Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 52–66°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Portland7 AM PDT Partly sunny56°F Salem7:45 AM PDT Partly sunny54°F Eugene8:45 AM PDT Partly sunny52°F Oakridge9:45 AM PDT Sunny60°F Willamette Pass10:15 AM PDT Sunny58°F Chemult10:45 AM PDT Sunny58°F Chiloquin11:30 AM PDT Sunny66°F Crater Lake12:15 PM PDT Sunny65°F - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 53–68°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Portland7 AM PDT Mostly sunny56°F Salem7:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny54°F Eugene8:45 AM PDT Mostly cloudy53°F Oakridge9:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny64°F Willamette Pass10:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny64°F Chemult10:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny61°F Chiloquin11:30 AM PDT Partly sunny68°F Crater Lake12:15 PM PDT Mostly sunny67°F - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 55–70°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Portland7 AM PDT Mostly sunny58°F Salem7:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny56°F Eugene8:45 AM PDT Partly sunny55°F Oakridge9:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny65°F Willamette Pass10:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny61°F Chemult10:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny59°F Chiloquin11:30 AM PDT Sunny70°F Crater Lake12:15 PM PDT Sunny66°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 51–69°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Portland7 AM PDT Partly sunny56°F Salem7:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny55°F Eugene8:45 AM PDT Partly sunny51°F Oakridge9:45 AM PDT Sunny61°F Willamette Pass10:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny58°F Chemult10:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny58°F Chiloquin11:30 AM PDT Sunny69°F Crater Lake12:15 PM PDT Sunny66°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 51–69°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Portland7 AM PDT Mostly sunny54°F Salem7:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny52°F Eugene8:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny51°F Oakridge9:45 AM PDT Sunny62°F Willamette Pass10:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny60°F Chemult10:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny59°F Chiloquin11:30 AM PDT Sunny69°F Crater Lake12:15 PM PDT Sunny68°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 53–68°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Portland7 AM PDT Sunny55°F Salem7:45 AM PDT Sunny54°F Eugene8:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny53°F Oakridge9:45 AM PDT Sunny64°F Willamette Pass10:15 AM PDT Sunny61°F Chemult10:45 AM PDT Sunny58°F Chiloquin11:30 AM PDT Sunny68°F Crater Lake12:15 PM PDT Sunny66°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 52–65°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Portland7 AM PDT Mostly sunny54°F Salem7:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny53°F Eugene8:45 AM PDT Partly sunny52°F Oakridge9:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny59°F Willamette Pass10:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny53°F Chemult10:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny54°F Chiloquin11:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny65°F Crater Lake12:15 PM PDT Mostly sunny57°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Portland (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Portland, ORStart 34 ftelevation
- Salem, ORMile 46 · 49 min 159 ftelevation
- Eugene, ORMile 108 · 1 h 51 min 424 ftelevation
- Oakridge, ORMile 148 · 2 h 38 min 1,189 ftelevation
- Willamette Pass, ORMountain pass · Mile 175 · 3 h 9 min 5,131 ftelevation
- Chemult, ORMile 207 · 3 h 46 min 4,758 ftelevation
- Chiloquin, ORMile 251 · 4 h 30 min 4,181 ftelevation
- Crater Lake, ORMile 285 · 5 h 16 min 7,126 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Portland, Chemult and Crater Lake.
| Month | Portland 19 ft | Chemult 4,760 ft | Crater Lake Crater Lake Nps Hq station · 6,485 ft | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 48° / 36° | 0.6 | 37° / 15° | 33° / 20° | 14.3 |
| Feb | 52° / 37° | 0.3 | 41° / 17° | 34° / 19° | 13.2 |
| Mar | 57° / 40° | 0 | 47° / 21° | 36° / 20° | 13.6 |
| Apr | 62° / 44° | 0 | 53° / 24° | 40° / 23° | 11.6 |
| May | 69° / 49° | 0 | 63° / 30° | 49° / 29° | 4.4 |
| Jun | 74° / 54° | 0 | 72° / 34° | 57° / 34° | 1.4 |
| Jul | 82° / 59° | 0 | 83° / 39° | 69° / 41° | 0 |
| Aug | 82° / 59° | 0 | 82° / 37° | 69° / 42° | 0 |
| Sep | 77° / 54° | 0 | 76° / 30° | 63° / 37° | 0.5 |
| Oct | 64° / 47° | 0 | 61° / 24° | 51° / 30° | 3.5 |
| Nov | 54° / 41° | 0 | 44° / 21° | 38° / 23° | 10.4 |
| Dec | 47° / 36° | 0.5 | 36° / 15° | 33° / 19° | 14.3 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: PORTLAND INTL AP (USW00024229, 19 ft); CHEMULT (USC00351546, 4,760 ft); CRATER LAKE NPS HQ (USC00351946, 6,485 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Oregon rather than repeat them.
- Oregon · ODOTTripCheck road conditions
- Oregon · winter rulesChain laws
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Portland to Crater Lake with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Portland to Crater Lake?
285 miles, about 5½ hours of driving without stops, by way of I-5 and OR-58. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Crater Lake, at 7,126 ft. It comes at mile 285, about 5 h 16 min of driving after you leave Portland.
Does it snow at Crater Lake in November?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Crater Lake Nps Hq (6,485 ft), averages 59.3 inches of snow in November, with about 10 days of 1 inch or more (1991–2020 normals).