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Trip from Portsmouth, NH to Berlin, NH

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 6m

Distance

117.8 mi

190 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Good

7 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 55m ★
6 AM
3h 7m
8 AM
3h 30m
10 AM
3h 15m
12 PM
3h 12m
3 PM
3h 16m
5 PM
3h 29m
8 PM
3h 0m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States

Portsmouth, NH

Wikimedia Commons

city in Coos County, New Hampshire, United States

Berlin, NH

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Portsmouth to Berlin is 117.8 miles and takes about 3 hours 6 minutes via White Mountain Highway, Spaulding Turnpike, and White Mountain Road, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Northeast region of New Hampshire to another part of the same state, offering a local feel throughout. Given its relatively short duration, it's a manageable same-day trip, perfect for a focused journey. Expect a route with frequent turns, so stay alert as you navigate this New Hampshire connection.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

58.9 miles from Portsmouth, NH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
White Mountain Highway 45.5 mi 1h 13m
Spaulding Turnpike 32.3 mi 42m
White Mountain Road 15.1 mi 22m
Pinkham Notch Road 9.8 mi 15m
Main Street 6.5 mi 14m
Chocorua Mtn Highway 3.3 mi 5m
Glen Avenue 1.3 mi 3m
NH 16 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: White Mountain Highway — 45.5 mi, about 1h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth, NH and Berlin, NH.

1

Start on US 1

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Congress Street
Use the straight lane.
2

Turn right onto Maplewood Avenue

0.7 mi · 2 min · Maplewood Avenue
Use the right lane.
3

Turn left onto Cutts Street

455 ft · 15 sec · Cutts Street
4

Turn slight right onto US 1 Bypass

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 1 Bypass
5

Continue on NH 16

0.4 mi · 50 sec · NH 16
Toward NH 16 North: Concord, Rochester
6

Take the exit onto NH 16

0.2 mi · 14 sec · NH 16
7

Keep slight left at fork onto NH 16

0.3 mi · 21 sec · NH 16
Toward Spaulding Turnpike North, NH 16 North, US 4 West Use the straight lane.
8

Merge onto US 4; NH 16

32 mi · 42 min · Spaulding Turnpike
9

Continue on NH 16

31 mi · 48 min · White Mountain Highway
10

Continue on NH 16

3.3 mi · 5 min · Chocorua Mtn Highway
11

Continue on NH 16

7.1 mi · 10 min · White Mountain Highway
12

Continue on NH 16; NH 113

1.4 mi · 3 min · Main Street
13

Turn left onto NH 16

2.8 mi · 5 min · White Mountain Highway
14

Continue on US 302; NH 16

0.6 mi · 1 min · White Mountain Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Continue on US 302; NH 16

4.2 mi · 9 min · White Mountain Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16

Continue on US 302; NH 16

3.2 mi · 5 min · White Mountain Road
17

Take the exit onto NH 16

395 ft · 11 sec · NH 16
18

Merge onto NH 16

1.3 mi · 2 min · Pinkham Notch Road
19

Continue on NH 16

0.3 mi · 23 sec · Old Goodrich Falls Road
20

Continue on NH 16

8.6 mi · 13 min · Pinkham Notch Road
21

Continue on NH 16

11 mi · 15 min · White Mountain Road
22

Continue on NH 16

0.9 mi · 2 min · Glen Road
23

At end of road, turn left onto US 2

5.1 mi · 10 min · Main Street
24

Continue on NH 16

1.3 mi · 3 min · Glen Avenue
25

Keep slight left at fork onto NH 110

339 ft · 15 sec · Green Street
26

Turn left onto NH 16

258 ft · 13 sec · Pleasant Street
27

Turn sharp right

34 ft · 4 sec
28

Turn left

146 ft · 10 sec
29

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short, 1-day trip of just over 3 hours, you have the flexibility to depart at your leisure. However, starting earlier in the day will give you ample time to reach Berlin without feeling rushed. While there's only one recommended stop, consider breaking up the drive as needed, especially given the turn-heavy nature of the route. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $19; ensuring you have a full tank before departing Portsmouth is a practical first step for this New Hampshire journey.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58.9 miles from Portsmouth, NH, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.5 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 26 miles or 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 58.9 miles or 1h 25m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 29m

