Madras to Keizer is 150.9 miles and takes about 3h 33m via Warm Springs Highway and I 5, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip covers ground within Oregon, moving from the Pacific Coast region towards another part of the same region. With a short duration and a manageable fuel cost, this route is a straightforward option for getting between these two points. The majority of the drive is on highways, making it a relatively quick transit.
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
75.4 miles from Madras, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Madras, OR and Keizer, OR.
1
Start on US 26; US 97
0.4 mi·1 min·5th Street
2
Continue on US 26
13 mi·19 min·Northwest Warm Springs Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 26
47 mi·1 hr 4 min·Warm Springs Highway
4
Continue on US 26
31 mi·43 min·Mount Hood Highway
5
Continue on US 26
0.7 mi·2 min·Proctor Boulevard
6
Continue on US 26
1.7 mi·3 min·Mount Hood Highway
7
Turn right onto Southeast Orient Drive
2.2 mi·3 min·Southeast Orient Drive
8
Turn left onto Southeast Compton Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Southeast Compton Road
9
Turn straight onto OR 212
12 mi·21 min·Southeast Highway 212
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I 205 South, OR 213 South: Oregon CityUse the left lane.
11
Merge onto I 205; OR 213
11 mi·14 min·I 205; OR 213
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
508 ft·6 sec
Toward I 5 South: SalemUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on this road
0.9 mi·1 min·this road
Toward I 5 South: Salem
14
Merge onto I 5
27 mi·31 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto I 5
0.4 mi·43 sec·I 5
Exit 260BToward Chemawa Road Northeast: Keizer
16
Turn right onto Chemawa Road Northeast
0.1 mi·12 sec·Chemawa Road Northeast
Use the right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto Chemawa Road Northeast
0.2 mi·31 sec·Chemawa Road Northeast
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on Chemawa Road Northeast
0.8 mi·1 min·Chemawa Road Northeast
Use the left lane.
19
Enter roundabout onto Chemawa Road Northeast
98 ft·1 sec·Chemawa Road Northeast
20
Continue on Chemawa Road Northeast
0.7 mi·1 min·Chemawa Road Northeast
21
Turn left onto River Road North
0.5 mi·1 min·River Road North
22
Turn left
125 ft·9 sec
23
Keep slight left at fork
205 ft·15 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day drive, you have flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving in the morning to make the most of daylight, especially since the 3h 33m duration doesn't account for any stops. The longest stretch without a major road change is 46.7 miles on Warm Springs Highway, so plan your first break around that point if needed. Fuel costs are estimated at $30, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before you depart, as services can be spaced out on some segments.
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 75.4 miles from Madras, OR, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.7 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 33 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.4 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Keizer, OR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Madras, 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 Madras, OR
This is one driving day of about 150.9 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Madras, 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 Warm Springs Highway for about 46.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 108.1 and 148.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
108.1 mi into trip|~2h 39m in
Turn left toward I 205 South, OR 213 South: Oregon City
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 205 South, OR 213 South: Oregon City
5
108.5 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|I 205; OR 213
Merge onto I 205; OR 213
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
119.8 mi into trip|~2h 55m 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
5
120.8 mi into trip|~2h 56m in|I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
148.7 mi into trip|~3h 28m in|Chemawa Road Northeast
Keep slight right at fork onto Chemawa Road Northeast
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.06 one way
$60.12 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$31.81
$63.63
premium
$5.59
$33.22
$66.43
diesel
$5.61
$33.32
$66.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.3
0
$15.84
$7.24
Efficient EV
37.7
0
$13.20
$6.04
EV Truck/SUV
60.4
0
$21.13
$9.66
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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 Apr 21, 2026
Origin
Madras, OR
Morning
in Madras on Tuesday
Local time
6:23 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 2 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Keizer, OR
Morning
in Keizer on Tuesday
Local time
6:23 AM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Light Rain Likely
WSW 2 mph70% chanceLive 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
2 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
3h 33m 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 drive is 34% highway, meaning you'll experience mixed driving conditions. You'll spend 46.7 miles on Warm Springs Highway before transitioning to other roads. Expect a significant amount of time on surface streets as you navigate the latter half of the route. You'll notice the change from more open highway cruising to areas with more frequent intersections.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.7 mi on Warm Springs Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 108.1 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 150.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 108.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.5 miles (I 205; OR 213): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 119.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 33m. Total distance: 150.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.7 miles on Warm Springs Highway. 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 Keizer, 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 108.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.5 miles (I 205; OR 213): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 119.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Keizer, OR, but most travelers stay overnight.
