Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 53m
Distance
79.2 mi
127 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nashua, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Wakefield, NH
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Nashua, NH to Wakefield, NH covers 79.2 miles and takes about 1h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NH 101, Calef Highway, Spaulding Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.1 miles on NH 101. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.19 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.6 miles from Nashua, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NH 101 | 19.1 mi | 22m |
| Calef Highway | 17.4 mi | 27m |
| Spaulding Turnpike | 14.4 mi | 18m |
| Everett Turnpike | 11.9 mi | 14m |
| I 293 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Wakefield Road | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| White Mountain Highway | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Gonic Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Nashua, NH and Wakefield, NH.
Start on NH 101A
Turn left onto NH 101A
Take the ramp
Merge onto Everett Turnpike
Take the exit
Merge onto I 293; NH 101
Keep slight right at fork onto NH 101
Take the exit
Turn left onto NH 125
Enter roundabout onto NH 125
Continue on NH 125
Continue on NH 125
Take the exit onto NH 16 Onramp North
Merge onto NH 16
Continue on NH 16
Take the exit
Turn left onto NH 153
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 17 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.6 miles or 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wakefield, NH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Nashua, NH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Nashua, NH
This is one driving day of about 79.2 miles and 1h 53m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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.
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 39.6 miles from Nashua, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 57.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto NH 101A / Amherst Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 293 South, NH 101 East: Exeter, Portsmouth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto NH 101 toward NH 101 East: Portsmouth, Seacoast
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NH 125: Epping, Kingston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto NH 16 Onramp North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$13.19 one way
$26.39 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $14.64 | $29.28 |
| premium | $5.07 | $15.80 | $31.59 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $17.46 | $34.92 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.84
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.32 | $3.80 |
| Efficient EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.93 | $3.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.7 | 0 | $11.09 | $5.07 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Nashua on Saturday
Local time
2:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Wakefield on Saturday
Local time
2:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
55°F
Newmarket, NH
40 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
79.2 mi in 1h 53m, mostly highway — 19.1 mi of that is on NH 101.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NH 101 and Calef Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NH 101A / Amherst Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.2 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NH 101A / Amherst Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19 miles (NH 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
950 ft
Total Descent
442 ft
Highest Point
668 ft
~79.2 mi in
Elevation Range
528 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Nashua, NH and Wakefield, NH, road signs point toward Portsmouth, Seacoast and Kingston.
Portsmouth
Seacoast
Kingston
Founded 1746
Nashua is a city in the southern part of New Hampshire. It is the state's second largest city behind Manchester with a population of about 88,000 (2016).
Top landmarks
Founded 1774
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 79.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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