Origin
Salem, NH
Late night in Salem on Sunday
Local time
5:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salem, NH to Bedford, NH
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
24.7 mi
40 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salem, NH
Banx Photography
Bedford, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 24.7-mile drive from Salem to Bedford, New Hampshire, is easily manageable in about 35 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. The route primarily utilizes major highways, including I-93 and I-293, with a brief stint on NH-101, indicating a predominantly highway-focused experience. With a low estimated fuel cost of around $4, this is a budget-friendly option for a quick journey within the Northeast region. Since it's a short distance, you won't need to split this drive or plan for an overnight stay, offering flexibility for when you decide to depart.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 93 | 14.9 mi | 17m |
| I 293 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| NH 101 | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Main Street | 2.1 mi | 5m |
| Pelham Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Meetinghouse Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Bedford Center Road | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 93
— 14.9 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, NH and Bedford, 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
15 mi
·
17 min
·
I 93
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto I 293
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
I 293
Toward I 293 North, NH 101 West: Manchester Airport, Bedford, Manchester
7
Keep slight left at fork onto NH 101
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
NH 101
Toward NH 101 West: Bedford, Nashua
8
Turn left onto NH 101
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
NH 101
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on NH 101
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
NH 101
10
Turn right onto Meetinghouse Road
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Meetinghouse Road
11
Turn right onto Bedford Center Road
20 ft
·
0 sec
·
Bedford Center Road
12
Arrive at destination
Bedford Center Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 24.6 — 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.
5
17.7 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 293
Take the exit onto I 293 toward I 293 North, NH 101 West: Manchester Airport, Bedford, Manchester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 293 North, NH 101 West: Manchester Air...
6
21.2 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
NH 101
Keep slight left at fork onto NH 101 toward NH 101 West: Bedford, Nashua
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NH 101 West: Bedford, Nashua
5
24.6 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
Bedford Center Road
Turn right onto Bedford Center Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.98 one way
$7.95 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $4.38 | $8.75 |
| premium | $4.86 | $4.73 | $9.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.45 | $10.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.59 | $1.19 |
| Efficient EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.16 | $0.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.46 | $1.58 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Bedford, NH
Late night in Bedford on Sunday
Local time
5:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°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
8 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
35m 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-centric journey for most of this trip, with 88% of the drive taking place on interstates. You'll spend a significant uninterrupted stretch of 14.9 miles on I-93, which forms the backbone of this route. The road character is largely defined by its interstate nature, offering consistent speed and efficient travel. While primarily highway, the transition onto I-293 and NH-101 means you'll navigate different interstate designations, but the overall feel remains one of smooth, albeit potentially busy, highway driving.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.9 mi on I 93.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 93 and I 293. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 24.7 miles you will encounter 8 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 93): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.7 miles (I 293): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Salem, NH and Bedford, NH, road signs point toward Manchester and Nashua.
Manchester
17.7 mi in
|
~24m
|
via I 293
Nashua
21.2 mi in
|
~29m
|
via NH 101
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 35m. Total distance: 24.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.9 miles on I 93. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Bedford, 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 93): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.7 miles (I 293): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bedford, 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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