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

Before You Leave

+

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

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Portsmouth, NH

This is one driving day of about 117.8 miles and 3h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Portsmouth, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on White Mountain Highway for about 45.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Madison, NH, NH

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Madison, NH

59 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

Rochester, NH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tamworth, NH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 58.9 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Bangkok Street Thai Kitchen

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $20 to $30

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Hours: 11:30 am–2:30 pm

+16039695544

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 8.4

Dover, New Hampshire

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 101

Jackson, New Hampshire

+16034663988

Visit website

InCharge Energy Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 25.2

Rochester, New Hampshire

+18333994638

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 117.8

Gorham, New Hampshire

+18668167584

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 101

Jackson, New Hampshire

Hours: Open 24 hours

+16034668116

ChargePoint Charging Station

1.9 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 109.4

Gorham, New Hampshire

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

RED E Charging Station

1.7 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 109.4

Gorham, New Hampshire

Intervale Scenic Vista

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 84.2

North Conway, New Hampshire

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+16033562769

Visit website

Conway Scenic Railroad

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 84.2

North Conway, New Hampshire

Hours: Closed

+16033565251

Visit website

Seacoast Science Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Rye, New Hampshire

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+16034368043

Visit website

Moose Brook State Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 109.4

Gorham, New Hampshire

Hours: Open 24 hours

+16034663860

Visit website

Clean and cozy Berlin getaway with lots of beautiful views and things to do!!!!

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 117.8

Berlin, New Hampshire

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 117.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 1 / Congress Street

Depart onto US 1 / Congress Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Maplewood Avenue

Turn right onto Maplewood Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
9
2.2 mi into trip | ~5m in | NH 16

Keep slight left at fork onto NH 16 toward Spaulding Turnpike North, NH 16 North, US 4 West

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

Use the straight lane. Toward Spaulding Turnpike North, NH 16 North, U...
5
117.7 mi into trip | ~3h 6m in | NH 16 / Pleasant Street

Turn left onto NH 16 / Pleasant Street

Navigation decision point

6
117.8 mi into trip | ~3h 6m in

Turn sharp right

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.96 one way

$37.93 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $20.87 $41.73
premium $4.86 $22.56 $45.12
diesel $5.61 $26.01 $52.02

Estimated Tolls: $2.26

Spaulding Turnpike (32.3 mi) $2.26

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

$19

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 41.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 35.3 0 $12.37 $5.65
Efficient EV 29.5 0 $10.31 $4.71
EV Truck/SUV 47.1 0 $16.49 $7.54

Gas CO2

41 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (66% 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 Dec 18, 2023

Origin

Portsmouth, NH

Night in Portsmouth on Saturday

Local time

9:21 PM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Berlin, NH

Night in Berlin on Saturday

Local time

9:21 PM

EDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

36°F

Madison, NH

59 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

1 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

3h 6m 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?

This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be making frequent adjustments rather than settling into long, straight stretches. With only 29% of the drive on highways, much of your time will be spent on local roads. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 45.5 miles along the White Mountain Highway. This profile suggests a drive where you'll be constantly engaged with the road, transitioning between different types of terrain and navigation.

Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.5 mi on White Mountain Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 1 / Congress Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 117.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 1 / Congress Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (Maplewood Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (NH 16): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 6m. Total distance: 117.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 45.5 miles on White Mountain Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.26 in tolls one way, starting with Spaulding 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.

Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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 Berlin, NH before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.

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: near the start (US 1 / Congress Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (Maplewood Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (NH 16): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Berlin, NH, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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