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Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
50.9 mi
82 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Barnstead, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Salem, NH
Banx Photography
The drive from Barnstead, NH to Salem, NH covers 50.9 miles and takes about 1h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Alan Bartlett Shepard Junior Highway, I 93, Suncook Valley Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 10.8 miles on Alan Bartlett Shepard Junior Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.19 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
25.5 miles from Barnstead, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .
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Expect a 1h 17m drive with frequent turns across 50.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.2 miles in near US 3; NH 28 / Allenstown Road.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 50.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 18.2 miles (US 3; NH 28 / Allenstown Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles (Riverside Street): Navigation decision point; at 24.1 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn left onto US 3; NH 28 / Allenstown Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Riverside Street
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 South: Salem, Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93 / Alan B Shepard Highway toward I 93 South: Derry, Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Pelham, Salem
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Barnstead, NH and Salem, NH, road signs point toward Hooksett Village, Boston and Pelham.
Hooksett Village
Boston
Pelham
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alan Bartlett Shepard Junior Highway | 10.8 mi | 12m |
| I 93 | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| Suncook Valley Highway | 7.2 mi | 11m |
| Suncook Valley Road | 6.2 mi | 9m |
| Alan B Shepard Highway | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Pinewood Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Main Street | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| Hooksett Road | 2.2 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Barnstead, NH and Salem, NH.
Start on Parade Road
Continue on Parade Road
Turn left onto NH 28
Continue on NH 28
Continue on NH 28
Continue on NH 28
Continue on NH 28
Continue on NH 28
Enter roundabout onto NH 28
Continue on NH 28
Continue on NH 28
Continue on NH 28
At end of road, turn left onto US 3; NH 28
Continue on US 3; NH 28
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto College Park Drive
Continue on Main Street
Turn right onto Riverside Street
Turn left onto NH 3A
Turn right onto Hackett Hill Road
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 93
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
Continue on I 93
Continue on I 93
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto Pelham Road
Continue on Main Street
Turn right
Arrive at destination
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.
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 50.9 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 25.5 miles or 43m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salem, NH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Barnstead, NH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Barnstead, NH
This is one driving day of about 50.9 miles and 1h 17m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.5 mi from Barnstead, NH · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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.
A short stop after about 50.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.5 miles from Barnstead, NH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Salem, NH usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Salem, NH.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$8.19 one way
$16.39 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $9.02 | $18.03 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.75 | $19.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.24 | $22.48 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.07
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
$8
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.34 | $2.44 |
| Efficient EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.45 | $2.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.13 | $3.26 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Barnstead on Wednesday
Local time
12:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Light Rain
Destination
Late night in Salem on Wednesday
Local time
12:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Chance Light Rain
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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