How far is Salem, OR from Ontario, OR?
The driving distance from Salem, OR to Ontario, OR is about 421.4 miles (678.2 km), with a travel time of about 07h 54m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 305.8 miles (492.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 48m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 07h 54m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Oregon, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Salem and Ontario.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem and Ontario.
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1
Start on High Street Northeast
143 m · 19 sec · High Street Northeast
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2
Turn right onto Chemeketa Street Northeast
136 m · 19 sec · Chemeketa Street Northeast
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3
Turn right onto Liberty Street Northeast
1722 ft · 1 min · Liberty Street Northeast
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4
Turn left onto Division Street Northeast
107 m · 12 sec · Division Street Northeast
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5
Turn right onto Commercial Street Northeast
1348 ft · 41 sec · Commercial Street Northeast
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6
Continue on Liberty Street Northeast
1.1 mi · 3 min · Liberty Street Northeast
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7
Turn right onto Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway
3.1 mi · 5 min · Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Parkway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 North: Portland
39.7 mi · 49 min
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9
Keep slight right to continue on Seattle
1.1 mi · 2 min
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10
Take the exit slight right toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles, Portland Airport
1011 ft · 17 sec
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11
Keep slight left to continue on I 84 East, US 30 East: Portland Airport, The Dalles
1.5 km · 1 min
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12
Continue on Banfield Freeway
6.6 mi · 9 min · Banfield Freeway
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13
Continue on Columbia River Highway
158.1 mi · 2 hr 56 min · Columbia River Highway
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14
Continue on Old Oregon Trail Highway
208.8 mi · 3 hr 45 min · Old Oregon Trail Highway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward US 30 BUS: Ontario, T.V.C.C.
1689 ft · 42 sec
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16
Turn right onto East Idaho Avenue
1 km · 1 min · East Idaho Avenue
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17
Turn left onto South Oregon Street
8 m · 1 sec · South Oregon Street
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18
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South Oregon Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Salem and Ontario.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Old Oregon Trail Highway
Continue on Old Oregon Trail Highway
209 mi · 03h 45m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Sunny leaving Salem and Mostly Sunny near Ontario.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Salem to Ontario?
The road trip is about 421.4 miles (678.2 km) and usually takes 07h 54m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Boardman is a useful midpoint, sitting about 210.4 miles from Salem and 211 miles from Ontario.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 305.8 miles (492.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 115.6 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $73.62 one way or $147.24 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 132.1 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Salem and Ontario, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Salem and Mostly Sunny near Ontario.
Stop Ideas Near Boardman
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Boardman.
Pasco Intermodal Train Station
Pendleton, Oregon
Wishram
Walla Walla, WA
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Salem and Ontario. Straight-line distance: 305.86 mi (492.24 km).
#1 Salem
The capital of Oregon.
| Population | 175,891 |
| Coordinates | 44.9429000, -123.0351000 |
| Altitude | 49 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Ontario
City in Oregon, USA
| Population | 11,140 |
| Coordinates | 44.0265500, -116.9629400 |
| Altitude | 656 |
| Country | United States |
End: Ontario (-116.96294, 44.02655)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 678 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 02m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 32m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 25m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 01m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 01m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 15m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.95 | $73.62 | $147.24 |
| Mid-grade | $5.34 | $79.38 | $158.75 |
| Premium | $5.57 | $82.77 | $165.53 |
| Diesel | $6.37 | $94.66 | $189.32 |
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 Oregon · May 28, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.