John Day — Pacific Pride Commercial Fueling and Resupply

John Day is the last real town before you drop into the fossil beds country and the Buckhorn Drive circuit northeast of Fossil. It’s a working ranching town — not a tourist trap — and the fuel stations and grocery options here are genuine. The Pacific Pride commercial fueling location on US-26 serves diesel in volume, critical for overlanders running big rigs or needing to top jerry cans before the long dry stretch east toward Hells Canyon or south toward Burns. A Safeway and several hardware options round out your resupply run.

US-26 runs right through town — you won’t miss it. John Day sits at the intersection of US-26 and US-395, making it the natural hub waypoint for anyone running the Grant County high desert. Cell service is full in town, drops off sharply once you leave. Elevation is around 3,100 feet; pass through in spring and you may hit snow still on the higher surrounding roads.

Last full fuel before the fossil beds backcountry