Origin
Salem, OR
Late night in Salem on Friday
Local time
5:23 AM
PDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salem, OR to Kenton, OR
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
51.3 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salem, OR
Wikimedia Commons
Kenton, OR
Google DeepMind
Trip Overview
The drive from Salem, OR to Kenton, OR covers 51.3 miles and takes about 1h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway, Liberty Street Northeast for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 45.5 miles on I 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.22 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 51.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 9m highway drive covering 51.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 45.5 miles on I 5.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 45.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Chemeketa Street Northeast.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 (Chemeketa Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Liberty Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Chemeketa Street Northeast
Turn right onto Chemeketa Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Liberty Street Northeast
Turn right onto Liberty Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 toward I 5 North: Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North: Portland
7
44.8 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 toward Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Seattle
7
50.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 30 Bypass: Lombard Street West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 305B
Toward US 30 Bypass: Lombard Street West
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Salem, OR to Kenton, OR, road signs begin pointing toward Seattle along the way.
Seattle
44.8 mi in
|
~59m
|
via I 5
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 45.5 mi | 57m |
| Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Liberty Street Northeast | 1.5 mi | 4m |
| North Interstate Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Commercial Street Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Lombard Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| High Street Northeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Chemeketa Street Northeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 45.5 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, OR and Kenton, OR.
1
Start on High Street Northeast
469 ft
·
19 sec
·
High Street Northeast
2
Turn right onto Chemeketa Street Northeast
447 ft
·
19 sec
·
Chemeketa Street Northeast
3
Turn right onto Liberty Street Northeast
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Liberty Street Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto Division Street Northeast
350 ft
·
11 sec
·
Division Street Northeast
5
Turn right onto OR 99E Bus
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Commercial Street Northeast
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on OR 99E Bus
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Liberty Street Northeast
7
Turn right onto OR 99E Bus
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway
Use the left lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
40 mi
·
48 min
·
I 5
Toward I 5 North: Portland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
I 5
Toward Seattle
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 305B
Toward US 30 Bypass: Lombard Street West
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto US 30 Bypass
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
North Lombard Street
12
Turn right onto North Interstate Avenue
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Interstate Avenue
13
Turn right onto North Watts Street
152 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Watts Street
14
Turn left
115 ft
·
8 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.6 mi from Salem, OR · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.6 miles from Salem, OR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kenton, OR
The final approach into Kenton, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.22 one way
$20.44 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $10.82 | $21.63 |
| premium | $5.59 | $11.29 | $22.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.33 | $22.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.39 | $2.46 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.49 | $2.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.18 | $3.28 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Kenton, OR
Late night in Kenton on Friday
Local time
5:23 AM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
18 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 9m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Salem, OR to Kenton, OR covers 51.3 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway, Liberty Street Northeast. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.6 miles from Salem, OR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.22 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.3 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Chemeketa Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Liberty Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Salem, OR to Kenton, OR, road signs begin pointing toward Seattle along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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