5.0
Easy to get on and checked ticket. Relaxing wat to beat highway traffic!
4.0
Booking through Wanderu worked. Amtrak booking didn't.
Cheap train tickets from Salem to Portland
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Millions of travelers trust Wanderu every year to get:
Lowest Prices
We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.
Best Travel Options
We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.
Quick & Easy Booking
Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.
Fast Customer Support
We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.
See what travelers are saying about Wanderu:
Is it better to travel by bus or train from Salem to Portland?
There are usually 9 daily bus trips available from Salem to Portland.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$17.38 | Avg. Price$12.87 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips9 | Daily Trips3 |
Duration | Duration1h 24m | Duration1h 28m |
Trip Summary
You can pick from 3 daily train trips between Salem and Portland. The average train journey from Salem to Portland takes one hour and 28 minutes, but some Amtrak Cascades train trips are as short as one hour and 24 minutes.
| Distance | 44 mi (70 km) |
| Fastest train | 1h 24m |
| Lowest price | $11.00 |
| Trains per day | 3 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Cascades |
| Train lines | 2 |
Train Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers
Average score for trains from Salem to Portland
(Based on 6 ratings and reviews)
4.5
What is the price of a train ticket from Salem to Portland?
The average price for a train ticket from Salem to Portland is $11.00, This is one of the best deals we’ve seen for train fares recently. By booking your trip at least 11 days in advance, you increase your chances of scoring even cheaper tickets. But if you wait until the day of your trip to book tickets, expect to pay $6.90 more.
Average train ticket prices from Salem to Portland by travel date
The average cost of a one-way train trip from Salem to Portland is expected to fluctuate between $11 and $15 in the next 30 days. If you’re planning a train trip to Portland in the upcoming week, the cheapest price in the next 7 days for a ticket from Salem is $12.
Monthly avg. prices
Ticket prices for the train from Salem to Portland often fluctuate based on the time of year. For the best prices on this route, book in January when the average ticket price is only $10. If you're thinking of traveling from Salem to Portland during June, keep in mind that train ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of $19 during this time of year. The best way to score a cheap deal, even in June, is to book your trip well in advance.
Which train should you take from Salem to Portland?
2 train services operate from Salem to Portland. Amtrak Cascades usually has more trains scheduled, with 2 trips per day. That said, it's still worth comparing the prices and trip durations:
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Cascades | 2 | 1h 24m | $11.24 |
| Amtrak Coast Starlight | 1 | 1h 36m | $14.75 |
The Cascades is a passenger train service operated by Amtrak that runs between Vancouver, BC and Eugene, OR. Not only is the Cascades one of Amtrak's most scenic train routes, the trains also offer free WiFi, power outlets, reclining seats, and refreshments available for purchase. There are an average of 2 trips on the Amtrak Cascades from Salem to Portland, and the average train ticket costs .
The Amtrak Coast Starlight is a service provided by Amtrak that connects Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles on the US Pacific coast. The full journey winds through the Cascade Mountains, perfectly clipped vineyards, and dense coastal forest, allowing passengers to get a glimpse of the US west coast while enjoying air-conditioned cars, power outlets, complimentary onboard WiFi, and snacks.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by train from Salem to Portland
The distance between Salem and Portland is approximately 44 miles, or 70 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 1 hour 28 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 1 hour 24 minutes. As a relatively short ride, taking the train is an easy way to travel between these two cities.
Trains departing from Salem to Portland tend to have the most passengers on Tuesday. With higher demand ticket prices also tend to be higher on Tuesday. If you are trying to snag a cheap train tickets or just want an emptier train you'll have better luck by booking travel departing on Tuesday as the least number of people tend to travel then.
The earliest train departs Salem at 8:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 5:00pm. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.
There are 3 daily scheduled trains, all of which are direct trains that take you the entire way from Salem to Portland.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Portland to Salem.
City Information
Salem
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
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
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 is the train station in Salem?
Main departure station: 500 13th St SE
There is one train station in Salem.
All train stations in Salem:
500 13th St SE
Where is the train station in Portland?
Image credit: Ian Sane
Link to image attributionMain 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 train stations in Portland:
Union Station
Get around town with Moovit
Find the best way to get to and from any station in Portland by public transit, courtesy of Moovit. Search now
Need a return trip from Portland to Salem?
Search Train TicketsPlan your next adventure
More trains from Salem
Continue by train from Portland
- Train from Portland to Vancouver
$81+
- Train from Portland to Los Angeles
$163+
- Portland to San Francisco Train
$117+
- Train from Portland to Santa Barbara
$167+
- Train from Portland to Boston
$561+
- Train from Portland to Baltimore
$485+
- Portland to Saint Paul
$265+
- Train from Portland to Reno
$215+
- Train from Portland to Albany
$13+
Check out these popular routes
Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.
With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.