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Traffic heat map of Malheur County, Oregon: 567 miles of roads shaded from blue (light) to red (heavy traffic), busiest on Idaho Avenue

Malheur County, Oregon Traffic Counts

Its highways carry one of the top 5 truck shares of any county in Oregon. This page breaks down traffic in Malheur County, Oregon across 567 miles of monitored roads split into 5,875 segments, using multi-sourced mobile and sensor data. It goes beyond raw counts to truck flow, congestion and who is driving, so site selection and route planning rest on evidence.
Data sourced from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform.
Data current as of:
Q3 2026
Updated:
September 29, 2026
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Total Traffic Volume & Performance in Malheur County, Oregon

Traffic

The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.

vehicles per day2,590
Trucks

The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.

19.5%
Average travel time

The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.

35.8 min
Congestion ratio

The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.

8.5%
Drivers’ average age

Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.

46.6 yrs
Drivers’ average income

Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.

$58,094

The average monitored road in Malheur County, Oregon carries 2,590 vehicles per day. Across its 567 miles of monitored roads, that adds up to 1,390,601 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈508 million per year). Freight weighs heavily here: trucks are 19.5% of traffic, against 9.2% across Oregon.

Traffic 56% below the Oregon average

Malheur's average daily traffic volume is 56% lower than the state average - 2,590 vehicles per day against 5,908 - suggesting less traffic load per road - quiet roads that suit freight movement more than drive-by retail. Across the whole network, that travel is about 1.6% of Oregon's statewide total. Malheur carries less traffic than 74% of counties in Oregon.

The average trip takes 35.8 minutes, on par with the state level. On travel time, Malheur runs longer than 66% of counties in Oregon.

Congestion runs 48% lower than the state level, at a ratio of 8.5%, which means smoother traffic flow - travel times are easy to plan around for scheduled deliveries.

Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis

highway traffic icon

Highway Traffic in Malheur County, Oregon

Trafficvehicles per day4,209
Trucks22.4%
Average travel time51.5 min
Congestion ratio10.0%
Drivers’ average age46.7 yrs
Drivers’ average income$62,899

Most travel in Malheur County, Oregon happens on highways, 75% of all vehicle-miles. The average highway carries 4,209 vehicles per day, 85% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 2,270 vehicles per day.

Highways make up 49% of the monitored road miles (278 miles, 970 segments), so they carry more than their share: 1,049,407 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈383 million per year).

That is more highway travel volume than 59% of counties in Oregon.

A major freight corridor

The concentration of trucks on highways (22.4%) is 87% higher than the state average for similar road classifications. That marks Malheur as a major freight corridor, where highway access is what logistics operators compete on.

Malheur's highway truck share (22.4%) is higher than 91% of counties in Oregon. 66% of counties in Oregon see more highway trucks per day than Malheur's roughly 945.

non-highway traffic icon

Non-highway Traffic in Malheur County, Oregon

Trafficvehicles per day2,270
Trucks10.4%
Average travel time32.6 min
Congestion ratio8.3%
Drivers’ average age46.5 yrs
Drivers’ average income$53,446

At 25% of vehicle-miles, local roads carry a smaller share of the traffic in Malheur County, Oregon than highways. On the average non-highway road, that comes to 2,270 vehicles per day.

Local roads make up 51% of the monitored road miles (290 miles in 4,905 segments) but carry less than their share of travel: 341,194 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈125 million per year). About 1 in 10 vehicles on non-highway roads is a truck (10.4%).

Drivers from lower-income areas than 94% of counties in Oregon

The concentration of trucks on non-highway roads is 54% lower than on highways.

Non-highway congestion (8.3%) runs 49% lower than the state average, pointing to smoother local traffic flow.

Malheur's average driver income is lower than 94% of counties in Oregon. 66% of counties in Oregon have an older driver population than Malheur.

Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns

peak hours icon
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and a long afternoon plateau from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 73% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekends are somewhat quieter: volumes run about 6% below weekday levels, the usual weekend dip.
seasonal traffic icon
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
June–August is the high season, with volumes +22% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
January is the quietest month, with volumes -27% versus the annual average - the usual winter low.

Data Finding: Hourly & Seasonal Patterns

In Malheur County, Oregon, the peak hour concentrates about 7% of the day's traffic, and there is a strong seasonal swing of +22% in high season.

Malheur County vs. Oregon Traffic Comparison

Of the four measures, truck share differs most: Malheur County runs 112% above the Oregon average. Its highway truck share is also 87% above.

MetricMalheur CountyOregon averageDifference
Traffic2,5905,908-56.2%
Truck % (Total Traffic)19.5%9.2%+111.6%
Truck % (Highway)22.4%12.0%+87.2%
Avg. Travel Time35.8 min34.3 min+4.3%

How Malheur County compares

Malheur County has a higher truck share than any nearby county

Set against the average of the 4 areas nearest to it, Malheur County carries 53.4% less traffic on a typical road and is 43.4% less congested; it has the quietest roads of the five. Freight passes through here that never reaches the areas around it: the truck share is high precisely because the local car traffic is not.

Malheur County and the 4 nearest county-level areas by centroid distance, with the Oregon average for scale.
AreaAverage daily trafficTruck shareDaily vehicle-milesAverage travel timeCongestion ratio
Malheur County2,59019.5%1,390,60135.8 min8.5%
Canyon County, Idaho6,4667.2%4,736,86135.5 min18.8%
Payette County, Idaho3,58813.5%781,12135.0 min9.4%
Ada County, Idaho9,2926.3%9,986,22832.6 min22.5%
Harney County, Oregon2,90412.5%347,31531.4 min9.6%
Oregon average5,9089.2%N/A34.3 min16.6%

Malheur County ranked within Oregon

Malheur County sits in the bottom quarter of the Oregon field on average driver income, at #34 of 36.

