Hillsboro to Merlin is 247.3 miles and takes about 5h 2m via I 5, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily sticks to the I 5 corridor as you head south through Oregon's Pacific Coast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey that's perfect for a single-day trip, offering a practical way to cover ground efficiently. Plan for a relatively uninterrupted drive, making it a good option when you just need to get from point A to point B.
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
123.6 miles from Hillsboro, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
219.7 mi
4h 17m
Southwest Hillsboro Highway
9.5 mi
13m
Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road
4.8 mi
7m
Pleasant Valley Road
2.5 mi
4m
Monument Drive
2.2 mi
3m
Southwest Tualatin Sherwood Road
1.9 mi
3m
Southwest 124th Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
Southwest Roy Rogers Road
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 219.7 mi, about 4h 17m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 38 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,763 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,120
Quietest
1 AM
~160 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
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 Hillsboro, OR and Merlin, OR.
1
Start on North 1st Avenue
0.7 mi·2 min·North 1st Avenue
2
Continue on OR 219
7.7 mi·10 min·Southwest Hillsboro Highway
3
Continue on OR 219
1.8 mi·2 min·Southwest Hillsboro Highway
4
At end of road, turn left onto OR 210
0.7 mi·1 min·Southwest Scholls Ferry Road
5
Turn right onto Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road
4.3 mi·6 min·Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road
6
Continue on Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road
0.6 mi·54 sec·Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road
7
At end of road, turn right onto Southwest Roy Rogers Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Southwest Roy Rogers Road
8
Keep slight right at fork onto Southwest Roy Rogers Road
0.3 mi·41 sec·Southwest Roy Rogers Road
9
Continue on Southwest Tualatin Sherwood Road
1.9 mi·3 min·Southwest Tualatin Sherwood Road
10
Turn right onto Southwest 124th Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·Southwest 124th Avenue
11
Continue on Basalt Creek Parkway
0.7 mi·1 min·Basalt Creek Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Southwest Grahams Ferry Road
0.4 mi·47 sec·Southwest Grahams Ferry Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto Southwest Day Street
0.6 mi·53 sec·Southwest Day Street
14
Turn right onto Southwest Boones Ferry Road
0.2 mi·32 sec·Southwest Boones Ferry Road
15
Take the ramp onto I 5
220 mi·4 hr 17 min·I 5
Toward I 5 South: SalemUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward Hugo
17
Turn right onto Monument Drive
2.2 mi·3 min·Monument Drive
18
Turn right onto Pleasant Valley Road
2.5 mi·4 min·Pleasant Valley Road
19
Turn left onto Merlin Avenue
402 ft·17 sec·Merlin Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Merlin Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 2m estimated drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. The longest stretch is over 200 miles on I 5, so plan a fuel stop before you get too low, as services can sometimes be spaced out on interstates. While there's only one recommended stop, consider breaking up the drive with a quick stretch or snack break midway through the 219.7-mile I 5 segment to stay refreshed.
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 123.6 miles from Hillsboro, OR, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 219.7 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 54 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.6 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Merlin, OR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hillsboro, 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 Hillsboro, OR
This is one driving day of about 247.3 miles and 5h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Hillsboro, 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 219.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.2 and 22.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
10.2 mi into trip|~15m in|OR 210 / Southwest Scholls Ferry Road
At end of road, turn left onto OR 210 / Southwest Scholls Ferry Road
Navigation decision point
4
11 mi into trip|~16m in|Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road
Turn right onto Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road
Navigation decision point
4
15.8 mi into trip|~23m in|Southwest Roy Rogers Road
At end of road, turn right onto Southwest Roy Rogers Road
Navigation decision point
6
21.3 mi into trip|~33m in|Southwest Grahams Ferry Road
Turn right onto Southwest Grahams Ferry Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
22.5 mi into trip|~36m in|I 5
Take the ramp onto I 5 toward I 5 South: Salem
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Salem
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.50 one way
$101.00 round trip
$5.19/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$53.72
$107.45
premium
$5.72
$55.68
$111.36
diesel
$5.35
$52.09
$104.18
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: 86.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.2
0
$25.97
$11.87
Efficient EV
61.8
0
$21.64
$9.89
EV Truck/SUV
98.9
1
$34.62
$15.83
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Hillsboro, OR
Afternoon
in Hillsboro on Wednesday
Local time
12:09 PM
PDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
NNE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Merlin, OR
Afternoon
in Merlin on Wednesday
Local time
12:09 PM
PDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
NE 2 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
50°F
Springfield, OR
124 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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 2m 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 route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the journey on major roads like I 5. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including a significant 219.7-mile segment on I 5 where you can settle into a rhythm. While it begins on local roads like Southwest Hillsboro Highway and Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road, the bulk of your time will be spent on the interstate. Expect a functional and direct driving experience rather than a winding, scenic tour.
89% 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: 219.7 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Southwest Hillsboro Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 10.2 miles in near OR 210 / Southwest Scholls Ferry Road.
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 2m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.2 miles (OR 210 / Southwest Scholls Ferry Road): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles (Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road): Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles (Southwest Roy Rogers Road): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,711 ft184 ft
Total Climb
1,717 ft
Total Descent
993 ft
Highest Point
1,711 ft
~229.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,527 ft
Notable High Points
1,711 ft at ~229.6 miles+792 ft prominence
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Hillsboro is a city in the Portland Metropolitan Area in Oregon. It contains several districts such as hip and trendy Orenco in all of its high-density glory, along with more rural South Hillsboro, although the mayor's building program is building up this area into subdivisions as of 2022. Central Hillsboro and the downtown area contains buildings dated back to the 1950s, and a few earlier examples still exist. Northern Hillsboro around the airport is mostly industrial with no tourist attractions other than the hotels.
Top landmarks
•Washington County Jail — formerly listed on the NRHP in Oregon, was located in Hillsboro, has been moved,...
•Charles Shorey House — historic house in Hillsboro, Oregon, USA
The longest stretch is about 219.7 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.2 miles (OR 210 / Southwest Scholls Ferry Road): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles (Southwest Scholls Sherwood Road): Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles (Southwest Roy Rogers Road): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Merlin, OR before the return drive.
