Origin
Monmouth, OR
Late night in Monmouth on Tuesday
Local time
5:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monmouth, OR to Salem, OR
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
23m
Distance
15 mi
24 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monmouth, OR
Manu Edition
Salem, OR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Monmouth to Salem is 15 miles and takes about 23 minutes via Independence Highway, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Oregon's Pacific Coast region, making it a simple connector between two points. Given its brief duration and surface road profile, it's ideal for a quick hop rather than a dedicated road trip. You'll find this route straightforward, with minimal complexity for drivers looking for an efficient way to get from A to B.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Independence Highway | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| Salem Dallas Highway Northwest | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| Monmouth Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Main Street East | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Center Street Bridge | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Monmouth Independence Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Liberty Street Northeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Independence Highway
— 5.4 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monmouth, OR and Salem, OR.
1
Start on OR 194
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street East
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn straight onto OR 51
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Monmouth Independence Highway
3
Continue on OR 51
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Monmouth Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto OR 51
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
5
Continue on OR 51
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Independence Highway
6
Take the ramp onto Salem Dallas Highway Northwest
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Salem Dallas Highway Northwest
Toward OR 22 East: Salem
7
Merge onto OR 22
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Salem Dallas Highway Northwest
8
Keep slight right at fork onto OR 22
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Center Street Bridge
Toward OR 99E Business South: City Center, Albany
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on Center Street Northeast
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Center Street Northeast
10
Turn left onto Liberty Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Liberty Street Northeast
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn right onto Union Street Northeast
447 ft
·
19 sec
·
Union Street Northeast
12
Turn right onto High Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
High Street Northeast
13
Arrive at destination
High Street Northeast
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 14.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
OR 51 / South Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto OR 51 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
8
13.8 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
OR 22 / Center Street Bridge
Keep slight right at fork onto OR 22 / Center Street Bridge toward OR 99E Business South: City Center, Albany
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward OR 99E Business South: City Center, Alba...
7
14.6 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
Liberty Street Northeast
Turn left onto Liberty Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
14.7 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
Union Street Northeast
Turn right onto Union Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
5
14.8 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
High Street Northeast
Turn right onto High Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.99 one way
$5.98 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $3.16 | $6.32 |
| premium | $5.59 | $3.30 | $6.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.31 | $6.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.58 | $0.72 |
| Efficient EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.31 | $0.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6 | 0 | $2.10 | $0.96 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Salem, OR
Late night in Salem on Tuesday
Local time
5:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°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
23 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
23m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive covers 15 miles with no highway time, meaning you'll be on surface roads for the entire trip. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 5.4 miles along Independence Highway. Expect to navigate through local streets and intersections, as the route utilizes Independence Highway, Salem Dallas Highway Northwest, and Monmouth Street. This is a typical in-town or between-town driving experience with frequent changes in speed limits and potential for traffic signals.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.4 mi on Independence Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near OR 51 / South Main Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 15 miles you will encounter 8 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 2.6 miles (OR 51 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.8 miles (OR 22 / Center Street Bridge): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.6 miles (Liberty Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Monmouth, OR to Salem, OR, road signs begin pointing toward Albany along the way.
Albany
13.8 mi in
|
~20m
|
via OR 22
About the Cities
Arriving in Salem, OR
Full guide →Salem, the capital of Oregon, is located in the Willamette Valley between Portland and Eugene. It is also the county seat of Marion County. Salem was established in the early 1800s as a farming community. The town grew during the years of the California gold rush. Salem became the capital of Oregon in 1851 after it was moved from Oregon City. The capital was then briefly moved to Corvallis in 1855, but in that same year was permanently moved back to Salem. The first two Oregon State Capitol buildings tragically burned down. The third and current building was completed in 1938, complete with its distinctive gold-plated pioneer statue, the "Gold Man," perched atop. Besides being the seat of state government, Salem is also a major agricultural center in one of the most fertile regions in the world.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 15 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.4 miles on Independence Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Salem, OR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (OR 51 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.8 miles (OR 22 / Center Street Bridge): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.6 miles (Liberty Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Salem, OR before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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