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Trip from Newbury, NH to Salem, 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 32m

Distance

67.9 mi

109 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 25m ★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 28m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Newbury, NH, NH

Newbury, NH

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Salem, NH, NH

Salem, NH

Banx Photography

Trip Overview

This 67.9-mile drive from Newbury, NH, to Salem, NH, is a straightforward one-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 32 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-89 and Route 103, the journey is largely highway-focused, making it an efficient way to travel between these two points in the Northeast. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, this route is budget-friendly for a quick excursion. You'll find this drive works well as a standalone day trip, requiring no overnight stays. The overall feel is one of practical transit across New Hampshire.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

33.9 miles from Newbury, NH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 89 19.8 mi 23m
Alan Bartlett Shepard Junior Highway 10.8 mi 12m
Route 103 8.1 mi 14m
I 93 7.7 mi 9m
Everett Turnpike 7.6 mi 8m
State Route 103 4.5 mi 7m
Alan B Shepard Highway 4.4 mi 5m
Main Street 2.1 mi 5m
Longest stretch: I 89 — 19.8 mi, about 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Newbury, NH and Salem, NH.

1

Start on NH 103A

143 ft · 6 sec · State Route 103A
2

At end of road, turn left onto NH 103

8.1 mi · 14 min · Route 103
3

Continue on NH 103

4.5 mi · 7 min · State Route 103
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 48 sec
5

Merge onto I 89

20 mi · 23 min · I 89
6

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 93 South Toll: Manchester, Boston
7

Merge onto I 93

5.7 mi · 6 min · Everett Turnpike
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93

2.0 mi · 2 min · Everett Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 93

7.7 mi · 9 min · I 93
Toward I 93 South: Salem, Boston Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93

4.4 mi · 5 min · Alan B Shepard Highway
Toward I 93 South: Derry, Boston Use the slight left lane.
11

Continue on I 93

1.0 mi · 1 min · Alan B Shepard Jr Highway
12

Continue on I 93

11 mi · 12 min · Alan Bartlett Shepard Junior Highway
Use the straight lane.
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 45 sec
Exit 2 Toward Pelham, Salem
14

Keep slight left at fork

321 ft · 9 sec
15

Turn left onto Pelham Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Pelham Road
Use the straight lane.
16

Continue on Main Street

2.1 mi · 5 min · Main Street
17

Turn right

113 ft · 8 sec
18

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the short duration of just over 1.5 hours, this trip offers great flexibility. You can easily depart at your leisure, perhaps mid-morning to avoid early rush hour. With no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, keeping in mind the longest stretch is nearly 20 miles. The fuel cost is minimal at around $11, so you won't need to worry about frequent fill-ups. A practical tip for this route: familiarize yourself with the transition from I-89 to Route 103 to ensure a smooth continuation of your journey.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 33.9 miles from Newbury, NH, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.8 miles.

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 15 miles or 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 33.9 miles or 47m 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 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salem, NH than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Newbury, NH so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Newbury, NH

This is one driving day of about 67.9 miles and 1h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Newbury, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 19.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

capital city of state of New Hampshire, United States; county seat of Merrimack County, New Hampshire

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Concord, NH

34 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.

Popular next leg

Concord, NH to Salem, NH

38.2 mi · 50m

Pacing Suggestions

Warner, NH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Concord, NH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 33.9 miles from Newbury, 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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 32.8 and 64.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
32.8 mi into trip | ~45m in

Take the exit toward I 93 South Toll: Manchester, Boston

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 93 South Toll: Manchester, Boston
6
39 mi into trip | ~53m in | I 93 / Everett Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93 / Everett Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
41 mi into trip | ~56m in | I 93

Keep slight right at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 South: Salem, Boston

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 93 South: Salem, Boston
8
48.7 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in | I 93 / Alan B Shepard Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93 / Alan B Shepard Highway toward I 93 South: Derry, Boston

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 93 South: Derry, Boston
6
64.9 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in

Take the exit toward Pelham, Salem

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 2 Toward Pelham, Salem

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.93 one way

$21.86 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 24 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $12.03 $24.05
premium $4.86 $13.00 $26.01
diesel $5.61 $14.99 $29.98

Estimated Tolls: $0.54

Everett Turnpike (7.6 mi) $0.54

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

$11

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 23.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 20.4 0 $7.13 $3.26
Efficient EV 17 0 $5.94 $2.72
EV Truck/SUV 27.2 0 $9.51 $4.35

Gas CO2

24 kg

EV CO2

8 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Newbury, NH

Night in Newbury on Saturday

Local time

10:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

36°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Salem, NH

Night in Salem on Saturday

Local time

10:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

51°F

Concord, NH

34 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

25 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 32m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Your National Park for the Arts preserves the home and studio of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907). Here stories flow through a landscape of inspiration. Discover the history behind the capt...

21 mi from route ~52 min detour $10
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a drive that's about 70% highway, with a significant uninterrupted stretch of 19.8 miles on I-89. The Alan Bartlett Shepard Junior Highway also contributes to the faster-paced sections of this route. While predominantly a highway-focused experience, you'll encounter segments on Route 103 that might offer a slightly different pace. This route prioritizes efficient travel over winding scenic byways, so settle in for a direct journey on well-maintained roads.

70% 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: 19.8 mi on I 89.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and Alan Bartlett Shepard Junior Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 32.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.9 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 32.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39 miles (I 93 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,103 ft 130 ft

Total Climb

227 ft

Total Descent

1,201 ft

Highest Point

1,103 ft

Elevation Range

974 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Newbury, NH to Salem, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Boston along the way.

Boston

32.8 mi in | ~45m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 67.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 19.8 miles on I 89. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.54 in tolls one way, starting with Everett 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.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Salem, NH before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

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 32.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39 miles (I 93 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Salem, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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