How far is Harrisonburg, VA from Salem, VA?

The driving distance from Harrisonburg, VA to Salem, VA is about 109.9 miles (176.8 km), with a travel time of about 02h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 102.8 miles (165.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 11m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
109.85 mi
02h 05m
Flight
102.78 mi
165.41 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Harrisonburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
102.78 mi
Kilometers
165.41 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
109.85 mi
Kilometers
176.78 km
Drive Time
02h 05m

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 02h 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Salem
Tue, Apr 21, 7:50 PM EDT
Return by in Harrisonburg
Tue, Apr 21, 9:56 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Harrisonburg
2026-04-21T17:44
Arrive Salem
Tue, Apr 21, 7:50 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:06 AM to 12:06 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:18 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Harrisonburg
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Buena Vista
VA

Independent city in Virginia, United States

From Harrisonburg
54.9 mi
01h 02m
To Salem
54.9 mi
01h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 21 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 10 mph SW
Destination
30°F
Overnight

Patchy Frost

Starts
Tue, Apr 21 1:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Main Street

    35 m · 9 sec · North Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Court Square

    79 m · 8 sec · Court Square

  3. 3

    Continue on Court Square

    51 m · 5 sec · Court Square

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Market Street

    873 ft · 19 sec · West Market Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto South High Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · South High Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Maryland Avenue

    2307 ft · 1 min · Maryland Avenue

  7. 7

    Continue on Port Republic Road

    2558 ft · 1 min · Port Republic Road

  8. 8

    Take the ramp right

    1009 ft · 25 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    54.3 mi · 59 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    51.5 mi · 57 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward VA 311: Salem

    157 m · 13 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right

    129 m · 10 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto Thompson Memorial Drive

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Thompson Memorial Drive

  14. 14

    Turn right onto East Main Street

    617 ft · 25 sec · East Main Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto North College Avenue

    12 m · 2 sec · North College Avenue

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North College Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
16 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Port Republic Road
106 mi · 97%
Thompson Memorial Drive
1.52 mi · 1%
South High Street
0.85 mi · 1%
Maryland Avenue
0.44 mi
VA 311
0.18 mi
West Market Street
0.17 mi
Longest Stretch

Port Republic Road

Merge slight left

54.3 mi · 00h 59m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 05m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.1 mi
102.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Buena Vista
01h 02m from Harrisonburg
Leave By
2:18 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Harrisonburg and Patchy Frost near Salem.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 109.9 miles (176.8 km) and usually takes 02h 05m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Buena Vista is a useful midpoint, sitting about 54.9 miles from Harrisonburg and 54.9 miles from Salem.

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

The direct path is about 102.8 miles (165.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:18 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $15.37 one way or $30.74 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 34.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Harrisonburg and Patchy Frost near Salem.

Stop Ideas Near Buena Vista

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Buena Vista, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Buena Vista.

RAIL

Kemper Street station

40 mi away
825 Kemper St
RAIL

Clifton Forge

43 mi away
400 Ridgeway Street
RAIL

Staunton station

52 mi away
1 Middlebrook Avenue
BUS

Roanoke

72 mi away
710 Williamson Road NE

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Harrisonburg and Salem. Straight-line distance: 102.78 mi (165.41 km).

Harrisonburg

#1 Harrisonburg

The most populous city in Virginia.

Population53,204
Coordinates38.4495700, -78.8689200
Altitude404
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Salem

Salem is a place in Virginia, United States.

Population0
Coordinates37.2934700, -80.0547600
Altitude325
CountryUnited States
Start: Harrisonburg (-78.86892, 38.44957)
End: Salem (-80.05476, 37.29347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 177 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.88 gal
14.67 L · about $15.37
Round trip
$30.74
7.76 gal · 29.34 L
Estimated CO2
34.5 kg one way
Round trip: 69 kg / 152 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $15.37 $30.74
Mid-grade $4.43 $17.18 $34.37
Premium $4.78 $18.54 $37.08
Diesel $5.62 $21.82 $43.64

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 Virginia · Apr 21, 2026

There is no time difference between Harrisonburg and Salem. The current time is 17:44:17.

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.