In this paper, a modified salp swarm algorithm (SSA) based active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) controller is designed to improve anti-interference and anti-sway control performance for overhead crane systems. Aiming at the ADRC parameter setting problem, the modified SSA is introduced with several methods including the parameter adjustment scheme, adaptive evaluation mobile strategy, opposition-based learning (OBL) strategy and disengagement strategy. By implementing numeric experiment tests, the effectiveness of the modified SSA is confirmed by benchmark functions. Finally, by implementing the simulation experiments under different conditions, the results show that the modified SSA algorithm based ADRC controller has significantly improved the suppression of load swing and position control as well as the anti-interference.