Final answer:
The most common way for white settlers to travel the Oregon Trail was by horse-drawn wagons, often in wagon trains, despite many walking beside them to reduce the burden on the animals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common way for white settlers to travel the Oregon Trail was a) By horse-drawn wagons. During the peak migration period between 1845 and 1870, over 400,000 settlers used this route. Although many people walked beside their wagons to lighten the load for the oxen, wagon trains were the primary mode of transport. The journey was slow and perilous, with the risk of accidents and diseases like cholera and dysentery. Despite Hollywood depictions, conflicts with Native Americans were rare; the real challenges were the hardships of travel and the need for careful planning and cooperation among the emigrants. Several trails branched off from the original Oregon Trail as settlement expanded, including the California Trail and the Mormon Trail.