Salem offers numerous attractions for leisure and business travelers, which you can quickly attend using Salem car rental options. The Oregon State Fair is an annual event occurring every August to September, allowing you to navigate your rented vehicle within Salem to the Oregon State Fairgrounds on 17th Street. You can also drive about 13.7 miles from the city to the Oregon Garden along Silverton Road and unwind in the stunning botanical garden, particularly convenient and entertaining when you have family and kids.
Salem Municipal Airport, also called McNary Field, is stationed around 2 miles from Downtown Salem. The airport has a Budget Car Rental with numerous vehicle types outside the terminal, enabling you to select your itinerary's preferred choice. You can walk up to their counter across the lobby from the baggage claim and take a short walk to the car lot for selection. There are also non-airport car rentals in Salem, such as Hertz, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Avis, requiring some planning before arrival to ensure you can reach their offices within the city conveniently or to have your car delivered to the airport.
Salem has a busy road network, including Interstate 5, Oregon Route 22, and Oregon Route 99, which connects to Center Street and Marion Street. You can conveniently get around within or outside the city, making it ideal when having businesses or trips in neighboring regions. Salem has seen an increase in pedestrian accidents due to many people crossing against the pedestrian signal or at undesired locations. Notably, many drivers tend to over speed without yielding to pedestrians, so be watchful of at all times to guard against jaywalkers and other road users.
Most Salem residents begin their morning commute to work around 5am to 11am, with the peak congestion at about 8am. The evening rush hour generally starts early in the afternoon at approximately 2:30pm and gets especially packed on I-5 from the Wilsonville area due to commuters between Salem and Portland. You can avoid the stop-and-go traffic by attending to your tasks in the morning hours and have a flexible schedule in the afternoons to accommodate any delays.
Whether you are visiting Salem, the capital of Oregon, for business or leisure, renting a car is the best way to explore wherever and whenever. Fortunately, finding cheap car rentals in Salem and booking your best ride is easy, even for international travelers. Take advantage of the convenience of having a rental by touring the Basket Slough National Wildlife Refuge, approximately 8 miles from Salem via OR-22. If you are a hiking enthusiast, explore further to the incredible Pup Creek Falls, situated approximately 52 miles from Salem. The OR-211 N and OR-224 E roads will get you there in about 1h 6min. If you have some time on your hands, you might take a longer trip to Mt Baldy and enjoy a day’s hiking experience.
Study Salem driving laws before you get behind the wheel and start your trip. For instance, you must never use your phone while driving Salem car rentals unless it is in hands-free mode. That said, ensure you enter your accurate destination on your GPS gadget before starting your car, especially if you are touring Salem for the first time. This way, new drivers can map their routes, avoid getting lost, and abide by the road rules and restrictions. Also, always ensure you fasten your safety belts while on the road.
If you are arriving in Salem through Salem Station, you can easily find car rentals near the train station. Some of them include Avis, Budget, and Enterprise-rent-a-car, which are a short distance from the train station. Some rentals have several drop-off locations including along front and Mission streets. This makes it possible for you to rent a car in one location and drop it off at another location when leaving Salem. However, remember that some cheap car rentals in Salem might charge you extra “one-way” charges. This depends on the reservation date, pick-up and drop-off locations, car category, etc.
Book your rental car in Salem at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Intermediate rental cars in Salem are around 66% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Salem
What type of car is recommended for driving in Salem?
The interstate and intercity highways offer convenient transportation to other roads and streets within the city, making the road network compatible with different vehicles. This development allows you to choose your favorite model according to your needs, such as taking a van when traveling with other people such as family or friends. You can also pick a smaller-sized option for smooth maneuverability, including in busy parking spaces within Salem.
What’s the speed limit in Salem?
The speed limit along the major highways is about 55mph. On roads within school zones, the restriction is approximately 20mph. Ensure to observe the speed limits imposed because the city has cameras monitoring traffic behavior, such as on Silverton Road and Fisher Road.
Where are the best places to park in Salem?
