Portsmouth to New Boston is 59.3 miles and takes about 1h 30m via Exeter-Hampton Expressway and I 95, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Hampshire, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. With only one recommended day, this route is ideal for those looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without significant detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
29.6 miles from Portsmouth, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Exeter-Hampton Expressway
30.4 mi
35m
I 95
8.8 mi
10m
River Road
4.8 mi
9m
Mast Road
4.3 mi
8m
Bridge Street
2 mi
5m
South Mast Street
1.3 mi
3m
New Boston Road
1.3 mi
2m
Market Street
1 mi
2m
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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 New Boston, 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, BostonUse 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 2Toward NH 101: Hampton, ManchesterUse 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: ConcordUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 93
0.3 mi·23 sec·I 93
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 8Toward Wellington Road, Bridge Street
13
Turn slight right
0.1 mi·13 sec
14
Turn straight onto Wellington Road
0.3 mi·41 sec·Wellington Road
15
Continue on Bridge Street
2.0 mi·5 min·Bridge Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Continue on Amory Street
388 ft·10 sec·Amory Street
Use the left lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto Coolidge Avenue
0.2 mi·29 sec·Coolidge Avenue
18
Turn left onto Kelley Street
0.9 mi·2 min·Kelley Street
19
Continue on Nazaire Biron Bridge
0.2 mi·25 sec·Nazaire Biron Bridge
20
Continue on Pinard Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·Pinard Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto NH 114A
4.3 mi·8 min·Mast Road
Use the right lane.
22
Continue on NH 114
0.7 mi·1 min·South Mast Street
23
Enter roundabout onto NH 114
37 ft·1 sec·South Mast Street
24
Continue on NH 114
0.6 mi·1 min·South Mast Street
25
Enter roundabout onto NH 13
109 ft·5 sec·Pleasant Street
26
Continue on NH 13
0.4 mi·57 sec·Pleasant Street
27
Continue on NH 13
1.3 mi·2 min·New Boston Road
28
Continue on NH 13
4.8 mi·9 min·River Road
29
Turn right onto NH 13
417 ft·20 sec·Meetinghouse Hill Road
30
Turn left onto NH 13
200 ft·6 sec·Mont Vernon Road
31
Turn right onto Old Coach Road
221 ft·7 sec·Old Coach Road
32
Arrive at destination
Old Coach Road
Trip Plan
Given this is a short, 1-day drive totaling just over an hour and a half, you have a lot of flexibility on when to depart. Leaving anytime in the morning should get you to New Boston with plenty of daylight remaining. You'll want to keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is around $11, so check your gauge before you leave Portsmouth. Since the longest stretch on the highway is over 30 miles, consider a quick stop before you get onto River Road to stretch your legs.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 29.6 miles from Portsmouth, NH, or about 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.4 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 13 miles or 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29.6 miles or 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Boston, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Portsmouth, NH
This is one driving day of about 59.3 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Portsmouth, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Exeter-Hampton Expressway for about 30.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 11 — 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
6
11 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 101 West: Manchester, Concord, Exeter
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward 101 West: Manchester, Concord, Exeter
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.48 one way
$20.97 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$11.48
$22.96
premium
$5.29
$12.35
$24.70
diesel
$5.35
$12.49
$24.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.7 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
17.8
0
$6.23
$2.85
Efficient EV
14.8
0
$5.19
$2.37
EV Truck/SUV
23.7
0
$8.30
$3.80
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 24, 2026
Origin
Portsmouth, NH
Evening
in Portsmouth on Wednesday
Local time
5:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Rain Showers
SE 5 mph88% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 24 at 2:21AM EDT by NWS Gray ME
Destination
New Boston, NH
Evening
in New Boston on Wednesday
Local time
5:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Rain Showers
SE 5 to 10 mph95% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 24 at 2:21AM EDT by NWS Gray ME
72°F
Manchester, NH
30 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
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 30m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 67% of your 59.3-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 30.4 miles on the Exeter-Hampton Expressway. After this, you'll transition to River Road, a surface street. Expect a lot of exits and merging as you navigate the highway portions of this trip.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.3 miles you will encounter 19 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
452 ft30 ft
Total Climb
661 ft
Total Descent
238 ft
Highest Point
452 ft
~59.3 mi in
Elevation Range
423 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 New Boston, NH, road signs point toward Manchester, 101 West: Manchester, Concord and Exeter.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 59.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). 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.
Yes — we found about 4 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 New Boston, 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 New Boston, NH before heading back.
