Salem, NH to Gilford, NH is 68.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes via I 93 and Everett Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This relatively short trip stays within New Hampshire, connecting two points in the Northeast region. The drive primarily uses major highways before transitioning to surface roads as you approach your destination. Given its manageable length and duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for a relaxed pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.1 miles from Salem, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 93
24.4 mi
29m
Styles Bridges Highway
18 mi
20m
Everett Turnpike
10.2 mi
12m
Laconia Road
4.7 mi
8m
Laconia Bypass
2.9 mi
3m
Gilford Avenue
2.2 mi
3m
Main Street
2.1 mi
5m
Daniel Webster Highway
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 93
— 24.4 mi, about 29m
Traffic on I-93
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 64 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,675 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,328
Quietest
2 AM
~145 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
25.3×
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 Gilford, NH.
For this 1 hour 30 minute drive, leaving in the morning is a good idea to maximize daylight, especially if you plan any brief stops. The total fuel cost is estimated at $11, so ensure you have enough fuel before departing, particularly as the longest stretch on I 93 is 24.4 miles. Since this is a short trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Consider taking I 93 for the initial 24.4-mile segment before transitioning onto other routes that lead you to Gilford.
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 34.1 miles from Salem, NH, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.4 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 15 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.1 miles or 44m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gilford, 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 68.3 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Salem, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 93 for about 24.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 56.5 — 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
56.2 mi into trip|~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward US 3, NH 11, NH 132, NH 140: Laconia, Tilton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.92 one way
$23.84 round trip
$4.43/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.93
$13.27
$26.53
premium
$5.30
$14.25
$28.51
diesel
$6.18
$16.62
$33.23
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: 23.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.5
0
$7.17
$3.28
Efficient EV
17.1
0
$5.98
$2.73
EV Truck/SUV
27.3
0
$9.56
$4.37
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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 18, 2026
Origin
Salem, NH
Morning
in Salem on Monday
Local time
10:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Sunny
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Gilford, NH
Morning
in Gilford on Monday
Local time
10:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
62°F
Manchester, NH
34 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
1 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?
This drive has a 51% highway share, meaning you'll spend roughly half the time on faster-paced roads. The longest stretch on a single highway is 24.4 miles on I 93. You'll experience a mixed-highway-and-surface profile, starting on major interstates and eventually moving to surface roads as you get closer to Gilford. Expect a shift in driving feel as you transition from quicker highway cruising to more local traffic conditions.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.4 mi on I 93.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 20.2 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
741 ft130 ft
Total Climb
837 ft
Total Descent
225 ft
Highest Point
741 ft
~68.3 mi in
Elevation Range
612 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 Gilford, NH, road signs point toward Plymouth and Tilton.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 68.3 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 (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.4 miles on I 93. 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 — we found about 6 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 Gilford, 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 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 Gilford, NH before heading back.
