Origin
Milwaukie, OR
Night in Milwaukie on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Milwaukie, OR to Albany, OR
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
73.5 mi
118 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 26m
★
6 AM
1h 33m
8 AM
1h 47m
10 AM
1h 38m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 39m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Milwaukie, OR
Blue Arauz
Albany, OR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 73.5-mile drive from Milwaukie, OR to Albany, OR takes about 1 hour and 32 minutes, making it an easy day trip. You'll primarily be on I-5, which accounts for 77% of the journey, so expect a highway-focused experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $15, this route is quite budget-friendly for a quick transit between two points in the Pacific Coast region. The drive is short enough that you won't need to break it up, offering a flexible option for your travel plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.8 miles from Milwaukie, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 53.5 mi | 1h 2m |
| Milwaukie Expressway | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Salem Avenue Southeast | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| 1st Avenue East | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| OR 99E | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Southeast Harrison Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Albany Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street Southeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 53.5 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Milwaukie, OR and Albany, OR.
1
Start on Southeast Harrison Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Southeast Harrison Street
2
Turn right onto OR 224
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Milwaukie Expressway
Use the left lane.
3
Take the exit
13 mi
·
16 min
Toward I 205 South, OR 213 South: Oregon City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork
508 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 5 South: Salem
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on this road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Toward I 5 South: Salem
6
Merge onto I 5
54 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto OR 99E
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
OR 99E
Toward OR 99E: Albany
8
Turn right onto Albany Avenue
508 ft
·
19 sec
·
Albany Avenue
9
At end of road, turn left onto Salem Avenue Southeast
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Salem Avenue Southeast
10
Enter roundabout onto Main Street Southeast
15 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street Southeast
11
Continue on Main Street Southeast
491 ft
·
15 sec
·
Main Street Southeast
12
Turn left onto 1st Avenue East
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue East
13
Turn left onto US 20
283 ft
·
14 sec
·
Ellsworth Street Southwest;Albany-Corvallis Highway
14
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue Southwest
21 ft
·
0 sec
·
2nd Avenue Southwest
15
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue Southwest
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 32-minute duration, you can depart Milwaukie, OR at your leisure, though an early start can help you avoid any potential local traffic as you join I-5. With only 73.5 miles to cover and an estimated fuel cost of $15, you won't need many stops. Pay attention to the transition onto I-5 from the Milwaukie Expressway, as this is where the main highway portion begins. Keep your fuel tank topped up before leaving Milwaukie to ensure a smooth journey to Albany.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.8 miles from Milwaukie, OR, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.5 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 16 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.8 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albany, OR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Milwaukie, OR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Milwaukie, OR
This is one driving day of about 73.5 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Milwaukie, OR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 53.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.8 miles from Milwaukie, OR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 71.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
OR 224 / Milwaukie Expressway
Turn right onto OR 224 / Milwaukie Expressway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
3.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 205 South, OR 213 South: Oregon City
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.
Toward I 205 South, OR 213 South: Oregon City
7
16.4 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Salem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Salem
5
17.4 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
71.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
Salem Avenue Southeast
At end of road, turn left onto Salem Avenue Southeast
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.64 one way
$29.28 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $15.50 | $30.99 |
| premium | $5.59 | $16.18 | $32.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.23 | $32.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.72 | $3.53 |
| Efficient EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.43 | $2.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.29 | $4.70 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Albany, OR
Night in Albany on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°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
3 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
1h 32m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 77% of the 73.5 miles on major interstates like I-5. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 53.5 miles on I-5, indicating a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. While the Milwaukie Expressway and Salem Avenue Southeast offer a brief change of pace, the overall character is one of efficient travel. This route is designed for getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.5 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Milwaukie Expressway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near OR 224 / Milwaukie Expressway.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 73.5 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 0.3 miles (OR 224 / Milwaukie Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 73.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.5 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (OR 224 / Milwaukie Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Albany, OR before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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