Origin
Portsmouth, NH
Late night in Portsmouth on Sunday
Local time
12:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portsmouth, NH to Atkinson, NH
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
33.7 mi
54 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portsmouth, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Atkinson, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick transit across New Hampshire, the 33.7-mile connection between Portsmouth and Atkinson is a straightforward commute. You can expect a drive time of approximately 46 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budget about $5 for fuel to cover the distance, which primarily utilizes the Blue Star Turnpike, I-95, and I-495. Since both towns are located within the Northeast region, the transition is seamless and familiar. This route is designed for efficiency rather than leisure, serving as a practical link for those needing to move between these two points quickly.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 11.2 mi | 12m |
| I 95 | 9 mi | 11m |
| Blue Star Turnpike | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| Main Street | 3.3 mi | 7m |
| Market Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Atkinson Depot Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Leroy Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Hanover Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 11.2 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth, NH and Atkinson, NH.
1
Start on US 1
406 ft
·
15 sec
·
Congress Street
2
Turn right onto Fleet Street
462 ft
·
17 sec
·
Fleet Street
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto Hanover Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Hanover Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto Market Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Market Street
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 95 South: Hampton, Boston
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 95
9.0 mi
·
11 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Blue Star Turnpike
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 495
Exit 89
Toward I 495 South: Worcester
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 51
Toward MA 125: Plaistow New Hampshire, Haverhill
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 109B
Toward MA 125 North: Plaistow New Hampshire
11
Merge onto MA 125
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
12
Continue on NH 121
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Atkinson Depot Road
13
Continue on NH 121
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Main Street
14
Turn right onto Leroy Avenue
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Leroy Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Leroy Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.9 miles from Portsmouth, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 29.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Fleet Street
Turn right onto Fleet Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Market Street
At end of road, turn left onto Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 South: Hampton, Boston
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 95 South: Hampton, Boston
6
10.5 mi into trip
|
~15m 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.
7
29.6 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 125 North: Plaistow New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 109B
Toward MA 125 North: Plaistow New Hampshire
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.43 one way
$10.85 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $5.97 | $11.94 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.45 | $12.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.44 | $14.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.54
Blue Star Turnpike
(7.7 mi)
$0.54
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
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.95 | $1.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.72 | $2.16 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Atkinson, NH
Late night in Atkinson on Sunday
Local time
12:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°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
3 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
46m 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, as 82% of this trip takes place on high-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm on the interstate, with the longest uninterrupted stretch lasting 11.2 miles along I-495. The route feels like a standard New England interstate drive, prioritizing speed and connectivity over winding backroads. While you won't encounter significant technical challenges, the transition between these major arteries keeps the pace consistent. Behind the wheel, you should be prepared for a utilitarian drive where the focus remains on navigating major transit corridors efficiently.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.2 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Fleet 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 11 decision points packed into just 33.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Fleet Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (Market Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
308 ft
30 ft
Total Climb
399 ft
Total Descent
120 ft
Highest Point
308 ft
~33.7 mi in
Elevation Range
278 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.
On the drive from Portsmouth, NH to Atkinson, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Haverhill along the way.
Haverhill
29.4 mi in
|
~36m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 33.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.2 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.54 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 Atkinson, 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 0.1 miles (Fleet Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (Market Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: 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 Atkinson, 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.
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