Medford to Depoe Bay is 271.4 miles and takes about 5h 42m via I 5 and Oregon Coast Highway, with a fuel budget near $54 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Pacific Coast region of southern Oregon to the Pacific Coast region of northern Oregon. The majority of your travel will be on the interstate before transitioning to more scenic, winding roads closer to the coast. It's a straightforward, manageable drive if you're looking to get to the coast efficiently without a multi-day commitment.
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
135.7 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
197.1 mi
3h 49m
Corvallis Newport Highway
41.4 mi
56m
Oregon Coast Highway
12.7 mi
19m
Corvallis-Lebanon Highway
9.8 mi
13m
Southwest Philomath Boulevard
3.6 mi
6m
Main Street
1.5 mi
3m
North Riverside Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
College Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 197.1 mi, about 3h 49m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,366 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,716
Quietest
1 AM
~116 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Medford, OR and Depoe Bay, 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
197 mi·3 hr 49 min·I 5
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·52 sec
Toward OR 34: Lebanon, Corvallis
9
Turn left onto OR 34
9.8 mi·13 min·Corvallis-Lebanon Highway
10
Turn left onto OR 34
0.6 mi·47 sec·Newport-Corvallis Highway
11
Continue on OR 34
0.5 mi·47 sec·Corvallis-Newport Highway
12
Continue on US 20; OR 34
3.6 mi·6 min·Southwest Philomath Boulevard
13
Continue on US 20; OR 34
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
14
Take the exit onto College Street
0.7 mi·1 min·College Street
15
Turn left onto North 13th Street
387 ft·17 sec·North 13th Street
16
Turn right onto US 20; OR 34
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
17
Continue on US 20; OR 34
0.2 mi·17 sec·Corvallis-Newport Highway
18
Continue on US 20
41 mi·56 min·Corvallis Newport Highway
19
Continue on US 20
0.7 mi·1 min·East Olive Street
20
Turn right onto US 101
13 mi·19 min·Oregon Coast Highway
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto Southwest Ellingson Street
161 ft·7 sec·Southwest Ellingson Street
22
Turn straight
48 ft·3 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider leaving Medford in the morning to arrive in Depoe Bay with plenty of daylight. While the drive is achievable in one day, you'll want to factor in a stop or two for breaks. The longest continuous stretch on I 5 is nearly 200 miles, so plan a fuel and stretch break before that segment if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you get closer to the coast, as services can be more spread out on Highway 101.
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 135.7 miles from Medford, OR, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 197.1 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 135.7 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Depoe Bay, 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 271.4 miles and 5h 42m.
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 197.1 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 0.1 and 258.7 — 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
5
199.3 mi into trip|~3h 55m in
Take the exit toward OR 34: Lebanon, Corvallis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward OR 34: Lebanon, Corvallis
4
199.7 mi into trip|~3h 56m in|OR 34 / Corvallis-Lebanon Highway
Turn left onto OR 34 / Corvallis-Lebanon Highway
Navigation decision point
5
258.7 mi into trip|~5h 22m in|US 101 / Oregon Coast Highway
Turn right onto US 101 / Oregon Coast Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.42 one way
$110.85 round trip
$5.19/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$58.96
$117.92
premium
$5.72
$61.11
$122.22
diesel
$5.35
$57.16
$114.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.4
1
$28.50
$13.03
Efficient EV
67.9
0
$23.75
$10.86
EV Truck/SUV
108.6
1
$38.00
$17.37
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Medford, OR
Afternoon
in Medford on Wednesday
Local time
12:06 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
W 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Depoe Bay, OR
Afternoon
in Depoe Bay on Wednesday
Local time
12:06 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Clear
N 14 to 17 mph0% chanceLive forecast
50°F
Springfield, OR
136 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 42m 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?
With 73% of this route on highways, you'll spend a good amount of time on I 5. The longest stretch without a significant road change is 197.1 miles, all on I 5. You'll transition to the Corvallis Newport Highway and eventually the Oregon Coast Highway, which will feel like a change from the interstate's faster pace. Expect more frequent turns and potentially slower speeds as you approach your coastal destination.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 197.1 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Corvallis Newport Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West 4th Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 42m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 199.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,567 ft64 ft
Total Climb
1,259 ft
Total Descent
2,578 ft
Highest Point
1,567 ft
~58.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,503 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Medford, OR to Depoe Bay, OR, road signs begin pointing toward Corvallis along the way.
Medford is a city in the Rogue Valley in Southern Oregon. The town is southern Oregon's largest and most diverse city, brimming with historical and cultural attractions while offering regional tax-free shopping. Medford is the county seat of Jackson County, and is the commercial and medical hub of southern Oregon. Its autumns tend to be very mild, and dry when compared to the rest of the state.
Top landmarks
•Barnum Hotel — historic hotel building in Medford, Oregon, USA
•Jackson County Courthouse — historic building in Medford, Oregon, United States
•James A. Redden Federal Courthouse — courthouse in Medford, Oregon, USA
Depoe Bay is a town on the Central Oregon Coast, famous as the smallest navigable harbor in the world, and as the "whale watching capital of the world." Lots of research goes on, mostly connected to Oregon State University's oceanography department.
Top landmarks
•Depoe Bay Bridge — highway bridge in Oregon, USA
•Whale Watching Center — tourist attraction in Oregon, USA
The longest stretch is about 197.1 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 199.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Depoe Bay, OR before the return drive.
