Salem, VA Road Trips
Salem, VA serves as a quiet starting point in the Southeast, connecting drivers to 3 outbound routes across the area. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 265 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from Salem, VA head east, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
5
Longest Drive
282.9 mi
Chesapeake, VA
Quickest Drive
4h 21m
McLean, VA
Plan Around Salem, VA
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Salem, VA is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Salem, VA
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Salem, VA
Driving from Salem, VA
On average, trips departing from Salem, VA run 265 miles with a drive time of roughly 5h 1m. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 283 miles (5h 23m), while the shortest is just 232 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from Salem, VA include Chesapeake, VA (282.9 mi, 5h 23m), Norfolk, VA (278.8 mi, 5h 18m), and McLean, VA (231.9 mi, 4h 21m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in VA currently averages around $4.1 per gallon. For the typical 265-mile trip from Salem, VA, budget about $43 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 3 mapped routes leaving Salem, VA and 2 routes heading into Salem, VA, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 232 to 283 miles.
The longest mapped route from Salem, VA covers 283 miles and takes approximately 5h 23m. Shorter options start at just 232 miles.
The average route from Salem, VA runs about 265 miles with a drive time of roughly 5h 1m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $4.1/gallon for regular), the average 265-mile trip from Salem, VA costs roughly $43 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Salem, VA include Chesapeake, VA, Norfolk, VA and McLean, VA. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Salem, VA by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
25,477
Median Income
$66,716
Median Home Value
$244,800
Median Age
40.3
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Salem, VA at a Glance
Founded
1802
Elevation
3,527 ft
Area
15 mi²
Notable People from Salem, VA
A sampling of people born in Salem, VA.
Theophilus Painter
1889–1969
American zoologist (1889-1969)
City data from Wikidata (Q502230), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Salem, VA
Salem [1] is a city in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia.
Dixie Caverns & Pottery, 5753 W. Salem Street, ☏ +1 540 380-2085. Salem Fair, ☏ +1 540 375-3004. 1001 Boulevard. Usually held the end of June, beginning of July. Free admission. Salem Museum and Historical Society, 801 E. Main Street, ☏ +1 540 389-6760. Open Tu-F 10AM-4PM; Sa noon-5PM.. Free.
Olde Salem Brewing Co. (OSBC), 21 E. Main St., ☏ +1 540 404-4399, [email protected]. (updated Oct 2019) Parkway Brewing, 739 Kessler Mill Road (located near I-81 exit 141), ☏ +1 540 404-9810, [email protected]. (updated Oct 2019)
Affordable Corporate Suites, ☏ +1 540 444-4663. Baymont Inn, 140 Sheraton Drive, ☏ +1 540 562-2717. Comfort Inn, 151 Wildwood Road, ☏ +1 540 387-1600. Comfort Suites, 2898 Keagy Road, ☏ +1 540 375-4800. Econo Lodge, 301 Wildwood Road, ☏ +1 540 389-0280. Hampton Inn, 1886 Braeburn Drive, ☏ +1 540 776-6500. Holiday Inn, 450 Litchell Rd, ☏ +1 540 389-2424. Holiday Inn Express, 1535 East Main Street, ☏ +1 540 986-1000. Quality Inn, 179 Sheraton Drive, ☏ +1 540 562-1912. Super 8 Motel, 300 Wildwood Road, ☏ +1 540 389-0297. Inn at Burwell Place, 601 West Main Street, ☏ +1 540-387-0250, [email protected]. This bed & breakfast is an early 1900s Victorian home. $115-175/night. The Old Manse Bed & Breakfast, 530 East Main Street, ☏ +1 540 389-3921. This 1847 inn has two rooms and is listed on the National Historic Register. Dixie Caverns, 5753 W. Salem Street (Exit 132 off I-81), ☏ +1 540 380-2085, [email protected].
Travel tips adapted from Salem (Virginia) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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