Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Salem travel guide

Salem Tourism | Salem Guide

You're Going to Love Salem

With a population of 154,637, Salem is a must-see destination in Oregon, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Salem has to offer.

Where to Eat in Salem

If you’re looking for affordable options, Rudy's Steakhouse (350 Chemeketa St NE) and Amadeus (135 NE Liberty St.) are great picks.

When to visit Salem

Salem in December
Estimated hotel price
$105
1 night at 3-star hotel
Salem in December
Estimated hotel price
$105
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Salem in July, when the average temperature is 68 °F, and the highest can go up to 82.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 35.6 °F, with an average temperature of 41 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in December, when precipitation is around 6.9″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Salem, with an average rainfall of 0.5″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Salem

Plane

Although Salem doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Portland Airport (PDX), which is located 80 km from Salem. Portland Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from Alaska Airlines, Delta, Qatar Airways and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Salem departs from Denver and takes around 2h 39m.

Car

Another option to get to Salem is to pick up a car rental from Seattle, which is about 301 km from Salem. You’ll find branches of Turo and Dollar, among others, in Seattle.

Plane

Although Salem doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Portland Airport (PDX), which is located 80 km from Salem. Portland Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from Alaska Airlines, Delta, Qatar Airways and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Salem departs from Denver and takes around 2h 39m.

Car

Another option to get to Salem is to pick up a car rental from Seattle, which is about 301 km from Salem. You’ll find branches of Turo and Dollar, among others, in Seattle.

Airports near Salem

PDXPortland
EUGEugene

Airlines serving Salem

Lufthansa
Good (8,221 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,580 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,220 reviews)
SWISS
Good (2,073 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,469 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,569 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,246 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,651 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,733 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,661 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,214 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,984 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,627 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,533 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,429 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (431 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,486 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,388 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (3,038 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (318 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Salem

Average rates range from around $151 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $268 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Comfort Suites Salem and Comfort Inn & Suites Salem Northeast.

Where to stay in popular areas of Salem

Most booked hotels in Salem

See all
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Salem North - Keizer By IHG
2 stars
Excellent (9.1, 311 reviews)
$125+
View
The Hotel Salem
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, 1638 reviews)
$135+
View
Best Western Premier Keizer/Salem Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8, 399 reviews)
$130+
View
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Salem OR
3 stars
Good (7.7, 998 reviews)
$98+
View
Days Inn by Wyndham Black Bear
2 stars
Good (6.6, 1014 reviews)
$82+
View
HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof Salem, OR
2 stars
Okay (5.9, 771 reviews)
$70+
View

Renting a car in Salem

Renting a car in Salem costs $52 per day, on average, or $156 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 7% cheaper than airport locations in Salem.

Expect to pay $4.43 per gallon in Salem (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $53.15 and $70.86. The most frequently booked car type in Salem is Full-size (Class Full-size SUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Kia Rio or similar) are, on average, 49% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Salem costs $52 per day, on average, or $156 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 7% cheaper than airport locations in Salem.

Expect to pay $4.43 per gallon in Salem (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $53.15 and $70.86. The most frequently booked car type in Salem is Full-size (Class Full-size SUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Kia Rio or similar) are, on average, 49% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Salem

Full-size

5 Adults, 2 Bags

$41/day

Full-size

Intermediate SUV

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$44/day

Intermediate SUV
Find car rentals in Salem