Car Rental in Medford: Outdoor Adventures in Oregon
Sunny and mild Medford is an excellent base for the outdoor adventurer’s visit to Southern Oregon’s incredible outdoors. While Medford offers a great deal of sights, food, and shopping to its visitors, you would be at a great loss if you didn’t explore its surroundings as well. Do as the locals do and explore this beautiful region by car, with day trips into northern California, to nearby Ashland, and to the natural wonders of the area, such as Crater Lake. Book your rental car today.
There’s really no bad time to visit Medford. Summers are cooler and more comfortable than southern California, though still hot enough to warrant swimming in mountain lakes, and the spring and fall are astoundingly beautiful. Though Oregon’s wet season runs from November to February, southern Oregon witnesses less rainfall that its more rainforest-like northern border.
The de facto national language of the United States is English. The currency is the US dollar. Currency exchange is highly available at airports and popular tourist destinations, and credit cards are accepted at the vast majority of businesses.
Most domestic visitors to Medford arrive via Interstate 5, which intersects the city along its north-south bound route, paralleling the United States’ west coast. However you can also fly into the Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, located just 4 miles north of city center. This is a good place from which to hire your automobile, though rental cars are also available closer to downtown, just off of Court Street.
Getting out of town is as much a joy as arriving in Medford. Head for day trips to the nearby national parks, especially to the fascinating and unique Crater Lake, located just over an hour’s drive northwest of Medford. Klamath Falls, at the base of Upper Klamath Lake is also well worth a visit, 80 miles east of Medford, and gold-rush era Jacksonville offers a slice of American frontier history, just 6 miles to the west.
Visa Regulations
38 nationalities can enter the United States as tourists without applying for a visa, though if you are among these nationalities, you are still required to fill out the ESTA in advance. Visit esta.us for more information. Everyone who enters the United States will be fingerprinted and biometrically photographed upon entry. If your nationality is not included on the visa-waiver program list, you will be required to apply for a B-1 or B-2 visa in advance of your arrival.
Driving in Medford
You’re at a true loss without a personal car in and around Medford. The city is easily navigable, with wide roads and a grid-like structure. There is so much to see in the surroundings, that you will absolutely want to have a car to see all the sights and make the most of your visit to this beautiful natural area.
Right-Hand Driving
- Traffic proceeds on the right-hand side of the road throughout the United States.
- Unless otherwise marked, after coming to a full stop at a red light, you can turn right from the right lane if there is no oncoming traffic.
Typical Speed Limits
- In municipal and residential areas: 20 to 25 miles per hour unless otherwise marked
- On divided highways: 55 to 70 miles per hour
- On the interstate: 65 to 70 miles per hour
- As a small mountain town, Medford rarely sees much traffic congestion, though you may find roads fuller during morning and evening rush hours.
Other Regulations
- There is a great deal of parking available throughout Medford, and while it is regulated by time, it is rare to be asked to pay a fee. If you need to park downtown for the full day, park in the Middleford or Evergreen Parking Garages, where you will pay a small fee for parking time over two to three hours.
- You can drive for up to a full year with an international driver’s permit in addition to your valid domestic driver’s license as a tourist throughout Oregon.
- There are no toll roads near Medford.
- Residents of Oregon can be fully licensed as young as 18 and select agencies may also rent cars to drivers as young as 18. However, you will likely have to be at least 21 years of age to rent, and you will face young driver surcharges until the age of 25.
Other Tips
- Driving can be very precarious in the mountains, as weather conditions can change suddenly, particularly in the wet season, and other travellers may be few and far between. Fill your gas or petrol tank whenever possible, and carry sufficient warm clothing, food, and water. On mountain roads, shift into a lower gear when you are descending in order to prevent undue wear and tear – and the potential failure – of your brakes.
