Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52h 36m
Distance
2985.2 mi
4,804 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$595
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Medford, OR
Stephen Leonardi
Trenton, NJ
Wikimedia Commons
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 .
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Medford, OR and Trenton, NJ.
Start on North Fir Street
Turn left onto West 10th Street
Turn right onto OR 99
Continue on OR 99
Turn left onto East Barnett Road
Turn right onto Highland Drive
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit
Turn straight onto CA 89
Turn left onto CA 44
Continue on CA 44
At end of road, turn left onto CA 36
Continue on US 395
Continue on US 395
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Merge onto I 15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
Continue on I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Take the exit onto US 6
Continue on I 280
Keep slight left at fork onto I 280
Merge onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Take the exit onto I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
Merge onto I 80; I 90
Continue on I 80; I 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Continue on I 76; PATP
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Take the exit
Turn right onto NJ 33
Turn slight left onto NJ 33
Turn right onto CR 626
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Early stop town
Coffee and fuel
746 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
1493 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Lincoln, NE
Late stop town
Final reset
2239 mi into the route
Best for: Food, fuel, and one last short break
This is a smart final reset before the arrival run into Trenton, NJ.
Night 1
746 mi · about 13.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Carlin, NV after about 746 miles or 13.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
1493 mi · about 26.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near Lincoln, NE after about 1493 miles or 26.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
2239 mi · about 39.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Mansfield, OH after about 2239 miles or 39.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 1492.6 miles from Medford, OR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 949.2 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 746 miles or 13.2 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
Regular Gas
$594.69 one way
$1,189.38 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $629.36 | $1,258.72 |
| premium | $5.59 | $657.10 | $1,314.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $659.09 | $1,318.19 |
Estimated Tolls: $67.34
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
$595
Tolls
$67
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$1,002–$1,282
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, 2026-04-13.
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Medford on Saturday
Local time
4:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
Destination
Evening in Trenton on Saturday
Local time
7:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
53°F
Lincoln, NE
1493 mi in
68°F
Mansfield, OH
2239 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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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.
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.
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.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
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
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.
Elko
Reno
Sacramento
Las Vegas
Minneapolis
Kansas City
Moline
Indiana Toll Road East
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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