Origin
Gresham, OR
Morning in Gresham on Friday
Local time
7:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gresham, OR to Drain, OR
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 19m
Distance
158.2 mi
255 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 7m
★
6 AM
3h 19m
8 AM
3h 43m
10 AM
3h 27m
12 PM
3h 25m
3 PM
3h 29m
5 PM
3h 42m
8 PM
3h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gresham, OR
Wikimedia Commons
Drain, OR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Gresham, OR to Drain, OR covers 158.2 miles and takes about 3h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, I 205, OR 99 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 125.3 miles on I 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.66 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.1 miles from Gresham, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 125.3 mi | 2h 26m |
| I 205 | 16.6 mi | 21m |
| OR 99 | 6.6 mi | 9m |
| Southeast Foster Road | 3.6 mi | 7m |
| West Powell Boulevard | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| Southeast Jenne Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Southeast 174th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Southeast 94th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 125.3 mi, about 2h 26m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,519 veh/hr typical · worst 2,974
Quietest
1 AM
~213 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Gresham, OR and Drain, OR.
1
Start on this road
118 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 26
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
West Powell Boulevard
3
Continue on US 26
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Southeast Powell Boulevard
4
Turn left onto Southeast 174th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Southeast 174th Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on Southeast Jenne Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast Jenne Road
6
At end of road, turn right onto Southeast Foster Road
3.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Southeast Foster Road
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp onto Southeast 94th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Southeast 94th Avenue
Toward I 205 South: Oregon City, Salem
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Merge onto I 205
17 mi
·
21 min
·
I 205
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
508 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 5 South: Salem
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on this road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Toward I 5 South: Salem
11
Merge onto I 5
125 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto OR 99
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
OR 99
Toward OR 38, OR 99: Drain, Elkton
13
Turn right onto OR 99
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
West B Avenue
14
Turn left onto OR 99
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Cedar Street
15
Turn right onto Payton Avenue
109 ft
·
10 sec
·
Payton Avenue
16
Turn left
85 ft
·
6 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 79.1 miles from Gresham, OR, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 125.3 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 35 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.1 miles or 1h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Drain, OR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gresham, 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 Gresham, OR
This is one driving day of about 158.2 miles and 3h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Gresham, 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 125.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.1 miles from Gresham, OR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 125.3 miles.
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 125 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 24.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Southeast 174th Avenue
Turn left onto Southeast 174th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
4.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Southeast Foster Road
At end of road, turn right onto Southeast Foster Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
7.9 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
Southeast 94th Avenue
Take the ramp onto Southeast 94th Avenue toward I 205 South: Oregon City, Salem
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward I 205 South: Oregon City, Salem
5
8.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 205
Merge onto I 205
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
24.8 mi into trip
|
~40m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.66 one way
$61.32 round trip
$4.92/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.20 | $32.40 | $64.80 |
| premium | $5.44 | $33.86 | $67.73 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $34.87 | $69.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.5 | 0 | $16.61 | $7.59 |
| Efficient EV | 39.6 | 0 | $13.84 | $6.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.3 | 0 | $22.15 | $10.12 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Drain, OR
Morning in Drain on Friday
Local time
7:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Salem, OR
79 mi in
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
1 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
3h 19m 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?
158.2 mi in 3h 19m, mostly highway — 125.3 mi of that is on I 5.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 125.3 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and I 205. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in near Southeast 174th Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 158.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 2.8 miles (Southeast 174th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (Southeast Foster Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles (Southeast 94th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
589 ft
185 ft
Total Climb
526 ft
Total Descent
552 ft
Highest Point
589 ft
~135.6 mi in
Elevation Range
404 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Gresham, OR
Full guide →Founded 1905
Gresham is the fourth largest city within the state of Oregon, with a population of 114,000 in 2020. It's the home of an annual jazz festival. It is a part of the Portland Metropolitan Area and is generally considered a Portland suburb. The downtown area of Gresham can be easily missed by those driving along W Powell Blvd, but has a handful of restaurants and shops to offer, as well as Main City Park.
Top landmarks
- • Charles and Fae Olson House — historic house in Gresham, Oregon, USA
- • Dr. Herbert H. Hughes House — historic house in Gresham, Oregon, USA
- • Emanuel and Christina Anderson House — historic house in Gresham, Oregon, USA
Arriving in Drain, OR
Full guide →Founded 1887
Top landmarks
- • Charles and Anna Drain House — historic house in Drain, Oregon, USA
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 19m. Total distance: 158.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 125.3 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 Drain, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles (Southeast 174th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (Southeast Foster Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles (Southeast 94th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Drain, OR, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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