- Must visit
Portland Art Museum
Major art museum in downtown Portland with Native American, modern, and Northwest collections. A core cultural stop for first-time visitors.
Cheapest price
$20
Average price
$21
Fastest journey
1 h
Average duration
1 h 5 m
Buses per day
3
Distance
70 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Salem, OR to Portland, OR is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Salem, OR to Portland, OR will cost around $21 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $20.
Of the 3 buses that leave Salem, OR for Portland, OR on Sun, Jun 21, 3 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Sun, Jun 21 the direct buses cover the 70 km distance in an average of 1 h 5 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 1 h .
On Sun, Jun 21 the slowest buses will take 1 h 15 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.






Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Salem, OR to Portland, OR among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $12. For those with little time consider booking a bus which can get you there in 1h 19m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.0 - 0.1kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $12, and a train costs an average of $11.
Distance: 43 miles (70 km)
| Bus | Most popular Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$21 Average price Cheapest | $24 Average price | $10 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 49m Average total duration Fastest 1h 19m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 57m Average total duration 1h 27m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 51m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions | 0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Salem, OR to Portland, OR:
A bus is $3 (€3) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Salem, OR to Portland, OR costing on average $24 (€20).
Other travel options to Portland, OR take longer:
Train takes on average 1h 27m.
You'll arrive about -1h -28m sooner (1h 19m by bus vs 51m by car) and save roughly $-10.56 (€-8.64) compared to fuel and tolls ($21 (€17) vs $10 (€8)). You also skip the drive itself — no traffic stress, no parking, and you can use the time to work, nap, or catch up on a series with the onboard Wi-Fi.
Direct coaches are operated by FlixBus, Point, Pacific Crest Buslines Bend.
Driving is still worth considering if you're travelling with bulky luggage, need flexibility on departure times, or plan to stop along the way.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 12:40AM | Arrival Time 01:55AM | Duration 1h15 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $22 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 01:40AM | Arrival Time 02:55AM | Duration 1h15 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $21 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 06:35AM | Arrival Time 10:56AM | Duration 4h21 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $25 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 12:25PM | Arrival Time 02:26PM | Duration 2h01 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $26 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 02:35PM | Arrival Time 06:11PM | Duration 3h36 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 02:55PM | Arrival Time 03:55PM | Duration 1h00 | Departure days Mon, Sun | Cheapest price $16 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 03:55PM | Arrival Time 06:11PM | Duration 2h16 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $24 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 03:55PM | Arrival Time 04:55PM | Duration 1h00 | Departure days Mon, Sun | Cheapest price $18 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 05:40PM | Arrival Time 06:55PM | Duration 1h15 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $13 |
The table below shows live departures for Salem, OR to Portland, OR buses for today, Saturday, June 20. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FlixBus | 5:40 PM Salem, Chemeketa Street Northeast / Liberty Street Northeast (Salem Center Mall), OR | 1h15 | 6:55 PM Portland, NW Station Way (Station Place Parking Garage), OR | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Sunday, June 21 | |||||
![]() | 12:40 AM Salem, OR | 1h15 | 1:55 AM Portland, OR | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and bus prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Buses from Salem, OR to Portland, OR run on average 3 times per day, taking around 1h 19m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $12 (€10) but you can travel from only $11 (€9) by train.
There are 3 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 06:35, the last at 21:35. The fastest bus covers the 43 miles (70 km) distance in 1h 0m.
Distance 43 miles (70 km) |
Average bus duration 1h 19m |
Cheapest ticket price $12 (€10) |
Buses per day 3 |
Direct buses 3 |
Fastest bus 1h 0m |
First bus 6:35 AM |
Last bus 9:35 PM |
Cheapest Month Jun |
Cheapest Day Mon |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Sat |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 1 day |
Discover the best of Portland — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Portland trip today.
Major art museum in downtown Portland with Native American, modern, and Northwest collections. A core cultural stop for first-time visitors.
Large science museum on the Willamette River with interactive exhibits, a planetarium, and family-friendly programming.
Historic house museum with period interiors and strong city history interpretation, plus one of Portland's best viewpoints.
Large urban park encompassing major attractions, trails, gardens, and forested scenery. One of Portland's essential outdoor destinations.
Highly regarded garden known for refined landscape design, seasonal beauty, and calm hillside setting above the city.
Vast urban forest with extensive hiking trails and a strong local following. Ideal for nature access close to downtown.
Portland is one of the leading craft beer cities in the United States, known for hop-forward IPAs, lagers, and experimental small-batch brews from many local breweries.
Portland has a major specialty coffee culture focused on carefully sourced beans, precise brewing, and independent roasters that helped define the city’s daily food ritual.
Portland-style doughnuts became nationally famous through creative toppings, oversized shapes, and quirky flavors, making them a recognizable local sweet treat.
A celebrated Portland restaurant known for inventive French-inspired cuisine, rich flavors, and an intimate, lively dining room.
A popular Southern restaurant famous for fried chicken and waffles, hearty brunches, and a bustling neighborhood atmosphere.
A reliable brewpub pouring respected Oregon craft beer alongside burgers, sandwiches, and pub fare in a spacious downtown setting.
Moderate by U.S. city standards. Food and coffee are reasonable, but hotels and fine dining can be pricey in peak season.
Tip 18-20% at restaurants; 20%+ for great service. Tip USD 1-2 per drink at bars, round up taxis, and tip hotel staff USD 2-5.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Salem, OR to Portland, OR by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Portland, OR, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Salem, OR to Portland, OR buses use the Salem, Chemeketa Street Northeast / Liberty Street Northeast (Salem Center Mall) to Portland, NW Station Way (Station Place Parking Garage) station pair. Use this guide to compare Salem, OR and Portland, OR bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need