Medford to Monmouth is 227 miles and takes about 4 hours 37 minutes via I-5, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Oregon, connecting two points in the Pacific Coast region. The route is primarily highway, making it a straightforward option for a single-day drive. It's a practical choice if you need to get from southern Oregon to the Monmouth area without much fuss. Expect a direct and efficient travel experience.
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
113.7 miles from Medford, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
202.5 mi
3h 56m
Northwest Springhill Drive
7.6 mi
11m
South Pacific Highway West
6.9 mi
9m
Suver Road
2.1 mi
3m
Corvallis Road
1.6 mi
2m
Santiam Highway Southeast
1.2 mi
2m
North Riverside Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
1st Avenue East
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 202.5 mi, about 3h 56m
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 Monmouth, 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
203 mi·3 hr 56 min·I 5
8
Take the exit onto Highway #001MR - Santiam Highway Connection #1
At end of road, turn left onto Main Street Southeast
228 ft·4 sec·Main Street Southeast
13
Enter roundabout onto Main Street Southeast
130 ft·2 sec·Main Street Southeast
14
Continue on Main Street Southeast
491 ft·15 sec·Main Street Southeast
15
Turn left onto 1st Avenue East
0.6 mi·1 min·1st Avenue East
16
Turn right onto US 20
154 ft·4 sec·Lyon Street South;Albany-Corvallis Highway
17
Continue on US 20
0.3 mi·45 sec·Albany-Corvallis Highway
18
Turn right onto Northwest Springhill Drive
7.6 mi·11 min·Northwest Springhill Drive
19
At end of road, turn right onto Northwest Independence Highway
0.6 mi·55 sec·Northwest Independence Highway
20
Continue on Corvallis Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Corvallis Road
21
Turn left onto Suver Road
2.1 mi·3 min·Suver Road
22
Turn right onto OR 99W
6.9 mi·9 min·South Pacific Highway West
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on OR 99W
0.4 mi·57 sec·Pacific Avenue South
24
Turn left onto OR 194
0.2 mi·24 sec·Main Street East
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
OR 194
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 37-minute driving time, starting in the morning from Medford is ideal to give you flexibility. The majority of the route is on I-5, so you can cover significant ground efficiently. Plan for one stop to break up the 202.5-mile stretch on the interstate, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you get further north; the estimated $47 fuel cost is a good guide. The final 25 miles off I-5 will feel more local, so be prepared for a change in pace.
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 113.7 miles from Medford, OR, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 202.5 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 50 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.7 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monmouth, 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 227.4 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 202.5 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 227.2 — 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
204.7 mi into trip|~4h 1m in|Highway #001MR - Santiam Highway Connection #1
Take the exit onto Highway #001MR - Santiam Highway Connection #1 toward US 20: Lebanon, Sweet Home
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20: Lebanon, Sweet Home
6
219.9 mi into trip|~4h 26m in|OR 99W / South Pacific Highway West
Turn right onto OR 99W / South Pacific Highway West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
227.2 mi into trip|~4h 36m in|OR 194 / Main Street East
Turn left onto OR 194 / Main Street East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.44 one way
$92.88 round trip
$5.19/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$49.40
$98.80
premium
$5.72
$51.20
$102.40
diesel
$5.35
$47.90
$95.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.2
0
$23.88
$10.92
Efficient EV
56.9
0
$19.90
$9.10
EV Truck/SUV
91
1
$31.84
$14.55
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% 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
Medford, OR
Afternoon
in Medford on Wednesday
Local time
3:54 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
WNW 1 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Monmouth, OR
Afternoon
in Monmouth on Wednesday
Local time
3:54 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
N 3 to 9 mph0% 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 37m 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 drive is predominantly highway, with 89% of the 227-mile trip on I-5. You'll encounter the longest stretch of uninterrupted driving for 202.5 miles on I-5. The transition to surface roads begins after that, with Northwest Springhill Drive and South Pacific Highway West making up the final segment. Expect a relatively continuous flow of traffic, with a higher number of exits and potential merging as you approach populated areas.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 202.5 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Northwest Springhill Drive. 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 4h 37m drive. You will face about 16 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 204.7 miles (Highway #001MR - Santiam Highway Connection #1): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,383 ft193 ft
Total Climb
479 ft
Total Descent
1,657 ft
Highest Point
1,383 ft
Elevation Range
1,190 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 Monmouth, OR, road signs begin pointing toward Sweet Home 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
The longest stretch is about 202.5 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 204.7 miles (Highway #001MR - Santiam Highway Connection #1): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Monmouth, OR, but most travelers stay overnight.
