Origin
Newton, NH
Late night in Newton on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Newton, 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
40m
Distance
28.2 mi
45 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Newton, NH
Thành Đỗ
Portsmouth, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 28.2-mile drive from Newton, NH, to Portsmouth, NH, is easily manageable in about 40 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 79% of the journey on major roads like the Blue Star Turnpike and I-95. With an estimated fuel cost of just $5, this is a very budget-friendly excursion. You'll be staying within the Northeast region and within New Hampshire for the entire trip, so no need to worry about changing states or time zones. This quick connection is ideal for a short getaway or an easy transfer.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Star Turnpike | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| I 95 | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| I 495 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| Highland Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Market Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Church Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Broad Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Turnpike
— 9.8 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newton, NH and Portsmouth, NH.
1
Start on Highland Street
55 ft
·
2 sec
·
Highland Street
2
Turn right onto NH 108
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
3
Turn left onto Merrimac Road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Merrimac Road
4
Keep slight left at fork onto Merrimac Road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Merrimac Road
5
Continue on Highland Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Highland Road
6
Continue on Church Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Church Street
7
Enter roundabout onto MA 110
132 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Main Street
8
Continue on MA 110
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
East Main Street
9
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Broad Street
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 495 North: Salisbury
11
Merge onto I 495
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
I 495
12
Merge onto I 95
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 95
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Blue Star Turnpike
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Blue Star Turnpike
Toward I 95 North: Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Maine Points
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 7
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto Market Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Market Street
Use the right lane.
17
At end of road, turn right onto US 1
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
Congress Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 1
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 26.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
MA 110 / East Main Street
Enter roundabout onto MA 110 / East Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
4.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 North: Salisbury
Navigation decision point
Toward I 495 North: Salisbury
6
17.1 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
8
25 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike toward I 95 North: Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Maine Points
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 95 North: Portsmouth, New Hampshire, M...
6
26.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.54 one way
$9.08 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $4.99 | $9.99 |
| premium | $4.86 | $5.40 | $10.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.23 | $12.45 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.69
Blue Star Turnpike
(9.8 mi)
$0.69
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.96 | $1.35 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.47 | $1.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.95 | $1.80 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
17 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
40m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 28.2-mile journey, with 79% of the drive on major arteries. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9.8 miles on the Blue Star Turnpike. This route is designed for efficient travel, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads like I-95. The character of the drive is consistent, prioritizing directness over scenic detours, allowing you to cover the distance quickly and with minimal fuss.
79% 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: 9.8 mi on Blue Star Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Blue Star Turnpike and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in near MA 110 / East Main Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 28.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles (MA 110 / East Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 17.1 miles (I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
216 ft
30 ft
Total Climb
87 ft
Total Descent
256 ft
Highest Point
216 ft
~2 mi in
Elevation Range
187 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Newton, NH and Portsmouth, NH, road signs point toward New Hampshire and Maine Points.
New Hampshire
25 mi in
|
~34m
|
via I 95
Maine Points
25 mi in
|
~34m
|
via I 95
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 28.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.8 miles on Blue Star Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.69 in tolls one way, starting with Blue Star 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 Portsmouth, 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 3.8 miles (MA 110 / East Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 17.1 miles (I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Portsmouth, NH
More from Newton, NH
More trips to Portsmouth, NH
Explore more options from Newton, NH or browse trips ending in Portsmouth, NH.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NH road trips.