Origin
Gilmanton, NH
Late night in Gilmanton on Sunday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gilmanton, NH to Portsmouth, NH
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
50.7 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gilmanton, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Portsmouth, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Gilmanton to Portsmouth is 50.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 19 minutes via Spaulding Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive connecting two points within New Hampshire. You'll spend the majority of your time on major roadways, making it an efficient trip. Given its short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a quick transit between these two locations without extensive detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Spaulding Turnpike | 20 mi | 26m |
| NH 11 | 14.6 mi | 22m |
| New Hampshire Route 140 | 8 mi | 14m |
| Frank C. Gilman Highway | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| US 1 Bypass | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| US 4 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Market Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Spaulding Turnpike
— 20 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gilmanton, NH and Portsmouth, NH.
1
Start on Currier Hill Road
248 ft
·
10 sec
·
Currier Hill Road
2
Turn slight right onto NH 107
73 ft
·
9 sec
·
Province Road
3
Turn left onto NH 140
8.0 mi
·
14 min
·
New Hampshire Route 140
4
Continue on NH 140
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Frank C. Gilman Highway
5
Continue on NH 140
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Factory Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto NH 11; NH 28A
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
7
Enter roundabout onto NH 11
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
NH 11
8
Continue on NH 11
14 mi
·
22 min
·
NH 11
Use the left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 15
10
Continue on NH 16 On-Ramp South
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
NH 16 On-Ramp South
Exit 15
11
Merge onto NH 16; US 202
20 mi
·
26 min
·
Spaulding Turnpike
12
Take the exit onto US 4; NH 16
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 4; NH 16
Toward I 95 North
Use the slight left lane.
13
Enter roundabout onto US 1 Bypass
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 1 Bypass
Toward US 1 Bypass North: Portsmouth, Woodbury Avenue
14
Continue on US 1 Bypass
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 1 Bypass
Toward US 1 Bypass North: Portsmouth, Woodbury Avenue
15
Turn left onto Submarine Way
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Submarine Way
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto Market Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Market Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto US 1
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
Congress Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 1
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.3 miles from Gilmanton, NH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 12.3 and 49.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
12.3 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
NH 11; NH 28A / Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto NH 11; NH 28A / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
12.8 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
NH 11
Enter roundabout onto NH 11
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
47.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
US 4; NH 16
Take the exit onto US 4; NH 16 toward I 95 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 95 North
6
48.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
US 1 Bypass
Enter roundabout onto US 1 Bypass toward US 1 Bypass North: Portsmouth, Woodbury Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 1 Bypass North: Portsmouth, Woodbury...
5
49.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
Submarine Way
Turn left onto Submarine Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.16 one way
$16.32 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.98 | $17.96 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.71 | $19.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.19 | $22.39 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.40
Spaulding Turnpike
(20 mi)
$1.40
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
| Efficient EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.10 | $3.24 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Portsmouth, NH
Late night in Portsmouth on Sunday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
36°F
Farmington, NH
25 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 19m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the journey taking place on high-speed roads like the Spaulding Turnpike. You'll experience a consistent pace for much of the trip, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 20 miles on the Spaulding Turnpike. Expect a driving experience characterized by efficiency rather than winding scenic byways. The primary roadways will guide you smoothly towards your destination, minimizing complexities and maximizing travel speed.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20 mi on Spaulding Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Spaulding Turnpike and NH 11. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 12.3 miles in near NH 11; NH 28A / Main Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 19m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.3 miles (NH 11; NH 28A / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.8 miles (NH 11): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 47.9 miles (US 4; NH 16): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 50.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20 miles on Spaulding Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.40 in tolls one way, starting with Spaulding Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through NH can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.3 miles (NH 11; NH 28A / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.8 miles (NH 11): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 47.9 miles (US 4; NH 16): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Portsmouth, NH before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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