Origin
Salem, OR
Night in Salem on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
PDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salem, OR to Depoe Bay, 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 46m
Distance
71 mi
114 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 38m
★
6 AM
1h 46m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 50m
3 PM
1h 52m
5 PM
2h 1m
8 PM
1h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salem, OR
Wikimedia Commons
Depoe Bay, OR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Salem, OR to Depoe Bay, OR is 71 miles and takes about 1h 46m via Salmon River Highway, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip connects two points in the Pacific Coast region of Oregon, offering a direct route from the state capital to the ocean. Expect a local feel for most of this drive, which is well-suited for a single-day excursion. The relatively short distance and manageable duration make it an easy addition to a larger Oregon itinerary or a standalone trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.5 miles from Salem, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon River Highway | 26.6 mi | 37m |
| Salem-Willamina Highway | 20.8 mi | 25m |
| Oregon Coast Highway | 12.6 mi | 22m |
| OR 22 | 5.6 mi | 8m |
| Northeast East Devils Lake Road | 4.4 mi | 9m |
| Chemeketa Street Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| High Street Northeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Front Street Northeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Salmon River Highway
— 26.6 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, OR and Depoe Bay, OR.
1
Start on High Street Northeast
469 ft
·
19 sec
·
High Street Northeast
2
Turn right onto Chemeketa Street Northeast
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
Chemeketa Street Northeast
3
At end of road, turn right onto OR 22; OR 99E Bus
420 ft
·
10 sec
·
Front Street Northeast
4
Take the exit onto OR 22
5.6 mi
·
8 min
·
OR 22
Toward Marion Street Bridge
5
Continue on OR 22
21 mi
·
25 min
·
Salem-Willamina Highway
6
Merge onto OR 18; OR 22
27 mi
·
37 min
·
Salmon River Highway
7
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
8
Merge onto US 101
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Oregon Coast Highway
9
Turn left onto Northeast East Devils Lake Road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Northeast East Devils Lake Road
10
Keep slight left at fork onto Northeast East Devils Lake Road
4.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Northeast East Devils Lake Road
11
Turn left onto US 101
12 mi
·
21 min
·
Oregon Coast Highway
12
Turn right onto Southwest Ellingson Street
161 ft
·
7 sec
·
Southwest Ellingson Street
13
Turn straight
48 ft
·
3 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 1h 46m estimated drive time, you can comfortably start this trip any time of day. There are no designated stops listed, so you have the flexibility to pull over when you see something that catches your eye. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a highway segment is 26.6 miles, and planning stops in smaller towns along the way can be helpful. The estimated fuel cost of $14 is quite low, allowing for a budget-friendly excursion.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.5 miles from Salem, OR, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.6 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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.5 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Depoe Bay, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Salem, OR
This is one driving day of about 71 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Salem, OR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Salmon River Highway for about 26.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.5 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 54.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Chemeketa Street Northeast
Turn right onto Chemeketa Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
OR 22; OR 99E Bus / Front Street Northeast
At end of road, turn right onto OR 22; OR 99E Bus / Front Street Northeast
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
OR 22
Take the exit onto OR 22 toward Marion Street Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Marion Street Bridge
3
26.8 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
OR 18; OR 22 / Salmon River Highway
Merge onto OR 18; OR 22 / Salmon River Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
54.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
Northeast East Devils Lake Road
Keep slight left at fork onto Northeast East Devils Lake Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.14 one way
$28.29 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $14.97 | $29.94 |
| premium | $5.59 | $15.63 | $31.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.68 | $31.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.46 | $3.41 |
| Efficient EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.21 | $2.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.94 | $4.54 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Depoe Bay, OR
Night in Depoe Bay on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 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
1h 46m 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 route involves a significant amount of local road driving, with only 8% of the total mileage on highways. You'll spend the longest uninterrupted stretch, 26.6 miles, on the Salmon River Highway. Expect frequent turns and a more intimate connection with the local landscape as you transition from highway to surface roads. This driving profile suggests a more engaged and potentially slower pace compared to a pure highway trip.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.6 mi on Salmon River Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Chemeketa Street Northeast.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 71 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.1 miles (Chemeketa Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (OR 22; OR 99E Bus / Front Street Northeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (OR 22): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 71 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (8%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.6 miles on Salmon River Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (Chemeketa Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (OR 22; OR 99E Bus / Front Street Northeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (OR 22): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Depoe Bay, 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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