Origin
Salem, OR
Evening in Salem on Saturday
Local time
7:44 PM
PDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salem, OR to Mission, OR
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 5m
Distance
262.5 mi
422 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$52
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 52m
★
6 AM
5h 6m
8 AM
5h 33m
10 AM
5h 15m
12 PM
5h 12m
3 PM
5h 16m
5 PM
5h 31m
8 PM
4h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salem, OR
Wikimedia Commons
Mission, OR
Wolrider YURTSEVEN
Trip Overview
This 262.5-mile journey from Salem, OR to Mission, OR is a manageable one-day drive, estimated to take around 5 hours and 5 minutes. You'll primarily be on the Columbia River Highway and Old Oregon Trail Highway, with about 19% of your travel on I-5. With an estimated fuel cost of $52, this route offers a turn-heavy local drive experience. Since both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, you'll be exploring within the same general area. This trip is well-suited for a single day of driving, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
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
131.3 miles from Salem, OR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 37m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia River Highway | 158.1 mi | 2h 55m |
| Old Oregon Trail Highway | 48.3 mi | 52m |
| I 5 | 40.8 mi | 50m |
| Banfield Freeway | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| South Market Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Liberty Street Northeast | 1.5 mi | 4m |
| Commercial Street Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Columbia River Highway
— 158.1 mi, about 2h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, OR and Mission, 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
40 mi
·
48 min
·
I 5
Toward I 5 North: Portland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5
Toward Seattle
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 300
Toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles, Portland Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 84 East, US 30 East: Portland Airport, The Dalles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 84; US 30
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Banfield Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 84; US 30
158 mi
·
2 hr 55 min
·
Columbia River Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 84; US 30
48 mi
·
52 min
·
Old Oregon Trail Highway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 216
Toward OR 331: Milton-Freewater, Walla Walla
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto OR 331
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
South Market Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
OR 331
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration and 19% highway share, this route is perfectly doable in a single day. Consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and allow ample time for any spontaneous stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 158.1 miles on the Columbia River Highway, as services might be less frequent. With only one recommended stop, you have the flexibility to decide when and where to rest, making the most of this turn-heavy local drive.
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 131.3 miles from Salem, OR, or about 2h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 158.1 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 58 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.3 miles or 2h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mission, 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 262.5 miles and 5h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 Columbia River Highway for about 158.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
131 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 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 131.3 miles from Salem, OR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Columbia River Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 158.1 miles.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 5 and 259.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
7
44.8 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 toward Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Seattle
8
45.8 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles, Portland Airport
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 300
Toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles, Portl...
8
46 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 84 East, US 30 East: Portland Airport, The Dalles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 84 East, US 30 East: Portland Airport,...
8
259.9 mi into trip
|
~5h in
Take the exit toward OR 331: Milton-Freewater, Walla Walla
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 216
Toward OR 331: Milton-Freewater, Walla Walla
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.29 one way
$104.59 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
92 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $55.34 | $110.68 |
| premium | $5.59 | $57.78 | $115.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $57.96 | $115.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.8 | 0 | $27.56 | $12.60 |
| Efficient EV | 65.6 | 0 | $22.97 | $10.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 105 | 1 | $36.75 | $16.80 |
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Mission, OR
Evening in Mission on Saturday
Local time
7:44 PM
PDT
Current temp
63°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
20 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
5h 5m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" with a relatively low 19% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 158.1 miles on the Columbia River Highway, offering a substantial period on this particular roadway. This suggests a route that frequently transitions between different road types, likely involving more frequent adjustments to speed and direction than a pure interstate journey. You'll experience a varied driving feel, moving from potentially more winding local roads to quicker highway segments.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 158.1 mi on Columbia River Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5 miles in near I 5.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 262.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.8 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Salem, OR and Mission, OR, road signs point toward Seattle, Portland Airport and The Dalles.
Seattle
44.8 mi in
|
~59m
|
via I 5
Portland Airport
45.8 mi in
|
~1h
The Dalles
46 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 5m. Total distance: 262.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 158.1 miles on Columbia River 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.
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 Mission, OR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 5 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.8 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Mission, OR before the return drive.
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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