WinterOff season ~45°F highs
January is off season (quieter, and often cheaper) to visit Salem, with average highs around 45°F. Museums and indoor sights come into their own, with fewer crowds outside.
What's famous here, weighted toward what shines in January.
Expect busier roads and pricier stays around these dates. See long weekends.
January is off season (quieter, and often cheaper) to visit Salem, with average highs around 45°F. Museums and indoor sights come into their own, with fewer crowds outside.
Average daytime highs are around 45°F, compared with 85°F in the warmest month. Check the forecast a week out; our planner favors indoor stops on rainy days.
Top picks for January: Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, Hallie Ford Art Museum, Tillamook Air Museum (Temporarily Closed), Willamette Heritage Center, A. C. Gilbert's Discovery Village.
As of February 2026, the Tillamook Air Museum is closed temporarily to assess wind-related damage.