Salem, OR

Transportation

Air

All airline service to Salem is from from Portland International Airport (PDX), an hour's drive from the north. To get to Salem from the Portland Airport, follow I-205 south to its connection to I-5.

Train

The Amtrak station in Salem is just to the east of the downtown core and is served by the regional Cascades train and the long distance Coast Starlight train. The Amtrak Cascades (Eugene-Salem-Portland-Tacoma-Seattle-Vancouver, BC) has 2 runs daily in each direction and the Coast Starlight (Seattle-Portland-Salem-Eugene-Sacramento-Bay Area-Santa Barbara-Los Angeles) has one run daily in each direction. Be aware that northbound Coast Starlight trains can be delayed many hours on their journey from Los Angeles. The Cascades trains are really only an option for day trips from Salem and Eugene to Portland or passengers who stay overnight in Salem. Day trips from Portland to Salem both directions by train are not possible considering the schedule however there is Amtrak Thruway coach service.

Bus

Greyhound and Amtrak Thruway serve Salem frequently. If staying in Central or Eastern Oregon there is a Cascade bus that travels through all seasons. Prices are relatively inexpensive. Also Cherriots and Wilsonville's SMART system jointly operate the 1X express transit bus between the Downtown Salem Transit Center and the Wilsonville WES rail station (with service to Tualatin, Tigard and Beaverton (with its MAX light rail connection to Portland and the entire Portland region). This bus and rail connection only operates weekdays and in the morning and afternoon (no mid-day, night or weekend service), but operates in both directions during its operating time. The current fare for the 1X bus is $2.50 one way. The fare for the WES train is $2.30 which is valid as a 2 hour ticket on the Portland regional TriMet system, for a combined total fare of $4.80 one way from Portland to Salem.

Car

Salem is located in the mid-Willamette Valley, about halfway between Portland to the north and Eugene to the south; it's about a one-hour drive from either city on Interstate 5. If coming in East of the Cascades Hwy. 22 will take you right into Salem.