You can use the Marion Parkade that offers free daily usage for downtown customers and includes indoor and outdoor spaces for paid monthly parking for different residents and travelers. Liberty Square Parkade on Ferry Street and Chemeketa Parkade on Commercial Street also provide all-day parking customers to downtown businesses. You may choose to use the Capitol Mall Parking Structure parking space with proximity to the Court Street and Capitol Street bus station, enabling you to tour the city via transit.
How much is gas price in Salem?
The average gas price in Salem is C$ 4.71 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between C$ 57 and C$ 75, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular rental car in Salem?
Economy (Mitsubishi Mirage or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Salem.
Which car rental companies are at Portland airport (PDX)?
Which car rental companies will pick you up at Portland airport (PDX)?
Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Portland airport to off-airport locations include Dollar, Hertz, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Payless.
How much does an Economy car rental cost in Salem?
An Economy car rental in Salem costs C$ 108 per day, on average.
How much does an Intermediate car rental cost in Salem?
An Intermediate car rental in Salem costs C$ 107 per day, on average.
What is the Salem car rental cancellation policy?
Most car rentals in Salem allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before your reservation date. However, if you cancel your car rental reservation within one calendar day of your reservation date, you might have to pay about a 50% cancellation fee.
Can you turn right at a red light in Salem?
Yes. It is legal to turn right at a red light in Salem and the rest of Massachusetts. However, you must check to ensure that there is no “no turn or red” warning at the intersection. Also, you must first stop at the red light before taking the right turn.
It was not clean and it didn’t have water to clean the from window the key need a new battery so we buyed
8.8 Very good
Anonymous, Oct 2020
Pros:
The Hertz Salem office staff were super friendly. Very nice people even though they were very busy at the time of pick up.
Cons:
To save time, the car could have been fueled ahead of my scheduled pick up time, and the windshield washer fluid could have been filled. I had to add a half gallon of washer fluid for my trip.
7.2 Good
Jessenia, Oct 2020
Cons:
Double check the gas in the vehicles. To what is on the computer and what they put on the stickers. This can avoid many issues and unsatisfied customers. Have designated parking spaced that say drop off. Or let you know where to park when your returning the vehicle.
4.8 Mediocre
Diana, Sep 2020
Pros:
Staff was great. No complaints.
Cons:
I thought we were getting a small SUV or crossover. We were given a Toyota Corolla. I believe this 2019 car had a hole in its muffler. It sounded funny while accelerating.
I had a reservation I booked online And got a confirmation. Upon arriving and talking with the agent there he let me know that he had no vehicle at the time available for the reservation, I asked for any other vehicles if he had available for replacement, he said he was totally out of vehicles and that he had two reservations that he did not have any cars for. On my way out a lady was entering as she was the other reservation. She came out and got in her rental and drive off. Agent there obviously lied, performed discrimination and so unprofessional. This is a multiple time same agent had done something like this. Other time he had out a rental that was very dirty. Crumbs on chairs and sticky door handles, open drinks and face masks on the floor. WOULD NOT RENT FROM THERE ANYMORE UNTIL THEY REMOVE THIS AGENT!!!
Cons:
DO YOUR JOB OR DON’T BE THERE. CUSTOMERS ARE YOUR FIRST PRIORITIES.
An alarm would go off about every other time I started the car that said need to adjust the parking brake and showed air bag alarm and seat belt alarm!
10.0 Wonderful
Andy, Feb 2021
Cons:
It was great all...nice car, nice people, great price, all great
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Nov 2020
Pros:
all of the above
Cons:
Infinity G50 is a cheap car. I would have preferred a Jetta. But was in good working condition
8.0 Very good
Brent, Oct 2020
Pros:
The pickup was extremely easy once it was my turn, did a quick walk around swiped my card and I was off. The young guy that got me going was very quick and polite.
Cons:
When the TV commercials say we'll pick you up that's true if you are already within walking distance anyway!!! The office is located on the edge of town, I live 13 miles away down a 55 mph state hwy, they wouldn't come pick me up because I was outside the 10 mile radius. The thing that really upset me is any place say 5-7 miles away in town would have taken as long or longer with lights and traffic!!!
10.0 Wonderful
Richard, Jul 2020
Pros:
The young Lady that helped us was very friendly, A customer Service all star!
Cons:
Everything went very well from pickup to drop off.
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