Origin
Plaistow, NH
Late night in Plaistow on Sunday
Local time
12:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plaistow, NH to Merrimack, NH
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
37.2 mi
60 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plaistow, NH
Roman Biernacki
Merrimack, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Plaistow, NH to Merrimack, NH is 37.2 miles and takes about 57 minutes via I 93, I 495, and Daniel Webster Highway, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, one-day trip connecting two points within the Northeast region, specifically within New Hampshire. The drive offers a mixed experience, balancing highway speeds with some sections that might feel more like local driving. Given its relatively short distance and duration, it’s a practical choice for a quick regional journey or an easy leg of a larger trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 93 | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| I 495 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| Daniel Webster Highway | 3.8 mi | 8m |
| Loop Connector | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Rockingham Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Pettengill Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Grenier Field Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 93
— 15.2 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plaistow, NH and Merrimack, NH.
1
Start on NH 121A
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
2
Turn slight right onto Hazeltine Street
372 ft
·
18 sec
·
Hazeltine Street
3
Turn left onto NH 125
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Plaistow Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
At end of road, turn left onto MA 125
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 495 South: Lawrence, Lowell
6
Merge onto I 495
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 105
Toward MA 213: Methuen, Salem New Hampshire, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on MA 213
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Loop Connector
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 1B
Toward I 93 North: Concord New Hampshire
10
Merge onto I 93
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 93
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 93
14 mi
·
15 min
·
I 93
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 5
Toward NH 28: North Londonderry
13
Keep slight left at fork
282 ft
·
8 sec
14
Turn left onto NH 28
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Rockingham Road
15
Turn left onto Page Road
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Page Road
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on Grenier Field Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Grenier Field Road
17
Turn left onto Webster Road
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Webster Road
18
Turn left onto Harvey Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Harvey Road
19
Continue on Pettengill Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Pettengill Road
20
Turn left onto Raymond Wieczorek Drive
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
Raymond Wieczorek Drive
Use the left lane.
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward Merrimack
Use the slight right lane.
22
Turn left onto US 3
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
South River Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
23
Continue on US 3
3.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Daniel Webster Highway
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn slight left onto Loop Road
83 ft
·
3 sec
·
Loop Road
25
Arrive at destination
Loop Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.6 miles from Plaistow, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 32.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward I 495 South: Lawrence, Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 495 South: Lawrence, Lowell
5
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
7.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward MA 213: Methuen, Salem New Hampshire, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 105
Toward MA 213: Methuen, Salem New Hampshire, Ma...
6
29.3 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
Page Road
Turn left onto Page Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
32.6 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward Merrimack
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Merrimack
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.99 one way
$11.98 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.59 | $13.18 |
| premium | $4.86 | $7.12 | $14.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.21 | $16.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.91 | $1.79 |
| Efficient EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.26 | $1.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.21 | $2.38 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Merrimack, NH
Late night in Merrimack on Sunday
Local time
12:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 0 to 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
60°F
Derry, NH
19 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
14 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
57m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This journey is characterized by a mixed drive, with 53% of it taking place on highways. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 15.2 miles on I 93, which will likely feel like a typical interstate experience. The route incorporates I 495 and Daniel Webster Highway, suggesting a transition from higher-speed travel to potentially more varied road conditions. Expect a blend of efficient highway cruising and segments that may involve more local traffic or slower speeds as you approach your destination.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.2 mi on I 93.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in.
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 15 decision points packed into just 37.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Plaistow, NH and Merrimack, NH, road signs point toward Lowell, Salem New Hampshire and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.
Lowell
2.8 mi in
|
~5m
Salem New Hampshire
7.6 mi in
|
~11m
Manchester-Boston Regional Airport
7.6 mi in
|
~11m
About the Cities
Arriving in Merrimack, NH
Full guide →Merrimack is a city in the Merrimack Valley of New Hampshire.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 37.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.2 miles on I 93. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Merrimack, 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 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Merrimack, 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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