Salem, NH to Colebrook, NH is 174.9 miles and takes about 3h 51m via I 93 and Daniel Webster Highway, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Hampshire, moving from the southern part of the state up towards the northern border. The route offers a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving, making it a manageable one-day excursion. You'll spend about 36% of your time on highways, so expect a balance between faster travel and more scenic, potentially slower, stretches.
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
87.5 miles from Salem, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 78 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,089 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,715
Quietest
2 AM
~119 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
26×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 101 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 Salem, NH and Colebrook, 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 NorthUse 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
49 mi·52 min·Styles Bridges Highway
11
Continue on I 93
7.7 mi·12 min·Franconia Notch Parkway
12
Take the exit onto US 3
10 mi·16 min·US 3
Exit 35Toward US 3 North: Twin Mountain, LancasterUse the slight right lane.
13
Continue on US 3
6.1 mi·8 min·US Route 3 North
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on US 3
2.3 mi·4 min·Twin Mountain Road
15
Continue on US 3; NH 142; NH 116
467 ft·10 sec·Daniel Webster Highway
16
Continue on US 3
2.0 mi·3 min·Lancaster Road
17
Continue on US 3
6.3 mi·9 min·Prospect Street
18
Continue on US 2; US 3
0.8 mi·2 min·Main Street
19
Enter roundabout onto US 3
38 ft·1 sec·North Main Street
20
Continue on US 3
5.2 mi·8 min·North Main Street
21
Continue on US 3
1.2 mi·1 min·Lancaster Road
22
Continue on US 3
2.8 mi·4 min·Main Street
23
Turn slight left onto Church Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Church Street
24
Continue on US 3
0.3 mi·27 sec·State Street
25
Continue on US 3
12 mi·18 min·Daniel Webster Highway
26
Continue on US 3
3.3 mi·4 min·US Route 3
27
Continue on US 3
8.1 mi·12 min·Daniel Webster Highway
28
Continue on US 3
1.6 mi·2 min·US Route 3
29
Continue on US 3
0.2 mi·21 sec·Main Street
30
Turn right onto Pleasant Street
148 ft·6 sec·Pleasant Street
31
Arrive at destination
Pleasant Street
Trip Plan
For this 3h 51m drive, starting in the morning from Salem, NH, gives you plenty of time to reach Colebrook, NH, before evening. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $29, you can be quite flexible with your timing. The longest stretch on Styles Bridges Highway is over 65 miles, so ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on that segment. Since it's a single-day trip, you have the advantage of not needing to pre-book accommodations, allowing you to depart when it's most convenient for you.
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 87.5 miles from Salem, NH, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.7 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 38 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.5 miles or 1h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colebrook, 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.
+
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 Salem, NH
This is one driving day of about 174.9 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Salem, 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 Styles Bridges Highway for about 65.7 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 111.6 — 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|NH 97 / Main Street
Turn left onto NH 97 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
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
8
111.6 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|US 3
Take the exit onto US 3 toward US 3 North: Twin Mountain, Lancaster
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 35
Toward US 3 North: Twin Mountain, Lancaster
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.24 one way
$60.49 round trip
$4.39/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$33.73
$67.47
premium
$5.27
$36.30
$72.59
diesel
$6.28
$43.22
$86.43
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
$30
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.5
0
$18.36
$8.40
Efficient EV
43.7
0
$15.30
$7.00
EV Truck/SUV
70
0
$24.49
$11.19
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Oct 23, 2026
Origin
Salem, NH
Morning
in Salem on Saturday
Local time
6:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Clear
N 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Colebrook, NH
Morning
in Colebrook on Saturday
Local time
6:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
29°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
30°F
Franconia, NH
87 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
6 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 51m 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?
This drive covers 174.9 miles with roughly 36% on highways. You'll encounter a 65.7-mile stretch on Styles Bridges Highway, offering a good opportunity for consistent speed. After the highway portions, expect to transition to surface roads, which will likely slow your pace. Keep an eye out for the change in traffic patterns as you move from more developed areas to more rural settings.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.7 mi on Styles Bridges Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NH 97 / Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 174.9 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: near the start (NH 97 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 93): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,684 ft130 ft
Total Climb
1,996 ft
Total Descent
1,097 ft
Highest Point
1,684 ft
~112.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,555 ft
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 Colebrook, NH, road signs point toward Plymouth and Lancaster.
Colebrook is a town of 2,300 people (2010) in the Great North Region of New Hampshire. Colebrook is the hub of northern Coos County, and is the largest town (by population) north of the county seat of Lancaster.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 51m. Total distance: 174.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.7 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 (NH 97 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 93): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Colebrook, NH, but most travelers stay overnight.
