Trip from Woodburn, OR to Salem, OR

Drive Time

28m

Distance

18.6 mi

30 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 8 min
4 AM
0h 26m ★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Woodburn, OR, OR

Woodburn, OR

Clement Lepetit

Downtown Salem, OR, OR

Salem, OR

Banx Photography

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick transit between Woodburn and Salem, this 18.6-mile connection is a straightforward way to travel through the Pacific Coast region of Oregon. You can easily complete this drive in about 28 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, it is an economical route that requires no overnight stops. Because the journey is brief, it works best as a direct commute or a simple transition between these two cities. Relying primarily on I-5, the path is designed for efficiency rather than leisure, ensuring you reach your destination without unnecessary delays.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

9.3 miles from Woodburn, OR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 83% of this route is comprised of major roads. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-5, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 12.4 miles. After transitioning off the interstate, you will navigate via the Newberg Highway and the Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway to finalize your arrival. This combination of roads creates a functional, high-speed environment that prioritizes speed over winding backroads. While the drive is short, the transition from the open interstate to local parkways provides a clear shift in pace as you enter the city limits.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 12.4 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Lincoln Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 28m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Lincoln Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North Settlemier Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (OR 214 / Newberg Highway): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Lincoln Street

Turn left onto West Lincoln Street

Navigation decision point

3
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | North Settlemier Avenue

Turn right onto North Settlemier Avenue

Navigation decision point

3
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | OR 214 / Newberg Highway

Turn left onto OR 214 / Newberg Highway

Navigation decision point

5
13.4 mi into trip | ~18m in | I 5

Take the exit onto I 5 toward OR 99E Business: Salem Parkway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 260A Toward OR 99E Business: Salem Parkway
5
18.1 mi into trip | ~27m in | Broadway Street Northeast

Turn right onto Broadway Street Northeast

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 5 12.4 mi 15m
Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway 3 mi 4m
Newberg Highway 1 mi 2m
Commercial Street Northeast 1 mi 2m
High Street Northeast 0.4 mi 1m
West Lincoln Street 0.3 mi <1m
Belmont Street Northeast 0.2 mi <1m
North Settlemier Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 5 — 12.4 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Woodburn, OR and Salem, OR.

1

Start on this road

140 ft · 15 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto West Lincoln Street

0.3 mi · 48 sec · West Lincoln Street
3

Turn right onto North Settlemier Avenue

0.2 mi · 34 sec · North Settlemier Avenue
4

Turn left onto OR 214

1.0 mi · 2 min · Newberg Highway
5

Take the ramp onto I 5

12 mi · 14 min · I 5
Toward I 5 South: Salem
6

Take the exit onto I 5

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 5
Exit 260A Toward OR 99E Business: Salem Parkway
7

Merge onto OR 99E Bus

3.0 mi · 4 min · Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway
8

Continue on OR 99E Bus

1.0 mi · 2 min · Commercial Street Northeast
9

Turn left onto Belmont Street Northeast

0.2 mi · 47 sec · Belmont Street Northeast
10

Turn right onto Broadway Street Northeast

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Broadway Street Northeast
11

Continue on High Street Northeast

0.4 mi · 1 min · High Street Northeast
12

Arrive at destination

High Street Northeast

Trip Plan

Since this is a quick 28-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You will not need to plan for any formal stops, allowing you to drive straight through without worrying about fatigue. Keep an eye on traffic patterns when merging onto I-5, as the heavy highway concentration means congestion can impact your travel time. Because the fuel cost is a modest $4, you can head out with a full tank and arrive with ease. Take advantage of the short duration to keep your schedule open, as the simplicity of this route makes it easy to incorporate into a larger daily itinerary.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 9.3 miles from Woodburn, OR, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.4 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 18.6 miles or 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 9.3 miles or 13m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 22m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salem, OR than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Woodburn, OR so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Woodburn, OR

This is one driving day of about 18.6 miles and 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Woodburn, OR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 12.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 9.3 mi from Woodburn, OR · 13m into the drive

Downtown Keizer, OR, OR

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Keizer, OR

9 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

Keizer, OR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Keizer, OR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 9.3 miles from Woodburn, OR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Salem, OR

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.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Salem, OR.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.70 one way

$7.40 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.34 $3.91 $7.82
premium $5.59 $4.09 $8.18
diesel $5.64 $4.13 $8.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5.6 0 $1.95 $0.89
Efficient EV 4.7 0 $1.63 $0.74
EV Truck/SUV 7.4 0 $2.60 $1.19

Gas CO2

7 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (71% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Woodburn, OR

Evening in Woodburn on Sunday

Local time

6:35 PM

PDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Salem, OR

Evening in Salem on Sunday

Local time

6:35 PM

PDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

19 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

28m 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 Woodburn, OR to Salem, OR covers 18.6 miles and takes about 28m 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, Newberg Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.3 miles from Woodburn, OR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.70 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 is a straightforward 28m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Lincoln Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North Settlemier Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (OR 214 / Newberg Highway): Navigation decision point.
The route from Woodburn, OR to Salem, OR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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