If you are planning a trip from Gresham to Yoncalla, you are looking at a straightforward 162.9-mile journey across the Pacific Coast region. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 24 minutes behind the wheel, making this a very manageable one-day excursion. With a fuel budget of approximately $32, the trip is quite economical for a solo driver or a small group. You will primarily utilize I-5, I-205, and Southeast Foster Road to navigate your way south. Since the entire drive remains within the same region, you won't experience drastic shifts in climate or landscape, which keeps the logistics simple and stress-free for a quick getaway.
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
81.4 miles from Gresham, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
133 mi
2h 34m
I 205
16.6 mi
21m
Southeast Foster Road
3.6 mi
7m
Elkhead Road
3.3 mi
5m
West Powell Boulevard
2.7 mi
6m
Southeast Jenne Road
0.9 mi
2m
Southeast 174th Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Anlauf Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 133 mi, about 2h 34m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,239 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,615
Quietest
1 AM
~191 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.7×
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 Gresham, OR and Yoncalla, 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, SalemUse 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: SalemUse 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
133 mi·2 hr 34 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Toward Scotts Valley, Elkhead
13
Turn left onto CR 25
0.4 mi·37 sec·Anlauf Road
14
Continue on CR 7
3.3 mi·5 min·Elkhead Road
15
At end of road, turn right onto OR 99
0.3 mi·38 sec·Eagle Valley Road
16
Turn left onto Third Street
323 ft·16 sec·Third Street
17
Turn right onto Alder Street
238 ft·10 sec·Alder Street
18
Arrive at destination
Alder Street
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 3-hour and 24-minute travel time. Since the longest stretch covers 133 miles on I-5, try to time your break near the midpoint to avoid fatigue. Leaving during off-peak hours is a smart way to bypass potential congestion as you transition from the Gresham area onto the interstate. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, keeping that $32 estimate in mind as you plan your stops. Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though aiming for a mid-morning start often provides the best balance of traffic and daylight.
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 81.4 miles from Gresham, OR, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133 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 36 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.4 miles or 1h 46m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yoncalla, 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 162.9 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 133 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 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
$33.27 one way
$66.53 round trip
$5.19/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$35.39
$70.78
premium
$5.72
$36.68
$73.36
diesel
$5.35
$34.31
$68.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.9
0
$17.10
$7.82
Efficient EV
40.7
0
$14.25
$6.52
EV Truck/SUV
65.2
0
$22.81
$10.43
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Gresham, OR
Afternoon
in Gresham on Wednesday
Local time
1:10 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Clear
W 3 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Yoncalla, OR
Afternoon
in Yoncalla on Wednesday
Local time
1:10 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
N 3 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
51°F
Salem, OR
81 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
2 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 24m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 route is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 92% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will quickly settle into a rhythm once you merge onto I-5, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 133 miles. While the initial leg involves navigating local connections like Southeast Foster Road, the vast majority of the mileage is a steady interstate experience. Because the road is engineered for efficiency rather than technical complexity, you can expect a consistent and predictable pace. It is the kind of drive where you can easily find your cruise control settings and maintain steady momentum until you reach your destination.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 133 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 Effort6/10
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 162.9 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
701 ft162 ft
Total Climb
593 ft
Total Descent
544 ft
Highest Point
701 ft
~139.6 mi in
Elevation Range
539 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 24m. Total distance: 162.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 133 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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 Yoncalla, 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 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Yoncalla, OR, but most travelers stay overnight.
