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Cheap bus tickets from Salem to Portland

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Salem to Portland Bus Schedule

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Is it better to travel by bus or train from Salem to Portland?

There are usually 3 daily train trips available from Salem to Portland.

Bus
Train
Avg. Price
Avg. Price
$16.64
Avg. Price
$16.90
Daily Trips
Daily Trips
8
Daily Trips
3
Duration
Duration
1h 24m
Duration
1h 28m

Bus from Salem to Portland: Journey Information

There are 10 intercity buses per day from Salem to Portland. Traveling by bus from Salem to Portland usually takes around one hour and 23 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in just one hour,

Distance44 mi (70 km)
Shortest duration1h 0m
Cheapest price$11.00
Trips per day10
Most frequent serviceAmtrak Thruway
Bus lines3

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Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for buses from Salem to Portland

(Based on 9 ratings and reviews)

4.9

5.0

Marsha

April 20, 2025- Couples trip

Amtrak Thruway

Comfortable ride, no stress about traffic

5.0

Shimels Kenaw

October 4, 2024

FlixBus US

We were notified that the bus would be delayed after I had already arrived. You mentioned the bus would arrive at 7:35 AM, but it actually arrived at 7:50 AM.

5.0

Susana

June 23, 2024- Solo travel

Amtrak Thruway

Pros: Went where I would not have gone and enjoyed the experience. So grateful for the support. Cons: Loved the straightforwardness of the information and pricing; no hidden costs as with other sites and lots of options! Tips: Prepare to relax and have a good time.

5.0

Josh

December 17, 2023- Visiting friends

Amtrak Thruway

Pros: Everything about it. Cons: N/A. Tips: There's nothing wrong with being lost.

5.0

Linda

May 17, 2022- Visiting family

Amtrak Thruway

Pros: Easy connections. Cons: The bus was a little too warm.

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How much is a bus ticket from Salem to Portland?

Bus tickets for a trip from Salem to Portland cost $15.96 on average. This is an excellent value for the trip. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.

Average bus ticket prices from Salem to Portland by travel date

$30$20$10JunJun

Bus tickets from Salem to Portland are expected to cost between $16 and $21 over the next four weeks. If you're planning a trip to Portland within the next week, you can find the cheapest bus tickets starting from $18. Don't wait too long to book your ticket, as prices tend to rise as the travel date approaches.

Monthly avg. prices

$25$20$15$10$5JASONDJFMAMJ
Traveling from Salem to Portland by bus will cost you about the same throughout the year. In general, bus ticket prices for this route are fairly consistent, so expect to pay around $19 whenever you decide to travel.

Prices as travel date approaches

$25$20$15$10$53020100

Most bus companies charge higher ticket prices closer to the date of travel, so it’s a good idea to buy your bus tickets as early as possible. To find the cheapest bus tickets, book your trip at least 23 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $7.13 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.

What bus companies travel from Salem to Portland?

There are 3 bus lines from Salem to Portland available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 6 daily trips, Amtrak Thruway usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Amtrak Thruway61h 28m$13.15
FlixBus US21h 8m$22.72
Pacific Crest Bus Lines21h 36m$22.00

  • Amtrak Thruway, also known as Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach, is a system of intercity passenger buses operated by Amtrak to connect train stations to areas that are not served by the carrier’s railroads. On the bus, passengers can enjoy comfortable reclining seats with leg rests and access to onboard restroom facilities. Amtrak Thruway bus tickets from Salem to Portland start at $11. On average, there are 6 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.

  • FlixBus US is the American branch of German bus company FlixBus, known for providing sustainable, affordable, and modern bus travel. The company offers cheap bus tickets to popular urban destinations throughout the United States. FlixBus US buses include many amenities, including comfortable seats, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and an online portal for free entertainment. On average, FlixBus US operates 2 trips per day from Salem to Portland, and the average ticket for this route costs only .

  • Book Pacific Crest Bus Lines from Salem to Portland from $22. There are 2 trips per day offered by Pacific Crest Bus Lines from Salem to Portland and you can expect on average to pay for a Pacific Crest Bus Lines ticket to Portland. In Salem, Pacific Crest Bus Lines departs to Portland from 500 13th St. S.E. . In Portland, Pacific Crest Bus Lines arrives at Portland Airport(tac) and one other station.

    An average trip on Pacific Crest Bus Lines from Salem to Portland takes 1 hours and 36 minutes , while the fastest available Pacific Crest Bus Lines trip will get you to Portland in 1 hours and 0 minutes .

