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Trip from Salem, NH to Ashland, NH

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

Drive Time

1h 31m

Distance

75.3 mi

121 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 25m ★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 35m
3 PM
1h 37m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 28m

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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Downtown Salem, NH, NH

Salem, NH

Banx Photography

town in New Hampshire, United States

Ashland, NH

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Spanning 75.3 miles, this trek from Salem to Ashland is a straightforward journey through New Hampshire that typically takes about 1 hour and 31 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this is an ideal day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $12 for fuel to complete the transit. The route primarily utilizes Main Street, Pelham Road, and I-93 North to navigate through the Northeast region. It serves as a practical, efficient path for travelers looking to move between these two points in the state. Whether you are heading out for a quick getaway or visiting family, this drive offers a balanced pace for a single day of travel.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

37.6 miles from Salem, NH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Styles Bridges Highway 36.2 mi 39m
I 93 24.4 mi 29m
Everett Turnpike 10.2 mi 12m
Main Street 2.7 mi 6m
Sen Styles Bridges Highway 0.7 mi <1m
Pelham Road 0.2 mi <1m
Daniel Webster Highway <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Styles Bridges Highway — 36.2 mi, about 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Salem, NH and Ashland, NH.

1

Start on this road

113 ft · 13 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto NH 97

2.1 mi · 5 min · Main Street
3

Continue on Pelham Road

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Pelham Road
4

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 93 North Use the right lane.
5

Merge onto I 93

17 mi · 20 min · I 93
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93

7.1 mi · 8 min · I 93
Toward I 93 North: Concord, Plymouth
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93

10 mi · 12 min · Everett Turnpike
8

Continue on I 93

17 mi · 19 min · Styles Bridges Highway
9

Continue on I 93

0.7 mi · 46 sec · Sen Styles Bridges Highway
10

Continue on I 93

19 mi · 20 min · Styles Bridges Highway
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 24 Toward US 3, NH 25: Ashland, Holderness
12

Keep slight right at fork

283 ft · 6 sec
13

Turn slight right onto US 3; NH 25

386 ft · 9 sec · Daniel Webster Highway
14

Continue on US 3; NH 25

0.6 mi · 1 min · Main Street
15

Continue on NH 132

129 ft · 5 sec · Main Street
16

Arrive at destination

NH 132

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of these local roads can make the 1 hour and 31 minute duration feel more active than a standard interstate drive. You won't need to plan for major stops, but it is wise to ensure your tank is ready for the $12 fuel expense before leaving Salem. Focus on navigating the turns of Pelham Road and Main Street carefully, as these local stretches require more attention than typical highway driving. Enjoy the advantage of a direct route that gets you to your destination without the need for complex multi-day planning.

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 37.6 miles from Salem, NH, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.2 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 17 miles or 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 37.6 miles or 48m 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 18m

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

Before You Leave

+

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

Day 1

Settle into the route from Salem, NH

This is one driving day of about 75.3 miles and 1h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Salem, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Styles Bridges Highway for about 36.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown South Hooksett, NH, NH

Mid-route town

Meal stop

South Hooksett, NH

38 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

Derry, NH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Concord, NH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.6 miles from Salem, 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.

Top Restaurant

The Windmill Restaurant Inc.

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Concord, New Hampshire

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 37.6

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+16032250600

Visit website

Cotton Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Manchester, New Hampshire

1.9 mi

The Windmill Restaurant Inc.

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 37.6

Concord, New Hampshire

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+16032250600

Visit website

Cotton Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $30 to $50 mile 21.5

Manchester, New Hampshire

Hours: 5–8:30 pm

+16036225488

Visit website

The Bagg Lunch

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 21.5

Manchester, New Hampshire

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+16039357053

Visit website

Copper Door

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour Expensive mile 21.5

Bedford, New Hampshire

Hours: 11:30 am–12 pm

+16034882677

Visit website

The Country Loon Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 21.5

Bedford, New Hampshire

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+16034881874

EV Connect Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 10.8

Londonderry, New Hampshire

+18668167584

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 37.6

Concord, New Hampshire

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 26.9

Hooksett, New Hampshire

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 53.8

Tilton, New Hampshire

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 26.9

Hooksett, New Hampshire

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18882642208

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 26.9

Hooksett, NH

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Ford Charging Station

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 37.6

Bow, New Hampshire

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18883571009

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 32.3

Hooksett, New Hampshire

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Manchester Historic Association's Millyard Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 21.5

Manchester, New Hampshire

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+16036227531

Visit website

SEE Science Center

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 21.5

Manchester, New Hampshire

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+16036690400

Visit website

Kirkwood Gardens

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 75.3

Holderness, New Hampshire

Hours: Open 24 hours

+16039687194

Visit website

Launch Family Entertainment Park Methuen

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour

Methuen, Massachusetts

Hours: 3:30–7:30 pm

+19786553379

Visit website

Hedgehog Park

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Salem, New Hampshire

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+16038902000

Visit website

Fun City Trampoline Park Goffstown

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 21.5

Goffstown, New Hampshire

Hours: 3–8 pm

+16036068807

Visit website

Tarbin Gardens

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 53.8

Franklin, New Hampshire

+16039343518

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 74.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
2.3 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the ramp toward I 93 North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 93 North
5
2.9 mi into trip | ~7m in | I 93

Merge onto I 93

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
20.2 mi into trip | ~27m in | I 93

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 North: Concord, Plymouth

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 93 North: Concord, Plymouth
6
74.4 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in

Take the exit toward US 3, NH 25: Ashland, Holderness

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

Exit 24 Toward US 3, NH 25: Ashland, Holderness
5
74.5 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.12 one way

$24.24 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $13.34 $26.68
premium $4.86 $14.42 $28.84
diesel $5.61 $16.63 $33.25

Estimated Tolls: $0.71

Everett Turnpike (10.2 mi) $0.71

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

$12

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.6 0 $7.91 $3.61
Efficient EV 18.8 0 $6.59 $3.01
EV Truck/SUV 30.1 0 $10.54 $4.82

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (65% 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 Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Salem, NH

Late night in Salem on Sunday

Local time

4:02 AM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ashland, NH

Late night in Ashland on Sunday

Local time

4:02 AM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

10 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 31m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise, as this route features zero highway share. You will spend your time navigating local roads like Main Street and Pelham Road, which keep you engaged behind the wheel. The personality of this trip is defined by its winding, technical nature rather than high-speed interstate stretches. Because the entire 75.3-mile distance is comprised of local navigation, you will rarely experience long, uninterrupted segments. Be prepared to focus on your surroundings as you transition from the southern part of the state toward Ashland.

46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.2 mi on Styles Bridges Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 31m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 93): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.2 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

On the drive from Salem, NH to Ashland, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Plymouth along the way.

Plymouth

20.2 mi in | ~27m | via I 93

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 75.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (46%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 36.2 miles on Styles Bridges Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.71 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. 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 93): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.2 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ashland, 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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