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, this is an ideal same-day journey. You'll experience a consistent driving pace for most of the trip, making it a straightforward option for getting between these two Oregon locations.
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
128.3 miles from Dundee, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
232.9 mi
4h 32m
Southeast Dayton Highway
8.7 mi
12m
North Pacific Highway West
3.9 mi
6m
Wheatland Road North
3.2 mi
4m
Brooklake Road Northeast
1.7 mi
2m
Southeast Dayton Bypass
1.3 mi
1m
Wheatland Road Northwest
1.1 mi
2m
Court Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 232.9 mi, about 4h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dundee, OR and Medford, OR.
1
Start on OR 99W
3.9 mi·6 min·North Pacific Highway West
2
Turn left onto OR 18; OR 233
1.3 mi·1 min·Southeast Dayton Bypass
3
Take the exit
316 ft·12 sec
4
Turn right onto Southeast Foster Road
0.2 mi·16 sec·Southeast Foster Road
5
Continue on 3rd Street
0.5 mi·42 sec·3rd Street
6
Turn straight onto OR 221
8.7 mi·12 min·Southeast Dayton Highway
7
Continue on OR 221
0.3 mi·31 sec·Southeast Salem-Dayton Highway
8
Turn left onto Wheatland Road Northwest
1.1 mi·2 min·Wheatland Road Northwest
9
Continue on Wheatland Ferry
498 ft·1 min·Wheatland Ferry
10
Continue on CR 504
0.5 mi·55 sec·Matheny Road North
11
Turn right onto Wheatland Road North
3.2 mi·4 min·Wheatland Road North
12
Turn left onto CR 609
1.7 mi·2 min·Brooklake Road Northeast
13
Take the ramp onto I 5
233 mi·4 hr 32 min·I 5
Toward I 5 South: SalemUse the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward OR 62: Crater Lake Highway, Medford, Klamath FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto OR 62
0.4 mi·52 sec·Crater Lake Highway
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto OR 99
0.7 mi·1 min·Court Street
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on OR 99
0.5 mi·1 min·North Central Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
18
Turn right onto East 4th Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·East 4th Street
19
Turn left onto North Fir Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·North Fir Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Fir Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 5 hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Consider an early morning departure from Dundee to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. You'll have one planned stop, but with over 230 miles between potential breaks on I 5, ensure your fuel tank is adequately filled before embarking on the longest stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as services can be more spread out in certain sections of I 5.
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 128.3 miles from Dundee, OR, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 232.9 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 56 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.3 miles or 2h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 16m
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 Dundee, 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 Dundee, OR
This is one driving day of about 256.6 miles and 5h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Dundee, 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 I 5 for about 232.9 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 256.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.2 mi into trip|~8m in|Southeast Foster Road
Turn right onto Southeast Foster Road
Navigation decision point
6
21.5 mi into trip|~34m in|I 5
Take the ramp onto I 5 toward I 5 South: Salem
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 5 South: Salem
7
254.4 mi into trip|~5h 7m 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...
5
254.7 mi into trip|~5h 8m in|OR 62 / Crater Lake Highway
Turn right onto OR 62 / Crater Lake Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
256.5 mi into trip|~5h 12m in|North Fir Street
Turn left onto North Fir Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.12 one way
$102.24 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$54.10
$108.20
premium
$5.59
$56.48
$112.96
diesel
$5.61
$56.65
$113.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77
0
$26.94
$12.32
Efficient EV
64.2
0
$22.45
$10.26
EV Truck/SUV
102.6
1
$35.92
$16.42
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% 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 Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Dundee, OR
Late night
in Dundee on Tuesday
Local time
3:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Medford, OR
Late night
in Medford on Tuesday
Local time
3:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 13m 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 is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 91% of the journey on major interstates like I 5. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 232.9 miles on I 5, offering a consistent cruising speed. While the majority is highway, there are brief transitions onto local roads such as Southeast Dayton Highway and North Pacific Highway West. Expect a steady, predictable drive for the bulk of the 5h 13m travel time.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 232.9 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Southeast Dayton Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in near Southeast Foster Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 13m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.2 miles (Southeast Foster Road): Navigation decision point; at 21.5 miles (I 5): Lane positioning matters here; at 254.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
The longest stretch is about 232.9 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 21 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.
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 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.2 miles (Southeast Foster Road): Navigation decision point; at 21.5 miles (I 5): Lane positioning matters here; at 254.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 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.
