Salem, OR to Bunker Hill, OR is 168.1 miles and takes about 4h 3m via Oregon Coast Highway, Highway 126, and I 5, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Pacific Coast region back to the Pacific Coast region, all within Oregon. Expect a mixed drive that balances efficiency with some scenic potential. Given the 1-day recommendation, this route is ideal for a straightforward journey without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
84.1 miles from Salem, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, OR and Bunker Hill, OR.
1
Start on High Street Northeast
0.3 mi·46 sec·High Street Northeast
2
Continue on High Street Southeast
0.1 mi·31 sec·High Street Southeast
3
Turn left onto OR 22; OR 99E Bus
446 ft·14 sec·Trade Street Southeast
4
Continue on OR 22; OR 99E Bus
0.2 mi·39 sec·Pringle Parkway Southeast
5
Continue on OR 22; OR 99E Bus
0.3 mi·44 sec·Bellevue Street Southeast
6
Turn right onto OR 22; OR 99E Bus
2.1 mi·4 min·12th Street Southeast
7
Continue on OR 22; OR 99E Bus
0.3 mi·22 sec·North Santiam Highway
8
Take the exit onto I 5; OR 99E
37 mi·43 min·I 5; OR 99E
Exit 1AToward I 5 South: EugeneUse the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward OR 228: Halsey, Brownsville
10
Turn right onto OR 228
2.3 mi·3 min·Halsey-Sweet Home Highway
11
Turn left onto OR 99E
0.9 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
12
Continue on OR 99E
8.3 mi·11 min·Albany-Junction City Highway
13
Continue on OR 99E
0.3 mi·45 sec·South 3rd Street
14
Continue on OR 99E
3.5 mi·5 min·Highway 99E
15
Continue on OR 99
1.0 mi·2 min·Ivy Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on OR 99
1.5 mi·2 min·Highway 99S
17
Turn right onto OR 36
1.8 mi·2 min·Highway 36
18
Continue on OR 36
0.5 mi·41 sec·Mapleton-Junction City Highway
19
Continue on OR 36
1.6 mi·2 min·Highway 36
20
Turn left onto Applegate Trail
2.6 mi·3 min·Applegate Trail
21
At end of road, turn left onto Territorial Road
4.4 mi·6 min·Territorial Road
22
Continue on Territorial Highway
2.7 mi·4 min·Territorial Highway
23
Turn right onto Suttle Road
3.8 mi·6 min·Suttle Road
24
At end of road, turn right onto OR 126
28 mi·39 min·Highway 126
25
Turn left onto OR 126
14 mi·20 min·Highway 126
26
Merge onto US 101
22 mi·33 min·Oregon Coast Highway
27
Continue on US 101
1.3 mi·2 min·Winchester Avenue
28
Continue on US 101
21 mi·30 min·Oregon Coast Highway
29
Continue on US 101
0.6 mi·1 min·Sherman Avenue
30
Continue on US 101
0.1 mi·20 sec·Oregon Coast Highway
31
Continue on US 101
1.2 mi·2 min·Tremont Avenue
32
Continue on US 101
0.9 mi·1 min·North Bayshore Drive
33
Continue on US 101
1.3 mi·3 min·North Broadway
Use the straight lane.
34
Continue on US 101
0.2 mi·34 sec·Evans Boulevard
35
Continue on US 101
358 ft·10 sec·Oregon Coast Highway
36
Continue on US 101
0.2 mi·33 sec·Newport Lane
37
Turn left onto Hill Street
87 ft·5 sec·Hill Street
38
Turn right
232 ft·19 sec
39
Turn right onto US 101
102 ft·2 sec·Newport Lane
40
Arrive at destination
US 101
Trip Plan
With a duration of just over 4 hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Plan for one stop to break up the 168.1 miles and manage fuel needs, especially considering the estimated $33 fuel cost. The longest stretch on the Oregon Coast Highway is a good place to plan a brief pause if needed. Keep an eye on road conditions, particularly if traveling during inclement weather, as coastal highways can be affected.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 84.1 miles from Salem, OR, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.5 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 37 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.1 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bunker Hill, OR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Salem, 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 Salem, OR
This is one driving day of about 168.1 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Salem, OR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Oregon Coast Highway for about 43.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 168.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.3 mi into trip|~7m in|I 5; OR 99E
Take the exit onto I 5; OR 99E toward I 5 South: Eugene
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I 5 South: Eugene
5
40.5 mi into trip|~50m in
Take the exit toward OR 228: Halsey, Brownsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward OR 228: Halsey, Brownsville
5
168 mi into trip|~4h 2m in|Hill Street
Turn left onto Hill Street
Navigation decision point
5
168.1 mi into trip|~4h 2m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
168.1 mi into trip|~4h 3m in|US 101 / Newport Lane
Turn right onto US 101 / Newport Lane
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.49 one way
$66.98 round trip
$5.06/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.36
$35.44
$70.88
premium
$5.59
$37.00
$74.00
diesel
$5.61
$37.11
$74.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.4
0
$17.65
$8.07
Efficient EV
42
0
$14.71
$6.72
EV Truck/SUV
67.2
0
$23.53
$10.76
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Salem, OR
Night
in Salem on Saturday
Local time
9:17 PM
PDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bunker Hill, OR
Night
in Bunker Hill on Saturday
Local time
9:17 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Florence, OR
84 mi in
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
4 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
4h 3m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a mix of highway types, with 53% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches of efficient travel alongside more winding sections. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 43.5 miles on the Oregon Coast Highway, offering a good opportunity to settle in and enjoy the drive. The profile is described as a mixed drive, suggesting a varied experience that moves beyond monotonous interstate cruising.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.5 mi on Oregon Coast Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near I 5; OR 99E.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 3m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (I 5; OR 99E): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 168 miles (Hill Street): Navigation decision point.
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 Bunker Hill, OR, road signs begin pointing toward Brownsville along the way.
Brownsville
40.5 mi in|~50m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 3m. Total distance: 168.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 43.5 miles on Oregon Coast Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (I 5; OR 99E): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 168 miles (Hill Street): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Bunker Hill, OR, but most travelers stay overnight.
