Durham to Medford is 262.8 miles and takes about 5h 11m via I 5, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Oregon, connecting two points in the Pacific Coast region. With 99% of the drive on the highway, expect a straightforward trip focused on covering distance. It's a solid one-day option if you're looking to get from the Portland area down to Southern Oregon efficiently.
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
131.4 miles from Durham, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
259.6 mi
5h 3m
Court Street
0.7 mi
1m
North Central Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Crater Lake Highway
0.4 mi
<1m
Southwest Durham Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Southwest 72nd Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
East 4th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
North Fir Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 259.6 mi, about 5h 3m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 114 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,101 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,526
Quietest
1 AM
~176 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Durham, OR and Medford, OR.
1
Start on Southwest Upper Boones Ferry Road
113 ft·7 sec·Southwest Upper Boones Ferry Road
2
Turn right onto Southwest Durham Road
0.3 mi·48 sec·Southwest Durham Road
3
Turn right onto Southwest 72nd Avenue
0.2 mi·38 sec·Southwest 72nd Avenue
4
Turn left onto Southwest Lower Boones Ferry Road
0.1 mi·14 sec·Southwest Lower Boones Ferry Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 5 South: SalemUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 5
260 mi·5 hr 3 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward OR 62: Crater Lake Highway, Medford, Klamath FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto OR 62
0.4 mi·52 sec·Crater Lake Highway
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto OR 99
0.7 mi·1 min·Court Street
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on OR 99
0.5 mi·1 min·North Central Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn right onto East 4th Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·East 4th Street
12
Turn left onto North Fir Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·North Fir Street
13
Arrive at destination
North Fir Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 11m duration, starting your drive shortly after sunrise will allow you ample time to reach Medford before evening. The longest stretch on I 5 is over 250 miles, so plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can sometimes be spaced out on interstates. The estimated fuel cost of $50 should cover the 262.8 miles. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility to depart later if needed, but an earlier start is recommended for a relaxed pace.
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 131.4 miles from Durham, OR, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 259.6 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 58 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.4 miles or 2h 34m 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 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 Durham, 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 Durham, OR
This is one driving day of about 262.8 miles and 5h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Durham, 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 259.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 262.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 South: Salem
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 5 South: Salem
5
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
260.6 mi into trip|~5h 5m 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
260.9 mi into trip|~5h 6m in|OR 62 / Crater Lake Highway
Turn right onto OR 62 / Crater Lake Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
262.7 mi into trip|~5h 11m in|North Fir Street
Turn left onto North Fir Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.93 one way
$105.86 round trip
$5.12/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.43
$56.15
$112.30
premium
$5.67
$58.71
$117.41
diesel
$6.28
$64.93
$129.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.8
0
$27.59
$12.61
Efficient EV
65.7
0
$23.00
$10.51
EV Truck/SUV
105.1
1
$36.79
$16.82
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 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 Oct 23, 2026
Origin
Durham, OR
Late night
in Durham on Saturday
Local time
3:56 AM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Partly Cloudy
S 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 22 at 10:48PM PDT until October 23 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 22 at 10:48PM PDT until October 23 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Destination
Medford, OR
Late night
in Medford on Saturday
Local time
3:56 AM
PDT
Current temp
37°F
Partly Cloudy
W 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 22 at 10:48PM PDT until October 23 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 22 at 10:48PM PDT until October 23 at 11:00AM 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
4 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
5h 11m 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 overwhelmingly on I 5, accounting for 99% of the 262.8 miles. You'll experience a long stretch of 259.6 miles solely on this interstate. The final leg, after the highway portion ends, will be on Court Street and North Central Avenue for the remaining 3.2 miles, transitioning to a more local feel. Expect frequent exits and merges along the interstate corridor.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 259.6 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Court Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 11m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 260.6 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.
Top landmarks
•Barnum Hotel — historic hotel building in Medford, Oregon, USA
•James A. Redden Federal Courthouse — courthouse in Medford, Oregon, USA
•Holly Theatre — former movie theater in Medford, Oregon, United States
The longest stretch is about 259.6 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 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 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 260.6 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.
