Crossing the country from Medford, Oregon, to Trenton, New Jersey, is a serious undertaking spanning 2,984 miles. With a driving time of approximately 45 hours and 22 minutes, this is certainly not a trip for the faint of heart or a quick weekend getaway. We recommend planning for at least 4 days on the road to maintain a safe and manageable pace. Budgeting roughly $594 for fuel is essential, as this long-distance drive transitions you from the Pacific Coast all the way to the Northeast. It is a major commitment, so ensure your vehicle is prepared for the sustained intensity of a cross-country journey before you depart.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
15 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
1492.6 miles from Medford, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 25h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
949.2 mi
15h 32m
Purple Heart Trail
621 mi
10h 36m
Pennsylvania Turnpike
352.2 mi
6h 22m
I 80
336.8 mi
6h 17m
Ohio Turnpike
241.2 mi
4h 18m
Indiana Toll Road
135.9 mi
2h 27m
I 5
86.8 mi
1h 40m
CA 89
77.5 mi
1h 35m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 949.2 mi, about 15h 32m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 345 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,793 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,138
Quietest
2 AM
~195 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.2×
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 Medford, OR and Trenton, NJ.
1
Start on North Fir Street
0.3 mi·53 sec·North Fir Street
2
Turn left onto West 10th Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·West 10th Street
3
Turn right onto OR 99
0.6 mi·1 min·South Central Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on OR 99
415 ft·15 sec·South Riverside Avenue
5
Turn left onto East Barnett Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Barnett Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto Highland Drive
0.2 mi·21 sec·Highland Drive
Use the right lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·51 sec
8
Merge onto I 5
87 mi·1 hr 40 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·47 sec
Toward McCloud
10
Turn straight onto CA 89
78 mi·1 hr 35 min·CA 89
11
Turn left onto CA 44
8.7 mi·10 min·Old Station Road
12
Continue on CA 44
37 mi·42 min·Feather Lake Highway
13
At end of road, turn left onto CA 36
10 mi·15 min·CA 36
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 395
64 mi·1 hr 14 min·Route 395
15
Continue on US 395
16 mi·17 min·Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·10 sec
Exit 68Toward I 80: Sparks, Elko, Reno, Sacramento
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 80: Sparks, Elko
18
Merge onto I 80
515 mi·8 hr 21 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
0.3 mi·41 sec·I 80
Toward I 80 East, I 15 South: Cheyenne, Las Vegas
20
Merge onto I 15
2.3 mi·2 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
434 mi·7 hr 10 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 80
621 mi·10 hr 36 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
152 mi·2 hr 44 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
25
Take the exit onto US 6
13 mi·15 min·US 6
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
26
Continue on I 280
14 mi·14 min·I 280
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 280
0.4 mi·27 sec·I 280
28
Merge onto I 80
145 mi·2 hr 40 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
24 mi·32 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
30
Take the exit onto I 80
0.9 mi·2 min·I 80
Exit 16Toward I 80 East, I 90Use the slight right lane.
31
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
0.3 mi·49 sec·I 80
Toward I 80 East, I 90 East: Ohio, Indiana Toll Road EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Merge onto I 80; I 90
136 mi·2 hr 27 min·Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on I 80; I 90
142 mi·2 hr 32 min·Ohio Turnpike
34
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
9.2 mi·9 min·Ohio Turnpike
35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
90 mi·1 hr 36 min·Ohio Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Continue on I 76; PATP
352 mi·6 hr 22 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 351Toward US 1: Philadelphia, TrentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 1 North: Trenton, PrincetonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Merge onto US 1
1.0 mi·1 min·Lincoln Highway
Use the straight lane.
40
Continue on US 1
11 mi·15 min·Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
Use the straight lane.
41
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi·32 sec·Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge
Use the straight lane.
42
Continue on US 1
0.5 mi·54 sec·Trenton Freeway
43
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward NJ 33 East: Market Street, South Clinton Avenue, Train StationUse the slight right lane.
44
Turn right onto NJ 33
0.1 mi·20 sec·Market Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
45
Turn slight left onto NJ 33
0.6 mi·1 min·Greenwood Avenue
46
Turn right onto CR 626
0.2 mi·33 sec·Chambers Street
47
Arrive at destination
CR 626
Trip Plan
To tackle this 45-hour trek effectively, aim to split the mileage into 4 distinct days of driving to prevent exhaustion. Because you are managing 12 stops along the way, use these intervals to stretch and refuel your vehicle, keeping your $594 fuel budget in mind as prices fluctuate across regions. Start your days early to maximize daylight hours, which helps when navigating the transitions between local roads and longer stretches. Since the route involves heavy reliance on non-highway roads, keep a physical map or reliable GPS handy to navigate the specific turns on West 10th Street and South Riverside Avenue. Prioritize consistent rest over speed, as the sheer length of the trip makes pacing your energy the most critical factor for success.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 4-day trip.
