Origin
Salem, NH
Late night in Salem on Tuesday
Local time
4:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salem, NH to Rochester, NH
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
54.3 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salem, NH
Banx Photography
Rochester, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 54.3-mile drive from Salem, NH, to Rochester, NH, is easily completed in about 1 hour and 14 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major highways like the Spaulding Turnpike and I-495, with a highway share of 90%. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $9, which is quite budget-friendly. Given its short duration and highway focus, this route doesn't require an overnight stop. It's a practical choice for getting between these two points in the Northeast region without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Spaulding Turnpike | 19 mi | 25m |
| I 495 | 13.6 mi | 15m |
| Blue Star Turnpike | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| I 95 | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| State Route 97 | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Broadway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Columbus Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Spaulding Turnpike
— 19 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, NH and Rochester, NH.
1
Start on this road
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto NH 97
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
3
Continue on MA 97
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Ayers Village Road
4
Continue on MA 97
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 97
5
Continue on MA 97
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Broadway
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 495 North: Amesbury, Salisbury
7
Merge onto I 495
14 mi
·
15 min
·
I 495
8
Merge onto I 95
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 95
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Blue Star Turnpike
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto Spaulding Turnpike
19 mi
·
25 min
·
Spaulding Turnpike
Exit 4
Toward US 4, NH 16: New Hampshire Lakes, White Mountains
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
11
Take the exit onto Exit 11
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Exit 11
Exit 11
Toward Old Dover Road, Rochester
12
Turn left onto Old Dover Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Dover Road
13
Turn right onto NH 125
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Columbus Avenue
14
Turn left onto NH 202A
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Main Street
15
Turn right onto Museum Way
120 ft
·
5 sec
·
Museum Way
16
Turn right
55 ft
·
4 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.1 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 54.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
4.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 North: Amesbury, Salisbury
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 495 North: Amesbury, Salisbury
6
25.5 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
9
33.4 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
Spaulding Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto Spaulding Turnpike toward US 4, NH 16: New Hampshire Lakes, White Mountains
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 4
Toward US 4, NH 16: New Hampshire Lakes, White...
6
52.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
Exit 11
Take the exit onto Exit 11 toward Old Dover Road, Rochester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 11
Toward Old Dover Road, Rochester
4
54.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.74 one way
$17.48 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $9.62 | $19.24 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.40 | $20.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.99 | $23.98 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.88
Spaulding Turnpike
(19 mi)
$1.33
Blue Star Turnpike
(7.8 mi)
$0.55
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$2
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.70 | $2.61 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.75 | $2.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.60 | $3.48 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Rochester, NH
Late night in Rochester on Tuesday
Local time
4:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Patchy Fog then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 0 to 5 mph
27% chance
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 14m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 54.3-mile trip. With 90% of the drive on major roads like the Spaulding Turnpike and I-495, you'll encounter consistent speeds and minimal traffic delays. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 19 miles on the Spaulding Turnpike, allowing for a good period of steady driving. This profile suggests a route designed for efficient travel rather than scenic detours, keeping you moving smoothly towards your destination.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19 mi on Spaulding Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Spaulding Turnpike and I 495. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.3 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 4.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.5 miles (I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.4 miles (Spaulding Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
239 ft
15 ft
Total Climb
329 ft
Total Descent
230 ft
Highest Point
239 ft
~50.4 mi in
Elevation Range
224 ft
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 Rochester, NH, road signs point toward Salisbury and White Mountains.
Salisbury
4.9 mi in
|
~10m
White Mountains
33.4 mi in
|
~44m
|
via Spaulding Turnpike
About the Cities
Starting in Salem, NH
Full guide →Salem is a city in New Hampshire.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 54.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19 miles on Spaulding Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.88 in tolls one way, starting with Spaulding 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.
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 Rochester, 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 4.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.5 miles (I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.4 miles (Spaulding Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Rochester, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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