Drive or Fly: Rochester, NH to Hampton Beach, NH?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for PSM–PSM. At 34 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

50m

Distance

34.2 mi

Total Cost

$43

CO2

14 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$8

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

2h 47m

3m in the air

Air Distance

29 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Rochester, NH → PSM 26m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PSM → Hampton Beach, NH 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Rochester, NH PSM — Portsmouth International Airport at Pease 17 mi, ~26m drive

Hampton Beach, NH PSM — Portsmouth International Airport at Pease 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PSM and PSM. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

1h 28m

22m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Downeaster

Door-to-Door Timeline

Rochester, NH → Dover 13m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 22m

Arrival 10m

Exeter → Hampton Beach, NH 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Dover 9 mi, ~13m drive

To Exeter 9 mi, ~13m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~46/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 40m

30m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US0265s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Rochester, NH → Wells Transportation Center (WLS6) 27m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 30m

Arrival 10m

Portsmouth Bus Stop (PTM6) → Hampton Beach, NH 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From WLS6 — Wells Transportation Center 18 mi, ~27m drive

To PTM6 — Portsmouth Bus Stop 12 mi, ~18m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	50m	2h 47m	1h 28m	1h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$43	$121	$3	$2
Carbon footprint	14 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	1 kg CO₂	1 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS, FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 15, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Rochester, NH to Hampton Beach, NH with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.