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Trip from Portsmouth, NH to Bow, NH

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 17m

Distance

59.8 mi

96 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 11m ★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m

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

town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States

Bow, NH

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Portsmouth, NH to Bow, NH is 59.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 17 minutes via Exeter-Hampton Expressway and I-95, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New Hampshire, traversing the Northeast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, making it an excellent option for a quick, no-fuss journey. You'll primarily be on major roadways, so expect efficient travel time. Consider this route when you need to get from point A to point B without much complication.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Exeter-Hampton Expressway 30.4 mi 35m
I 95 8.8 mi 10m
Everett Turnpike 7 mi 8m
I 93 6.4 mi 7m
Bow Center Road 1.8 mi 3m
Market Street 1 mi 2m
Logging Hill Road 0.8 mi 1m
I 89 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Exeter-Hampton Expressway — 30.4 mi, about 35m

Traffic on I-95

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 19 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~3,314 veh/hr typical · worst 4,729

Quietest

2 AM

~196 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

16.9×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Portsmouth, NH and Bow, 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

8.8 mi · 10 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 2 Toward NH 101: Hampton, Manchester Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Toward 101 West: Manchester, Concord, Exeter
9

Merge onto NH 101

30 mi · 35 min · Exeter-Hampton Expressway
10

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 93 North: Concord Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Merge onto I 93

6.4 mi · 7 min · I 93
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93

7.0 mi · 8 min · Everett Turnpike
13

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 89 North: Lebanon, White River Junction Vermont
14

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 42 sec
Toward I 89 North: Lebanon, White River Junction Vermont Use the slight right lane.
15

Merge onto I 89

0.3 mi · 33 sec · I 89
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 45 sec
Exit 1 Toward Bow
17

Turn right onto South Street

0.2 mi · 27 sec · South Street
18

Continue on Logging Hill Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Logging Hill Road
19

Continue on Bow Center Road

1.8 mi · 3 min · Bow Center Road
20

Turn right onto Branch Londonderry Turnpike West

224 ft · 17 sec · Branch Londonderry Turnpike West
21

Turn sharp left onto White Rock Hill Road

167 ft · 4 sec · White Rock Hill Road
22

Arrive at destination

White Rock Hill Road

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Raymond, NH, NH

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Raymond, NH

30 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

Stratham, NH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Raymond, NH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.9 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 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 56.1 — 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
8
10.4 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the exit toward NH 101: Hampton, Manchester

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 2 Toward NH 101: Hampton, Manchester
8
56.1 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 89 North: Lebanon, White River Junction Vermont

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 89 North: Lebanon, White River Junctio...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.57 one way

$21.14 round trip

$4.49/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.92 $11.58 $23.16
premium $5.29 $12.45 $24.90
diesel $5.35 $12.60 $25.19

Estimated Tolls: $0.49

Everett Turnpike (7 mi) $0.49

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Tolls

$0

Total

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.9 0 $6.28 $2.87
Efficient EV 15 0 $5.23 $2.39
EV Truck/SUV 23.9 0 $8.37 $3.83

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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 May 30, 2026

Origin

Portsmouth, NH

Afternoon in Portsmouth on Wednesday

Local time

3:56 PM

EDT

Current temp

43°F

Rain

NE 10 to 25 mph 100% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued May 29 at 10:13PM EDT until May 30 at 10:18PM EDT by NWS Gray ME

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued May 29 at 3:52PM EDT until May 30 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Gray ME

Destination

Bow, NH

Afternoon in Bow on Wednesday

Local time

3:56 PM

EDT

Current temp

39°F

Light Rain

W 5 to 20 mph 97% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued May 29 at 10:13PM EDT until May 30 at 10:18PM EDT by NWS Gray ME

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued May 29 at 3:52PM EDT until May 30 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Gray ME

72°F

Raymond, NH

30 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

4 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

1h 17m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the journey taking place on major roadways. You'll encounter the Exeter-Hampton Expressway, I-95, and the Everett Turnpike, facilitating a rapid pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 30.4 miles on the Exeter-Hampton Expressway, allowing for a significant period of consistent driving. The route maintains a high-speed character for most of its length, making it efficient for covering distance.

89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.4 mi on Exeter-Hampton Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Exeter-Hampton Expressway 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 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.8 miles you will encounter 18 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 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

599 ft 30 ft

Total Climb

755 ft

Total Descent

185 ft

Highest Point

599 ft

~59.8 mi in

Elevation Range

570 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Portsmouth, NH and Bow, NH, road signs point toward Manchester, 101 West: Manchester, Concord, Exeter and White River Junction Vermont.

Manchester

10.4 mi in | ~15m

101 West: Manchester

11 mi in | ~16m

Concord

11 mi in | ~16m

Exeter

11 mi in | ~16m

White River Junction Vermont

55.6 mi in | ~1h 8m

About the Cities

Starting in Portsmouth, NH

Full guide →

Founded 1630

Portsmouth is the third oldest city in the USA and is prominent in New Hampshire's seacoast region.

Top landmarks

  • • USS Albacore — 1953 research submarine
  • • Portsmouth African Burying Ground — Memorial park in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States
  • • Governor John Langdon House — house in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Arriving in Bow, NH

Full guide →

Founded 1727

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 1h 17m. Total distance: 59.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 30.4 miles on Exeter-Hampton Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.49 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.

Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas 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 Bow, 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 Bow, 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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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