Spanning 270.8 miles, this journey from Medford to Cedar Hills takes approximately 5 hours and 22 minutes of drive time. Because the route is primarily composed of turn-heavy local roads rather than major interstates, it is best suited for a single, focused day of travel. You should budget about $54 for fuel to complete the trip. Since both cities are located within the Pacific Coast region, you will remain in the same geographic landscape throughout the drive. This itinerary is ideal for drivers who prefer local navigation over high-speed highway cruising, though you should be prepared for a steady pace to cover the distance in one day.
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
135.4 miles from Medford, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
261.3 mi
5h 5m
Beaverton-Tigard Freeway
5.6 mi
7m
North Riverside Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
Crater Lake Highway
0.4 mi
1m
Southwest Walker Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Southwest Lynnridge Avenue
0.3 mi
1m
West 4th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Southwest Mayfield Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 261.3 mi, about 5h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Medford, OR and Cedar Hills, OR.
1
Start on North Fir Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·North Fir Street
2
Turn right onto West 4th Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·West 4th Street
3
Turn left onto OR 99
1.1 mi·2 min·North Riverside Avenue
4
Turn slight right onto Riverside Avenute Connection #1
0.1 mi·23 sec·Riverside Avenute Connection #1
5
Turn straight onto OR 62
0.4 mi·1 min·Crater Lake Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
7
Merge onto I 5
261 mi·5 hr 5 min·I 5
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 292AToward OR 217: Tigard, BeavertonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto OR 217
5.6 mi·7 min·Beaverton-Tigard Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 1Toward Walker RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Southwest Walker Road
0.3 mi·46 sec·Southwest Walker Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn right onto Southwest Mayfield Avenue
0.1 mi·33 sec·Southwest Mayfield Avenue
13
Turn left onto Southwest Lynnridge Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Southwest Lynnridge Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Southwest Lynnridge Avenue
Trip Plan
Plan for at least one dedicated stop during your 5-hour and 22-minute drive to keep your energy levels consistent. Because the route relies entirely on local roads, departure timing is critical; try to leave early in the morning to avoid the potential congestion of local traffic patterns. Keep your $54 fuel budget in mind, and consider refueling before leaving the Medford area to ensure you have a full tank for the winding stretches ahead. Since you are navigating local streets rather than a major highway, keep a close eye on your GPS to stay on track through the various turns. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so don't hesitate to pull over for a break if the technical nature of the road starts to feel fatiguing.
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 135.4 miles from Medford, OR, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 261.3 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 60 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.4 miles or 2h 41m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Hills, OR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Medford, 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 Medford, OR
This is one driving day of about 270.8 miles and 5h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Medford, 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 261.3 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 0.1 and 270 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
5
2 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
8
263.5 mi into trip|~5h 11m in
Take the exit toward OR 217: Tigard, Beaverton
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.
Exit 292A
Toward OR 217: Tigard, Beaverton
7
269.8 mi into trip|~5h 19m in
Take the exit toward Walker Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1
Toward Walker Road
6
270 mi into trip|~5h 20m in|Southwest Walker Road
Turn left onto Southwest Walker Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.95 one way
$107.89 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$57.09
$114.18
premium
$5.59
$59.61
$119.22
diesel
$5.61
$59.79
$119.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.2
1
$28.43
$13.00
Efficient EV
67.7
0
$23.70
$10.83
EV Truck/SUV
108.3
1
$37.91
$17.33
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Medford, OR
Evening
in Medford on Saturday
Local time
7:48 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar Hills, OR
Evening
in Cedar Hills on Saturday
Local time
7:48 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live 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
6 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 22m 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?
Expect a very different experience than a typical interstate trek, as this route features zero highway miles. Instead, you will navigate via local thoroughfares like West 4th Street, North Riverside Avenue, and the Riverside Avenue Connection #1. The personality of this drive is distinctly turn-heavy, requiring your full attention as you transition between local road segments. Unlike monotonous straightaways, the technical nature of these roads keeps you engaged behind the wheel for the duration of the 270.8-mile trip. You will find that the constant changes in direction define the character of the journey far more than speed or elevation.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 261.3 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Beaverton-Tigard Freeway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West 4th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 270.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 263.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 22m. Total distance: 270.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 261.3 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.
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 0.1 miles (West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 263.5 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 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cedar Hills, OR before the return drive.