    On weekends, Pacific Crest Bus Lines offers 2 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to Portland.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Salem to Portland

The bus takes an average of one hour and 23 minutes to cover the 44 miles from Salem to Portland. However, the fastest bus only takes an hour. You'll have just enough time for a small nap on this relatively short bus trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.

Saturday is usually the day when buses are busiest, as many travelers take the bus to enjoy the weekend in Portland. If you are planning to travel on a Saturday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.

On the other hand, Monday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. For a less crowded trip, try to book your bus travel for the beginning of the week.

The first bus leaves at 6:00am and the last bus leaves at 7:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Salem to Portland, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are 10 scheduled buses that travel from Salem to Portland every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. Furthermore, all of these are direct buses which you can take the entire route from Salem to Portland without transferring.

Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Salem to Portland; ticket prices start at $11.00.

City Information

Salem

Salem, OR, US - SAM-0

Image credit: Unsplash

Salem is the capital of Oregon and one of the state's best vacation destinations. Nestled in the Willamette Valley, the city is rich with outdoor activities, diverse cuisine, and sites reflecting Oregon's history.

The Deepwood Estate, a mansion built in 1893, runs tours that share early Salem history. Explore the surrounding gardens at Deepwood or walk the many paths in Bush's Pasture Park to discover their lush plant life. The Willamette River that runs through Salem is a gorgeous spot to fish, kayak, or board the historic Willamette Queen steamboat for a dinner cruise.

Salem's charming downtown overflows with local coffee shops, cafés, and restaurants serving fresh fare and the best wines from the Willamette Valley. The Saturday Farmers Market near the state capitol serves up fresh produce alongside live music and food trucks.

Many bus services operate in Salem, including Jefferson Lines, FlixBus, Shuttle Oregon, and the Amtrak Thruway. Amtrak's Coast Starlight line also stops in Salem, heading to LA and Seattle, as well as the Cascades, going to Vancouver and Eugene, Oregon.

Portland

Portland, OR - PDX-0

Image credit: Unsplash

Portland, OR - PDX-1

Image credit: Unsplash

Portland, OR - PDX-2

Image credit: Unsplash

Portland is the largest city in Oregon and accordingly one of the state's best vacation destinations. Also known as the City of Roses, this city along the Willamette River wows visitors with its diverse street food, quirky counterculture, and sprawling bookstores such as the world-famous Powell's Books.

Portland is the 5th best city in the United States for outdoor activities, thanks in part to open-air grounds like the expansive Forest Park. Gardens are also excellent outdoor date locales for couples on a romantic getaway: stop and smell the roses at either the International Rose Test Garden or the Portland Japanese Garden.

Once you've gotten hungry from a long day wandering outside, nearly every block downtown has a plethora of food trucks waiting to tickle your taste buds. Or, kick back at one of the many breweries in the #3 best city for craft beer in the United States. Unique locations like McMenamin's brewpubs in renovated cinemas or historic hotels do their part to "keep Portland weird."

As the biggest city in Oregon, Portland is a hub for travel throughout the Pacific Northwest. Amtrak train service and various bus services operate primarily out of Union Station, conveniently-located downtown, and nearby Portland International Airport makes it easy to travel to Portland from near and far.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in Salem?

Main departure station: 500 13th St SE

Buses to Portland leave from 3 stations in Salem.

All bus stations in Salem:

  • 500 13th St SE

  • 500 13th St. S.E.

  • Chemeketa & Liberty

Where does the bus arrive in Portland?

Union Station - 800 NW 6th Ave - PDXAMT-0

Image credit: Ian Sane

Link to image attribution

Main arrival station: Union Station

Located in Portland’s Old Town Chinatown area at 800 Northwest Sixth Avenue, Union Station features a glowing neon sign encouraging you to “Go By Train.” Union Station serves several iconic Amtrak routes including the Cascades through the Pacific Northwest, the scenic Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle, and the long-distance Empire Builder which travels all the way to Chicago. Along with train service, Union Station serves intercity bus service via Greyhound, and connects to the Portland Streetcar, MAX Light Rail, and several local TriMet buses. There is a restaurant and bar onsite, as well as a Metropolitan Lounge reserved for Amtrak’s first- and business-class passengers.

All bus stations in Portland:

  • Union Station

  • 7411 NW Station Way

  • Union Station

  • Portland Airport(tac)

Get around town with Moovit

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