If you are planning a quick commute or a short visit between Salem and Aloha, you can expect a straightforward journey spanning 46.6 miles. This trip typically takes about 1 hour and 4 minutes, making it a perfectly manageable day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $9 for fuel covers the expenses for this direct transit through the Pacific Coast region. You will primarily rely on I-5, the Beaverton-Tigard Freeway, and the Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway to navigate between these two points. Since the drive is efficient and compact, it serves as a practical link between the two cities without the need for extensive travel planning.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
32 mi
38m
Beaverton-Tigard Freeway
4.8 mi
6m
Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway
3.1 mi
4m
Southwest Tualatin Valley Highway
2.6 mi
5m
Liberty Street Northeast
1.5 mi
4m
Southwest Farmington Road
0.5 mi
1m
Southwest Beaverton Hillsdale Highway
0.4 mi
1m
Commercial Street Northeast
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 32 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, OR and Aloha, 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
32 mi·38 min·I 5
Toward I 5 North: PortlandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 292AToward OR 217: Tigard, BeavertonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto OR 217
4.8 mi·6 min·Beaverton-Tigard Freeway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 2AToward OR 8, OR 10: Beaverton, Canyon RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
The midpoint is around 23.3 miles from Salem, 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 42.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8
37.1 mi into trip|~48m in
Take the exit toward OR 217: Tigard, Beaverton
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 292A
Toward OR 217: Tigard, Beaverton
8
42.6 mi into trip|~55m in
Take the exit toward OR 8, OR 10: Beaverton, Canyon Road
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 2A
Toward OR 8, OR 10: Beaverton, Canyon Road
6
42.8 mi into trip|~56m in|OR 10 / Southwest Beaverton Hillsdale Highway
Turn left onto OR 10 / Southwest Beaverton Hillsdale Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.28 one way
$18.57 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg16 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$9.82
$19.65
premium
$5.59
$10.26
$20.52
diesel
$5.61
$10.29
$20.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
14
0
$4.89
$2.24
Efficient EV
11.7
0
$4.08
$1.86
EV Truck/SUV
18.6
0
$6.52
$2.98
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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 as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Salem, OR
Night
in Salem on Saturday
Local time
9:15 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Chance Rain Showers
WSW 2 to 6 mph49% chanceLive forecast
Winter Storm Watch
Winter Storm Watch issued April 12 at 4:51PM PDT until April 16 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Winter Storm Watch
Winter Storm Watch issued April 12 at 12:32PM PDT until April 16 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Portland OR
Destination
Aloha, OR
Night
in Aloha on Saturday
Local time
9:15 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
King City, OR
23 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
3 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 4m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 86% of this route is spent on major thoroughfares. The journey features a significant 32-mile stretch on I-5, which dominates the first portion of your trip. As you transition onto the Beaverton-Tigard Freeway and the Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway, the character of the drive shifts from a major interstate pace to regional highway travel. You will spend the vast majority of your time behind the wheel maintaining steady highway speeds. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Beaverton-Tigard Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Liberty Street Northeast.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.2 miles (Liberty Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.1 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
214 ft158 ft
Total Climb
75 ft
Total Descent
19 ft
Highest Point
214 ft
~46.6 mi in
Elevation Range
56 ft
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 Aloha, OR, road signs begin pointing toward Beaverton along the way.
Beaverton
37.1 mi in|~48m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 46.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Aloha, 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 0.2 miles (Liberty Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.1 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 Aloha, OR before heading back.