Malheur County ranked among 36 county-level areas in Oregon (1 = highest); measures without data in every county rank a smaller field, down to 33.
MeasureMalheur CountyOregon rank
Traffic volume (AADT)2,590#27 of 36
Highway vehicle-miles per day1,049,407#14 of 33
Truck share on highways22.4%#4 of 33
Highway trucks per day945#22 of 33
Average travel time35.8 min#13 of 36
Average driver income$58,094#34 of 36
Average driver age46.6 yrs#24 of 36

The two ends of this table sit far apart: #4 of 33 on truck share on highways, against #34 of 36 on average driver income.

Busiest roads in Malheur County, Oregon

Traffic concentrates on a few corridors: the three busiest roads average 14,971 vehicles a day, against 2,590 on the average road in Malheur County.

Idaho Avenue is the busiest road, at 21,245 vehicles a day, 1,076 of them trucks (5.1%). No other road comes close: Old Oregon Trail Highway, in second place, carries 13,043. Old Oregon Trail Highway carries the most trucks, 4,034 a day (30.9% of its traffic), although it ranks #2 for all traffic.

Trucks make up 100.0% of traffic on Rome Road and 30.9% on Old Oregon Trail Highway, against 19.5% across all roads in the county.

Trips using I O N Highway are long: a median of 103.8 minutes against 35.8 county-wide, the mark of a through route.

I.O.N. Highway skews older: its drivers' median age is 57.4, compared with 46.6 county-wide.

Ranked by daily traffic (AADT)

Cars and light vehiclesTrucks
1Idaho AvenuePrimary road · 21,245vehicles1,076trucks · 5.1%
Road class
Primary road
Congestion ratio
36.1%
Median trip time
28.2 min
Drivers’ median age
46.2 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$54,325

Idaho Avenue is one of the more congested roads here: trips take 36% longer than at free-flow speed, against 9% county-wide.

2Old Oregon Trail HighwayMotorway · 13,043vehicles4,034trucks · 30.9%
Road class
Motorway
Congestion ratio
19.8%
Median trip time
51.4 min
Drivers’ median age
46.0 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$68,765

Delays build on Old Oregon Trail Highway: its congestion ratio of 20% over free-flow time is well above the county's 9%.

3Southwest 4th AvenuePrimary road · 10,625vehicles567trucks · 5.3%
Road class
Primary road
Congestion ratio
10.8%
Median trip time
36.0 min
Drivers’ median age
46.3 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$53,239

On its busiest stretch, Southwest 4th Avenue carries 4.1 times the county average; trucks are 5.3% of it, below the county-wide 19.5%.

4OR 201Trunk road · 8,917vehicles831trucks · 9.3%
Road class
Trunk road
Congestion ratio
9.8%
Median trip time
34.5 min
Drivers’ median age
46.5 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$51,422

OR 201 peaks at 8,917 vehicles a day, 3.4 times the county average; trucks are 9.3% of it, below the county-wide 19.5%.

5Verde DriveSecondary road · 7,002vehicles258trucks · 3.7%
Road class
Secondary road
Median trip time
33.5 min
Drivers’ median age
50.2 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$58,425

Verde Drive carries 2.7 times the county average at its busiest, 258 of them trucks (3.7%, below the county-wide 19.5%).

Ranked by trucks per day

Cars and light vehiclesTrucks
1Old Oregon Trail HighwayMotorway · #2 by traffic13,043vehicles4,034trucks · 30.9%
2Idaho AvenuePrimary road · #1 by traffic21,245vehicles1,076trucks · 5.1%
3I O N HighwayTrunk road · 4,442vehicles971trucks · 21.9%
Road class
Trunk road
Median trip time
103.8 min
Drivers’ median age
56.9 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$56,809

I O N Highway carries 72% more than the county average on its busiest stretch, where the median trip lasts 103.8 minutes.

4I.O.N. HighwayTrunk road · 5,011vehicles910trucks · 18.1%
Road class
Trunk road
Median trip time
86.1 min
Drivers’ median age
57.4 yrs
Drivers’ average income
$60,074

I.O.N. Highway carries through traffic: the median trip using it lasts 86.1 minutes, against 35.8 for the county.

5Rome RoadTertiary road · 860vehicles860trucks · 100.0%
Road class
Tertiary road

Even at its busiest, Rome Road carries 67% less than the county average; trucks are 100.0% of it, above the county-wide 19.5%.

How to read these road counts
  • The first number is AADT, annual average daily traffic: the vehicles passing a point on an average day, both directions combined and trucks included. On a divided highway both carriageways are added together.
  • Traffic changes along a road, with more near interchanges and towns and less in open country. Every figure for a road describes its busiest stretch in the county, so the two rankings show the same numbers for the same road.
  • The second number is the trucks on that stretch, a part of its AADT. The bar splits the AADT into cars and light vehicles (blue) and trucks (amber).
  • See segment-level AADT for any road on TrafficZoom.

Data Sources & Methodology

The data presented on this page is derived from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform, which aggregates and normalizes information from multiple sources, including:

Mobile device location data (anonymized and aggregated)

Road sensor networks and traffic counters

Historical traffic pattern databases

Public traffic count programs published by the

MalheurDepartment of Transportation

Demographic Baseline for O-D Modeling

U.S. Census Bureau
All metrics represent estimates based on statistical modeling and are intended for strategic planning purposes.
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Data current as of:
Q3 2026

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Counties near Malheur County

The same traffic breakdown for the areas closest to Malheur County, Oregon.

Need segment-level traffic data?

Identify traffic patterns street by street and analyze the exact corridors that matter to your project.