Origin
North Plains, OR
Night in North Plains on Saturday
Local time
9:37 PM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Plains, OR to Salem, OR
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
56.8 mi
91 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Plains, OR
Wikimedia Commons
Salem, OR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to get from North Plains to Salem, expect a straightforward 56.8-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 16 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough to complete without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $11 for fuel to cover the distance. Because you are traveling within the Pacific Coast region, the drive remains consistent in its geography and climate. It is a practical, efficient route that prioritizes speed over sightseeing, making it ideal if your main goal is simply reaching your destination in the Willamette Valley.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 32.1 mi | 38m |
| Northwest Sunset Highway | 11.7 mi | 15m |
| Beaverton-Tigard Freeway | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway | 3 mi | 4m |
| Commercial Street Northeast | 1 mi | 2m |
| Northwest Glencoe Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| High Street Northeast | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Belmont Street Northeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 32.1 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Plains, OR and Salem, OR.
1
Start on Northwest Commercial Street
19 ft
·
0 sec
·
Northwest Commercial Street
2
Turn right onto Northwest Glencoe Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest Glencoe Road
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 26 East: Portland
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto US 26
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Northwest Sunset Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 69A
Toward OR 217 South: Tigard, Salem
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto OR 217
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Beaverton-Tigard Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 5 South: Salem
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 5
32 mi
·
37 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 5
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5
Exit 260A
Toward OR 99E Business: Salem Parkway
10
Merge onto OR 99E Bus
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway
11
Continue on OR 99E Bus
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Commercial Street Northeast
12
Turn left onto Belmont Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
Belmont Street Northeast
13
Turn right onto Broadway Street Northeast
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Broadway Street Northeast
14
Continue on High Street Northeast
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
High Street Northeast
15
Arrive at destination
High Street Northeast
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.4 miles from North Plains, OR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 19.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward US 26 East: Portland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 26 East: Portland
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 26 / Northwest Sunset Highway
Merge onto US 26 / Northwest Sunset Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
12.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward OR 217 South: Tigard, Salem
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 69A
Toward OR 217 South: Tigard, Salem
5
12.7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
OR 217 / Beaverton-Tigard Freeway
Merge onto OR 217 / Beaverton-Tigard Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
19.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 5 South: Salem
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Salem
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.32 one way
$22.63 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $11.97 | $23.95 |
| premium | $5.59 | $12.50 | $25.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.54 | $25.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17 | 0 | $5.96 | $2.73 |
| Efficient EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.97 | $2.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.95 | $3.64 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Night in Salem on Saturday
Local time
9:37 PM
PDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
King City, OR
28 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 16m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 74% of your time will be spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a combination of the Northwest Sunset Highway, the Beaverton-Tigard Freeway, and I-5 to reach your destination. The most significant portion of the drive is a 32.1-mile stretch along I-5, which serves as the backbone of your journey. While the route moves through varying levels of traffic, the transition between these high-speed roads is designed for efficiency rather than technical driving. Behind the wheel, you will find the road character leans heavily toward functional, multi-lane travel.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.1 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Northwest Sunset Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
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 56.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (US 26 / Northwest Sunset Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
401 ft
154 ft
Total Climb
386 ft
Total Descent
429 ft
Highest Point
401 ft
~12.2 mi in
Elevation Range
247 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 56.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.1 miles on I 5. 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 0.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (US 26 / Northwest Sunset Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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