Plan roughly 15 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 1492.6 miles from Medford, OR, or about 25h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 949.2 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 220 miles or 4h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 1492.6 miles or 25h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 746.3 miles or 13h 15m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 51h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Trenton, NJ 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 4-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Medford, OR
Aim for roughly 746 miles and 13.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 746 miles and 13.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 746 miles and 13.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Trenton, NJ
Aim for roughly 746 miles and 13.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Medford, OR.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 15 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 949.2 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 31
5 decision points cluster between mile 1876.7 and 2970.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
1876.7 mi into trip|~32h 15m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
8
2239.5 mi into trip|~39h in|I 80
Take the exit onto I 80 toward I 80 East, I 90
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 16
Toward I 80 East, I 90
8
2240.4 mi into trip|~39h 3m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 East, I 90 East: Ohio, Indiana Toll Road East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 East, I 90 East: Ohio, Indiana Toll...
8
2970 mi into trip|~52h 12m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Philadelphia, Trenton
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 351
Toward US 1: Philadelphia, Trenton
8
2970.5 mi into trip|~52h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 1 North: Trenton, Princeton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 1 North: Trenton, Princeton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$609.62 one way
$1,219.23 round trip
$5.19/gal25.4 MPG avg1,045 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$648.52
$1,297.03
premium
$5.72
$672.14
$1,344.28
diesel
$5.35
$628.77
$1,257.54
Estimated Tolls: $67.34
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(352.2 mi)$45.78
Ohio Turnpike
(241.2 mi)$12.05
Indiana Toll Road
(135.9 mi)$9.51
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$610
Tolls
$67
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$1,017–$1,297
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 1044.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $313 in charging
· 11 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
895.6
11
$313.45
$143.29
Efficient EV
746.3
8
$261.21
$119.41
EV Truck/SUV
1194.1
14
$417.93
$191.05
Gas CO2
1044 kg
EV CO2
349 kg (67% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 11 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
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
Morning
in Medford on Wednesday
Local time
11:13 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
W 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Trenton, NJ
Afternoon
in Trenton on Wednesday
Local time
2:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
66°F
Ashland, NE
1493 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
3 hours later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
11 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
52h 36m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You should prepare for a significant amount of time behind the wheel, as this route requires 12 scheduled stops to keep you alert. While you will begin on local thoroughfares like West 10th Street, South Central Avenue, and South Riverside Avenue, the nature of the drive evolves as you cover the massive 2,984-mile distance. Because the highway share is currently 0%, you will be navigating a variety of road types that demand your constant attention. Expect the character of the pavement to shift significantly as you move across different states, requiring you to stay adaptable throughout the 45-hour journey.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
47 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 949.2 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
At 52h 36m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1876.7 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 31 significant decision points across 2985.2 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 1876.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2239.5 miles (I 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2240.4 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,705 ft61 ft
Total Climb
6,431 ft
Total Descent
7,753 ft
Highest Point
6,705 ft
~1066.1 mi in
Elevation Range
6,644 ft
Notable High Points
4,984 ft at ~213.2 miles+686 ft prominence
6,705 ft at ~1066.1 miles+582 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Medford, OR and Trenton, NJ, road signs point toward Elko, Reno, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Minneapolis and Kansas City - among others.
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
Trenton is in Mercer County, and is the capital of New Jersey. The city's strategic location in between New York City and Philadelphia has historically contributed to its growth and significantly impacts local culture. Located on the Delaware River across from Pennsylvania, Trenton is the only accessible capital city in the United States to border another state.
Top landmarks
•New Jersey State House — state capitol building of the U.S. state of New Jersey
•First Presbyterian Church — church in Trenton, New Jersey
•Calhoun Street Bridge — bridge over the Delaware River between Morrisville, Pennsylvania and Trenton, Ne...
The longest stretch is about 949.2 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 4-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 746 miles on day one.
Expect about $67.34 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 260 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.
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 Trenton, NJ 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 15 meaningful breaks. There are 260 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1876.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2239.5 miles (I 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2240.4 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 52.6 hours each way, a round trip means 105.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Trenton, NJ before the return drive.
