Somersworth to Milford is 61.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 34 minutes via NH 101 and Calef Highway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New Hampshire, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on well-traveled state routes, making it a practical choice for a single-day excursion. You'll likely find it an efficient way to connect these two points without venturing onto major interstates.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
30.7 miles from Somersworth, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NH 101
35.1 mi
46m
Calef Highway
9.6 mi
14m
Amherst Street
3.1 mi
6m
Knox Marsh Road
2.8 mi
4m
High Street
2.5 mi
6m
Spaulding Turnpike
2 mi
2m
Concord Road
1.3 mi
1m
Lee Road
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
NH 101
— 35.1 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Somersworth, NH and Milford, NH.
1
Start on Highland Street
9 ft·2 sec·Highland Street
2
Turn right onto NH 9; NH 236
2.5 mi·6 min·High Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on NH 9
1.0 mi·2 min·Indian Brook Drive
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left
0.4 mi·46 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto NH 16
2.0 mi·2 min·Spaulding Turnpike
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 8WToward NH 9 West, NH 155 West: MadburyUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn slight right onto NH 9
2.8 mi·4 min·Knox Marsh Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on NH 155
347 ft·7 sec·Manchester Road
9
Continue on NH 155
1.3 mi·2 min·Lee Road
10
Continue on NH 155
1.1 mi·2 min·Turtle Pond Road
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·19 sec
12
Merge onto US 4
1.3 mi·1 min·Concord Road
13
Enter roundabout onto NH 125
290 ft·8 sec·Calef Highway
14
Continue on NH 125
9.6 mi·14 min·Calef Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Use the right lane.
16
Merge onto NH 101
20 mi·23 min·NH 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto NH 101
3.3 mi·4 min·NH 101
Toward I 293 North, NH 101 West: Manchester Airport, Manchester, BedfordUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto NH 101
2.2 mi·3 min·NH 101
Toward NH 101 West: Bedford, Nashua
19
Turn left onto NH 101
0.4 mi·48 sec·NH 101
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on NH 101
8.8 mi·13 min·NH 101
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward NH 122: Amherst
22
Keep slight right at fork
199 ft·6 sec
Toward NH 122 South
23
Turn slight right onto NH 122
3.1 mi·6 min·Amherst Street
24
Continue on Amherst Street
477 ft·18 sec·Amherst Street
25
Turn left onto NH 13
253 ft·7 sec·Colonel John Shephard Bridge
26
Turn slight right onto NH 13
308 ft·7 sec·Union Square
27
Turn slight left onto NH 13
291 ft·11 sec·NH 13
28
Turn right onto NH 13
42 ft·1 sec·South Street
29
Arrive at destination
NH 13
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 34 minute duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will give you the most daylight for your drive and any activities upon arrival. With a fuel cost estimated at $10, filling up before you leave Somersworth should be sufficient. Pay attention to the transition from NH 101 to the surface roads around the 35.1-mile mark, as this is where you'll need to adjust your driving pace and be more aware of local traffic.
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 30.7 miles from Somersworth, NH, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.1 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 14 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.7 miles or 49m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Milford, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Somersworth, NH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Somersworth, NH
This is one driving day of about 61.5 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Somersworth, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NH 101 for about 35.1 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 0 and 58.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|NH 9; NH 236 / High Street
Turn right onto NH 9; NH 236 / High Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
6 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward NH 9 West, NH 155 West: Madbury
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 8W
Toward NH 9 West, NH 155 West: Madbury
8
43.2 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|NH 101
Keep slight right at fork onto NH 101 toward I 293 North, NH 101 West: Manchester Airport, Manchester, Bedford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 293 North, NH 101 West: Manchester Air...
6
46.5 mi into trip|~1h 8m 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
6
58.1 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NH 122 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward NH 122 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.90 one way
$19.80 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg22 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$10.89
$21.79
premium
$4.86
$11.78
$23.55
diesel
$5.61
$13.58
$27.16
Estimated Tolls: $0.14
Spaulding Turnpike
(2 mi)$0.14
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
$10
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.5
0
$6.46
$2.95
Efficient EV
15.4
0
$5.38
$2.46
EV Truck/SUV
24.6
0
$8.61
$3.94
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Somersworth, NH
Morning
in Somersworth on Sunday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Milford, NH
Morning
in Milford on Sunday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live 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
4 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 34m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 60% of this 61.5-mile drive involves highway cruising on NH 101. You'll experience a longest stretch of 35.1 miles on NH 101 before transitioning to surface roads like Calef Highway and Amherst Street. This means you'll start with more open road driving and then shift to a more mixed environment with more local traffic and potential for more frequent intersections as you get closer to your destination. Expect a blend of faster travel and slower, more controlled speeds.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.1 mi on NH 101.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 early in the drive near NH 9; NH 236 / High Street.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.5 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: near the start (NH 9; NH 236 / High Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.2 miles (NH 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Between Somersworth, NH and Milford, NH, road signs point toward Manchester, Bedford and Nashua.
Manchester
43.2 mi in|~1h 3m|via NH 101
Bedford
43.2 mi in|~1h 3m|via NH 101
Nashua
46.5 mi in|~1h 8m|via NH 101
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 61.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.1 miles on NH 101. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.14 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 Milford, 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: near the start (NH 9; NH 236 / High Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.2 miles (NH 101): 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 Milford, NH before heading back.
