How far is McMinnville, OR from Pendleton, OR?

The driving distance from McMinnville, OR to Pendleton, OR is about 247.4 miles (398.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 216.1 miles (347.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 53m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
247.42 mi
04h 56m
Flight
216.14 mi
347.84 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from McMinnville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
216.14 mi
Kilometers
347.84 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
247.42 mi
Kilometers
398.19 km
Drive Time
04h 56m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Pendleton
Thu, Apr 23, 6:51 AM PDT
Return by in McMinnville
Thu, Apr 23, 11:48 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave McMinnville
2026-04-23T01:54
Arrive Pendleton
Thu, Apr 23, 6:51 AM PDT
Route Timing
04h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:57 AM to 12:57 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:06 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in McMinnville
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
The Dalles
OR

City in and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, Unite States

From McMinnville
123.5 mi
02h 28m
To Pendleton
124 mi
02h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph SE
Destination
59°F
Thursday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
9 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between McMinnville and Pendleton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between McMinnville and Pendleton.

  1. 1

    Start on Northeast 3rd Street

    59 m · 16 sec · Northeast 3rd Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Northeast Baker Street

    159 m · 11 sec · Northeast Baker Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Northeast 5th Street

    2399 ft · 47 sec · Northeast 5th Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Northeast Johnson Street

    160 m · 16 sec · Northeast Johnson Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Northeast 3rd Street

    709 ft · 12 sec · Northeast 3rd Street

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Northeast Three Mile Lane

    3166 ft · 53 sec · Northeast Three Mile Lane

  7. 7

    Take the ramp straight

    14 m · 1 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    1961 ft · 54 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Southeast Three Mile Lane

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Southeast Three Mile Lane

  10. 10

    Continue on Southeast Dayton Bypass

    4.1 mi · 6 min · Southeast Dayton Bypass

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Pacific Highway West

    3.1 mi · 5 min · Pacific Highway West

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Newberg-Dundee Bypass

    4.2 mi · 6 min · Newberg-Dundee Bypass

  13. 13

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Northeast Saint Paul Highway

    1319 ft · 29 sec · Northeast Saint Paul Highway

  14. 14

    Turn right onto South Springbrook Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · South Springbrook Road

  15. 15

    Turn right onto East Portland Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · East Portland Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Pacific Highway West

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Pacific Highway West

  17. 17

    Continue on Southwest Pacific Highway

    12.1 mi · 21 min · Southwest Pacific Highway

  18. 18

    Take the exit right toward I 5: Portland, Salem

    2296 ft · 60 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    5.6 mi · 8 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Seattle

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles, Portland Airport

    1011 ft · 17 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on I 84 East, US 30 East: Portland Airport, The Dalles

    1.5 km · 1 min

  23. 23

    Continue on Banfield Freeway

    6.6 mi · 9 min · Banfield Freeway

  24. 24

    Continue on Columbia River Highway

    158.1 mi · 2 hr 56 min · Columbia River Highway

  25. 25

    Continue on Old Oregon Trail Highway

    41.8 mi · 46 min · Old Oregon Trail Highway

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward US 395 South: Pendleton, John Day

    1089 ft · 33 sec

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Southwest Pendleton-John Day Highway

    974 ft · 19 sec · Southwest Pendleton-John Day Highway

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Southwest 20th Street

    852 ft · 16 sec · Southwest 20th Street

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Southwest Court Avenue

    1415 ft · 24 sec · Southwest Court Avenue

  30. 30

    Turn straight onto Southwest Dorion Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · Southwest Dorion Avenue

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Southwest 1st Street

    125 m · 17 sec · Southwest 1st Street

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Southwest Court Avenue

    36 m · 7 sec · Southwest Court Avenue

  33. 33

    Turn left

    29 m · 7 sec

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between McMinnville and Pendleton.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
34 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Columbia River Highway
158 mi · 64%
Old Oregon Trail Highway
41.8 mi · 17%
Southwest Pacific Highway
12.1 mi · 5%
Banfield Freeway
6.56 mi · 3%
I 5
6.01 mi · 2%
Pacific Highway West
4.5 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Columbia River Highway

Continue on Columbia River Highway

158 mi · 02h 56m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 56m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.3 mi
216.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
The Dalles
02h 28m from McMinnville
Leave By
7:06 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving McMinnville and Chance Light Rain near Pendleton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from McMinnville to Pendleton?

The road trip is about 247.4 miles (398.2 km) and usually takes 04h 56m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

The Dalles is a useful midpoint, sitting about 123.5 miles from McMinnville and 124 miles from Pendleton.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 216.1 miles (347.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:06 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.22 one way or $86.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 77.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around McMinnville and Chance Light Rain near Pendleton.

Stop Ideas Near The Dalles

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around The Dalles, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to The Dalles.

BUS

The Dalles, Oregon

1 mi away
201 East Federal Street
RAIL

Wishram

18 mi away
1 Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Bingen – White Salmon

26 mi away
Hwy 14 and Walnut St.
BUS

Hood River, Oregon

29 mi away
600 E. Marina Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between McMinnville and Pendleton. Straight-line distance: 216.14 mi (347.84 km).

McMinnville

#1 McMinnville

City in Oregon, USA

Population35,185
Coordinates45.2101200, -123.1987200
Altitude47
CountryUnited States
Pendleton

#2 Pendleton

City in Oregon, USA

Population16,593
Coordinates45.6720700, -118.7886000
Altitude325
CountryUnited States
Start: McMinnville (-123.19872, 45.21012)
End: Pendleton (-118.7886, 45.67207)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 398 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.73 gal
33.05 L · about $43.22
Round trip
$86.44
17.46 gal · 66.1 L
Estimated CO2
77.6 kg one way
Round trip: 155.2 kg / 342 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $43.22 $86.44
Mid-grade $5.34 $46.60 $93.20
Premium $5.57 $48.59 $97.18
Diesel $6.37 $55.58 $111.15

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Oregon · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between McMinnville and Pendleton. The current time is 01:54:57.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.