How far is Waltham, MA from Salem, MA?
The driving distance from Waltham, MA to Salem, MA is about 23.6 miles (38 km), with a travel time of about 00h 43m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 19.9 miles (32 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 26m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
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.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 43m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
A city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Waltham and Salem.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waltham and Salem.
-
1
Start on Main Street
2829 ft · 1 min · Main Street
-
2
Turn left onto Linden Street
1946 ft · 33 sec · Linden Street
-
3
Keep slight right to continue on Waverley Oaks Road
1.3 mi · 2 min · Waverley Oaks Road
-
4
Turn right onto Trapelo Road
1691 ft · 42 sec · Trapelo Road
-
5
Turn left onto Pleasant Street
1.9 mi · 3 min · Pleasant Street
-
6
Turn right onto Lake Street
117 m · 10 sec · Lake Street
-
7
Take the ramp left toward MA 2 East: Cambridge , Boston
745 ft · 18 sec
-
8
Merge slight left onto Concord Turnpike
1 mi · 1 min · Concord Turnpike
-
9
Take the exit slight left toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn
144 m · 14 sec
-
10
Merge slight right onto Alewife Brook Parkway
1.5 km · 3 min · Alewife Brook Parkway
-
11
Turn right onto Powder House Boulevard
1.5 km · 2 min · Powder House Boulevard
-
12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward Powder House Square
71 m · 5 sec
-
13
Exit the rotary
8 m · 1 sec
-
14
Continue on Warner Street
914 ft · 20 sec · Warner Street
-
15
Continue on Harvard Street
1 km · 1 min · Harvard Street
-
16
Continue on Mystic Valley Parkway Connector
1.1 mi · 2 min · Mystic Valley Parkway Connector
-
17
Merge slight right onto Revere Beach Parkway
1 km · 1 min · Revere Beach Parkway
-
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 5 toward Santilli Circle
880 ft · 16 sec · Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway
-
19
Exit the rotary onto Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway
2098 ft · 36 sec · Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway
-
20
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Sweetser Circle
148 m · 8 sec · Broadway
-
21
Exit the rotary onto Broadway
1.5 mi · 3 min · Broadway
-
22
Turn slight right onto Lynn Street
1.6 mi · 3 min · Lynn Street
-
23
Continue on Salem Street
1.2 km · 1 min · Salem Street
-
24
Continue on Lincoln Avenue
1913 ft · 40 sec · Lincoln Avenue
-
25
Exit the roundabout onto Lincoln Avenue
1.2 mi · 2 min · Lincoln Avenue
-
26
Turn slight right
31 m · 6 sec
-
27
Turn right onto Ballard Street
1 km · 58 sec · Ballard Street
-
28
Turn left onto Salem Turnpike
673 ft · 19 sec · Salem Turnpike
-
29
Continue on Western Avenue
1 mi · 2 min · Western Avenue
-
30
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Western Avenue
59 m · 3 sec · Western Avenue
-
31
Exit the roundabout onto Western Avenue
2.5 mi · 4 min · Western Avenue
-
32
Continue on Highland Avenue
2.4 mi · 4 min · Highland Avenue
-
33
Turn right onto Dalton Parkway
816 ft · 25 sec · Dalton Parkway
-
34
Continue on Broad Street
1542 ft · 39 sec · Broad Street
-
35
Continue on Gedney Street
134 m · 19 sec · Gedney Street
-
36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Gedney Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Waltham and Salem.
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.
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.
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.
Partly Sunny leaving Waltham 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 Waltham to Salem?
The road trip is about 23.6 miles (38 km) and usually takes 00h 43m 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?
Everett is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.8 miles from Waltham and 11.8 miles from Salem.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 19.9 miles (32 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.7 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 7:04 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.23 one way or $6.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Waltham and Partly Sunny near Salem.
Stop Ideas Near Everett
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Cocobeet - Boston
Boston's Old City Hall
Salem City Hall
City Hall Plaza
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Everett.
North Station
South Station
Back Bay station
Anderson Regional Transportation Center
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Waltham and Salem. Straight-line distance: 19.9 mi (32.03 km).
#1 Waltham
A city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
| Population | 62,069 |
| Coordinates | 42.3764900, -71.2356100 |
| Altitude | 20 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Salem
The capital of Massachusetts.
| Population | 43,581 |
| Coordinates | 42.5195400, -70.8967200 |
| Altitude | 6 |
| Country | United States |
End: Salem (-70.89672, 42.51954)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 38 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 47m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 35m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 28m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 23m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 20m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 17m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.89 | $3.23 | $6.46 |
| Mid-grade | $4.40 | $3.65 | $7.30 |
| Premium | $4.80 | $3.98 | $7.97 |
| Diesel | $4.49 | $3.73 | $7.45 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.