Salem, NH to Strafford, NH is 57.9 miles and takes about 1h 31m via I 93 and Suncook Valley Road, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Hampshire, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making it a fairly straightforward trip. Given its short duration, it's easily manageable as a same-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
28.9 miles from Salem, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 93
24.4 mi
29m
Suncook Valley Road
8.1 mi
12m
Suncook Valley Highway
7.2 mi
11m
South Barnstead Road
3.9 mi
7m
Pinewood Road
3.2 mi
5m
Main Street
2.3 mi
5m
Hooksett Road
2.2 mi
4m
Route 28
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 93
— 24.4 mi, about 29m
Traffic on I-93
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 43 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,104 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,766
Quietest
2 AM
~177 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
23.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 94 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 Strafford, 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 right at fork onto I 93
0.3 mi·21 sec·Everett Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Hooksett
9
Turn left onto Hackett Hill Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·Hackett Hill Road
10
Turn left onto NH 3A
0.3 mi·43 sec·West River Road
11
Turn right onto Riverside Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Riverside Street
12
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·Main Street
13
Turn straight onto College Park Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·College Park Drive
14
Turn left onto US 3; NH 28
2.2 mi·4 min·Hooksett Road
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on US 3; NH 28
0.2 mi·31 sec·Allenstown Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Turn right onto NH 28
3.2 mi·5 min·Pinewood Road
17
Continue on NH 28
1.3 mi·1 min·Route 28
18
Continue on NH 28
4.3 mi·6 min·Suncook Valley Highway
19
Enter roundabout onto NH 28
208 ft·5 sec·Suncook Valley Highway
20
Continue on NH 28
1.6 mi·2 min·Suncook Valley Highway
21
Continue on NH 28
4.3 mi·6 min·Suncook Valley Road
22
Continue on NH 28
0.3 mi·30 sec·Suncook Valley Highway
23
Continue on NH 28
1.1 mi·2 min·Suncook Valley Road
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on NH 28
1.0 mi·1 min·Suncook Valley Highway
25
Continue on NH 28
2.7 mi·3 min·Suncook Valley Road
Use the right lane.
26
Turn right onto NH 126
3.9 mi·7 min·South Barnstead Road
Use the right lane.
27
Turn left onto Welch Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Welch Road
28
Turn left onto New Road
35 ft·2 sec·New Road
29
Turn right onto Tom Berry Road
1.3 mi·3 min·Tom Berry Road
30
Turn right onto Barn Door Gap Road
496 ft·18 sec·Barn Door Gap Road
31
Turn left
42 ft·3 sec
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
This is a short, 1-day drive, so you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete the 1 hour and 31-minute trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $9, you won't need to worry too much about frequent fuel stops, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Since the longest stretch on the highway is 24.4 miles, consider getting off I 93 before you need to refuel, perhaps as you transition to Suncook Valley Road.
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 28.9 miles from Salem, NH, or about 40m 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 13 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28.9 miles or 40m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Strafford, 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 57.9 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 51.9 — 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
29.7 mi into trip|~42m in|US 3; NH 28 / Hooksett Road
Turn left onto US 3; NH 28 / Hooksett Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
51.9 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|NH 126 / South Barnstead Road
Turn right onto NH 126 / South Barnstead Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.11 one way
$20.21 round trip
$4.43/gal25.4 MPG avg20 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.93
$11.25
$22.49
premium
$5.30
$12.08
$24.17
diesel
$6.18
$14.09
$28.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17.4
0
$6.08
$2.78
Efficient EV
14.5
0
$5.07
$2.32
EV Truck/SUV
23.2
0
$8.11
$3.71
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Salem, NH
Night
in Salem on Monday
Local time
11:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Sunny
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Strafford, NH
Night
in Strafford on Monday
Local time
11:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
2 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
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?
About 45% of this 57.9-mile drive is on highways, primarily I 93. You'll encounter your longest stretch of highway driving for 24.4 miles on I 93. After that, the route transitions to surface roads like Suncook Valley Road. The transition from highway to surface roads will likely be noticeable as exit density decreases and traffic patterns change.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 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?
8/10
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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.9 miles you will encounter 18 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
642 ft130 ft
Total Climb
848 ft
Total Descent
349 ft
Highest Point
642 ft
~53.8 mi in
Elevation Range
513 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 Strafford, NH, road signs point toward Plymouth and Hooksett.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 57.9 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 (45%). 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.
Yes — we found about 5 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 Strafford, 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 Strafford, NH before heading back.
