Asphalt Driveway Cost in Woodburn, Oregon: 2026 Price Guide

What Does an Asphalt Driveway Cost in Woodburn?

Woodburn sits on the French Prairie, the flat, fertile farmland of northern Marion County between Salem and the Portland metro. The terrain here is gentle, which is good news for driveways, but the soil is the catch. French Prairie ground includes heavy clay that holds water through the long Willamette Valley winter, and clay is hard on asphalt. A driveway built without accounting for that soil cracks and sinks early, so in Woodburn the base preparation matters more than the relatively flat lots might suggest.

Asphalt driveways are priced per square foot, but the total depends on size, base depth, removal of any old surface, and how the driveway is built to handle the clay soil. Industry baseline ranges for new residential asphalt driveways have historically been reported around $3 to $7 per square foot, though actual project costs in Woodburn frequently run higher once site conditions are factored in. For the statewide view, see our guide to asphalt driveway cost across Oregon.

Woodburn Driveway Cost by Size

Industry baseline ranges shown below. Actual costs vary with base depth, removal, drainage, access, and current market conditions.

Driveway Size	Approx. Square Footage	Industry Baseline Range
1-car, short	400–600 sq ft	$1,500–$4,000
2-car, standard	600–1,000 sq ft	$2,500–$6,500
3-car or extended	1,000–1,600 sq ft	$4,000–$10,000
Long rural approach	2,000+ sq ft	$8,000+

Many Woodburn-area properties sit on or near the surrounding farmland with longer approaches, which adds square footage and total cost even though the terrain itself is flat.

What Goes Into the Price

Base Preparation and Clay Soil

This is the defining Woodburn factor. The base carries the load and, over French Prairie clay, it has to do extra work. Clay holds water and swells and shrinks with moisture, which breaks asphalt apart from below if the base is too thin. A properly compacted, well-drained base — often with a geotextile fabric over the clay — costs more up front but is what keeps the driveway from cracking and sinking. This is the part of the price you cannot see but should never skimp on.

Driveway Size

Square footage is the biggest single driver. A standard two-car driveway is a modest project; a long approach on a rural Marion County lot can be several times the size. Width for parking or farm-equipment access adds material.

Drainage

Flat ground over clay does not drain on its own — water sits. Grading and drainage work to move water off the driveway and away from the house is essential here and adds to the cost, but it prevents the standing water that destroys pavement.

Removal of Existing Surface

Replacing an old asphalt or gravel driveway adds demolition and haul-off. A new install on bare ground skips this; a tear-out adds labor and disposal.

Access

Easy truck access keeps cost down. Long or gated rural approaches that slow equipment raise labor.

Material and Thickness Choices

The asphalt is a smaller share of the cost than the base and size, but the choices matter over clay:

• Standard hot-mix asphalt — The residential default, balancing cost and durability.
• Surface thickness — A couple of inches of surface course is typical; heavier loads call for more.
• Base depth and geotextile — Over clay, a deeper base and a separation fabric are the best defense against early failure.
• Recycled asphalt (millings) — A lower-cost option for long rural approaches where a perfect finish matters less.

The complete asphalt driveway guide for Oregon covers every material option and trade-off.

Current Market Reality

The baseline ranges above reflect historically reported averages. Actual project costs in Woodburn and across the valley frequently exceed them, sometimes substantially, depending on:

• Clay soil — A deeper base and drainage over clay add to the base price but are necessary.
• Project size — Long rural approaches multiply square footage and total cost.
• Removal — Tearing out an old driveway adds demolition and disposal.
• Market conditions — Material prices, fuel, and contractor availability shift seasonally and year to year.

Published ranges are a starting reference, not a budget target. The accurate number for your Woodburn property comes from a site visit where the run is measured and the clay soil and drainage are assessed.

How to Budget for Your Woodburn Driveway

Estimate your square footage — length times width — and use the baseline ranges as a rough floor. Then add for your conditions: How heavy is the clay? Is there an old driveway to remove? Is the approach long? Over French Prairie clay, the base and drainage usually add the most to a quality driveway.

The most reliable budget comes from a contractor who measures the driveway, checks the soil, and looks at drainage in person. Once the driveway is in, planning for ongoing asphalt maintenance services — sealcoating and crack-filling — protects the investment and keeps the long-term cost down by extending the driveway's life well past 20 years in this wet, clay-soil climate.