Origin
Salem, VA
Morning in Salem on Sunday
Local time
10:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salem, VA to Harrisonburg, VA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
28.1 mi
45 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salem, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Harrisonburg, VA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 28.1-mile drive from Salem, VA, to Harrisonburg, VA, is designed for a single day, taking about 36 minutes to complete. Primarily utilizing I-81, with brief sections on US 211 and East Lee Highway, it's a highway-focused journey through Virginia's Southeast region. With an estimated fuel cost of $4, this short trip is economical and efficient. You won't need to break this drive up overnight; it's a quick hop between destinations. Consider this a practical connector rather than a destination in itself.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 17.1 mi | 18m |
| US 211 | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| East Lee Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| East Market Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| East Old Cross Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 17.1 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, VA and Harrisonburg, VA.
1
Start on US 211; US 340
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
US 211; US 340
2
Continue on US 211
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East Lee Highway
3
Turn left onto SR 1002
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Old Cross Road
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
5
Merge onto I 81
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 81
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 33 West: Harrisonburg
7
Turn straight onto US 33
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East Market Street
8
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; US 33
49 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Main Street
9
Arrive at destination
US 11; US 33
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 28.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
8 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
SR 1002 / East Old Cross Road
Turn left onto SR 1002 / East Old Cross Road
Navigation decision point
3
9.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
3
9.3 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
I 81
Merge onto I 81
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
26.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward US 33 West: Harrisonburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 33 West: Harrisonburg
5
28.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
US 11; US 33 / North Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; US 33 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.39 one way
$8.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.80 | $9.61 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.20 | $10.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.20 | $12.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.95 | $1.35 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.46 | $1.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.93 | $1.80 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Harrisonburg, VA
Morning in Harrisonburg on Sunday
Local time
10:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
35 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
36m 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 an 84% highway experience on this route, with the longest continuous stretch covering 17.1 miles on I-81. The profile is largely a highway-focused drive, meaning you'll encounter consistent speeds and limited local road detours for most of your journey. While the majority is interstate, you'll transition onto US 211 and East Lee Highway, offering a slight change in scenery and pace as you approach your destination. This drive prioritizes getting you there efficiently.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.1 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and US 211. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in near SR 1002 / East Old Cross Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 36m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles (SR 1002 / East Old Cross Road): Navigation decision point; at 9.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.3 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 28.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.1 miles on I 81. 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 8 miles (SR 1002 / East Old Cross Road): Navigation decision point; at 9.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.3 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Harrisonburg, VA 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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