Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
46.5 mi
75 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cedar Mill, OR
Tony Litvyak
Salem, OR
Wikimedia Commons
Cedar Mill to Salem is 46.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 2 minutes via I 5, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Oregon, moving from the Pacific Coast region towards the Willamette Valley. Primarily a highway-focused trip, it's a straightforward journey well-suited for a single day. You'll find it a convenient way to travel between these two points, with most of your time spent on the interstate. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient and uncomplicated drive with minimal time commitment.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 46.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 91% of the journey on major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 32.1 miles on I 5, offering a consistent pace. The drive begins with some local road transitions, including parts of the Beaverton-Tigard Freeway and Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway, before merging onto the main interstate. Expect mostly smooth, high-speed travel for the bulk of your trip, with minimal interruptions. The character remains largely consistent once you're on the interstate, making for predictable driving conditions.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Beaverton-Tigard Freeway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Northwest Barnes Road.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.5 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Northwest Barnes Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (OR 217 / Beaverton-Tigard Freeway): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Northwest Barnes Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto OR 217 / Beaverton-Tigard Freeway
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 5 South: Salem
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto I 5 toward OR 99E Business: Salem Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 32.1 mi | 38m |
| Beaverton-Tigard Freeway | 7.2 mi | 9m |
| Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway | 3 mi | 4m |
| Northwest Barnes Road | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| Commercial Street Northeast | 1 mi | 2m |
| High Street Northeast | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Belmont Street Northeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Northwest Cornell Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Mill, OR and Salem, OR.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Northwest Cornell Road
Turn right onto Northwest Barnes Road
Continue on Northwest Barnes Road
Turn right onto OR 217
Take the exit
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit onto I 5
Merge onto OR 99E Bus
Continue on OR 99E Bus
Turn left onto Belmont Street Northeast
Turn right onto Broadway Street Northeast
Continue on High Street Northeast
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.3 mi from Cedar Mill, OR · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23.3 miles from Cedar Mill, OR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Salem, OR usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$9.06 one way
$18.13 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $9.77 | $19.54 |
| premium | $5.57 | $10.19 | $20.38 |
| diesel | $6.37 | $11.65 | $23.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14 | 0 | $4.88 | $2.23 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.07 | $1.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.51 | $2.98 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Cedar Mill on Saturday
Local time
3:20 AM
PDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Cloudy
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 10:00PM MDT until April 18 at 10:00AM MDT by NWS Boise ID
Destination
Late night in Salem on Saturday
Local time
3:20 AM
PDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
62°F
King City, OR
23 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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