How far is Boston, MA from Salem, MA?

The driving distance from Boston, MA to Salem, MA is about 15.5 miles (24.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 13.9 miles (22.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 56m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
15.5 mi
00h 28m
Flight
13.89 mi
22.36 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Boston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
13.89 mi
Kilometers
22.36 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
15.5 mi
Kilometers
24.94 km
Drive Time
00h 28m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Salem
Thu, Apr 23, 3:37 AM EDT
Return by in Boston
Thu, Apr 23, 4:05 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Boston
2026-04-23T03:09
Arrive Salem
Thu, Apr 23, 3:37 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:28 AM to 7:28 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:34 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Boston
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Revere
MA

The most populous city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

From Boston
7.8 mi
00h 14m
To Salem
7.8 mi
00h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph NW
Destination
60°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Boston and Salem.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Boston and Salem.

  1. 1

    Start on Tremont Street

    70 m · 11 sec · Tremont Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Beacon Street

    92 m · 11 sec · Beacon Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Somerset Street

    104 m · 13 sec · Somerset Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Ashburton Place

    64 m · 7 sec · Ashburton Place

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on Ashburton Place

    77 m · 9 sec · Ashburton Place

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Bowdoin Street

    574 ft · 22 sec · Bowdoin Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Cambridge Street

    87 m · 20 sec · Cambridge Street

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Staniford Street

    1114 ft · 43 sec · Staniford Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Causeway Street

    1614 ft · 1 min · Causeway Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto North Washington Street

    1801 ft · 1 min · North Washington Street

  11. 11

    Continue on New Rutherford Avenue

    969 ft · 24 sec · New Rutherford Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn left onto US 1 North: Tobin Bridge

    1953 ft · 48 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight right

    1.9 mi · 2 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Fourth Street

    84 m · 9 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Fourth Street

    607 ft · 22 sec · Fourth Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Fourth Street

    32 m · 5 sec · Fourth Street

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto Hawthorn Street

    616 ft · 10 sec · Hawthorn Street

  18. 18

    Continue on Broadway

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Broadway

  19. 19

    Continue on Broadway

    48 m · 5 sec · Broadway

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Albert J Brown Circle

    16 m · 2 sec · Albert J Brown Circle

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on Albert J Brown Circle

    72 m · 8 sec · Albert J Brown Circle

  22. 22

    Turn slight right onto Broadway

    1.2 km · 1 min · Broadway

  23. 23

    Continue on Salem Turnpike

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Salem Turnpike

  24. 24

    Continue on Western Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Western Avenue

  25. 25

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Western Avenue

    59 m · 3 sec · Western Avenue

  26. 26

    Exit the roundabout onto Western Avenue

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Western Avenue

  27. 27

    Continue on Highland Avenue

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Highland Avenue

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Dalton Parkway

    816 ft · 25 sec · Dalton Parkway

  29. 29

    Continue on Broad Street

    1542 ft · 39 sec · Broad Street

  30. 30

    Continue on Gedney Street

    134 m · 19 sec · Gedney Street

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Gedney Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Boston and Salem.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
31 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
200 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Western Avenue
3.58 mi · 23%
Broadway
3.24 mi · 21%
Highland Avenue
2.35 mi · 15%
US 1 North
2.3 mi · 15%
Salem Turnpike
1.68 mi · 11%
North Washington Street
0.34 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Western Avenue

Exit the roundabout onto Western Avenue

2.5 mi · 00h 04m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 28m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1.6 mi
13.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Revere
00h 14m from Boston
Leave By
7:34 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Boston and Partly Sunny near Salem.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Boston to Salem?

The road trip is about 15.5 miles (24.9 km) and usually takes 00h 28m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Revere is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7.8 miles from Boston and 7.8 miles from Salem.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 13.9 miles (22.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:34 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.14 one way or $4.28 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Boston and Partly Sunny near Salem.

Stop Ideas Near Revere

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Revere and the surrounding midpoint area.
Cocobeet - Boston
Food stop 6.2 mi away

Cocobeet - Boston

Boston , MA
100 City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA 02108
Rating 4.4/5 198 reviews Health food restaurant,Juice shop,Raw food restaurant,Vegan restaurant
Boston's Old City Hall
Scenic stop 6.3 mi away

Boston's Old City Hall

Boston , MA
45 School St, Boston, MA 02108, United States
Rating 4.6/5 346 reviews Tourist attraction,Historical landmark
Salem City Hall
Meeting point 7.8 mi away

Salem City Hall

Salem , MA
93 Washington St, Salem, MA 01970
Rating 4.2/5 84 reviews City Hall,City government office
City Hall Plaza
Scenic stop 6.2 mi away

City Hall Plaza

Boston , MA
1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02203
Rating 4.4/5 208 reviews City park

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Revere.

RAIL

North Station

6 mi away
100 Legends Way
RAIL

South Station

7 mi away
2 South Station
RAIL

Back Bay station

9 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.
RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

16 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Boston and Salem. Straight-line distance: 13.89 mi (22.36 km).

Boston

#1 Boston

The twenty-first most populous city in the United States and the center of the Boston metropolitan area.

Population691,531
Coordinates42.3584300, -71.0597700
Altitude14
CountryUnited States
Salem

#2 Salem

The capital of Massachusetts.

Population43,581
Coordinates42.5195400, -70.8967200
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Start: Boston (-71.05977, 42.35843)
End: Salem (-70.89672, 42.51954)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 25 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.55 gal
2.07 L · about $2.14
Round trip
$4.28
1.1 gal · 4.14 L
Estimated CO2
4.9 kg one way
Round trip: 9.8 kg / 22 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $2.14 $4.28
Mid-grade $4.40 $2.42 $4.84
Premium $4.80 $2.64 $5.28
Diesel $4.49 $2.47 $4.94

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Massachusetts · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Boston and Salem. The current time is 03:09:33.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.