Origin
Charlestown, NH
Late night in Charlestown on Monday
Local time
4:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charlestown, NH to Portsmouth, NH
Drive Time
2h 41m
Distance
123.1 mi
198 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 31m
★
6 AM
2h 42m
8 AM
3h 3m
10 AM
2h 49m
12 PM
2h 47m
3 PM
2h 50m
5 PM
3h 2m
8 PM
2h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlestown, NH
Mohan Nannapaneni
Portsmouth, NH
James Mirakian
Trip Overview
Traveling from Charlestown to Portsmouth covers 123.1 miles of New Hampshire landscape, typically taking about 2 hours and 41 minutes. This highway-focused trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Budgeting approximately $20 for fuel should be sufficient to get you from the western side of the state to the coast. You will primarily utilize NH 11, NH 101, and State Route 11 to complete the journey. Since both points are located within the Northeast, the trip provides a straightforward transition between these two distinct areas of the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
61.5 miles from Charlestown, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a drive defined by speed and efficiency, with highway travel accounting for 79% of your total time behind the wheel. The route features a mix of fast-paced transit and consistent cruising, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 32.3 miles on NH 11. Because this is a highway-focused drive, you should anticipate a steady, predictable pace rather than a series of tight, technical turns. As you navigate the transition between these major state roads, the character of the pavement remains reliable. You will spend the majority of your trip focused on the road ahead, enjoying a streamlined path across the region.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sullivan Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,235 ft
30 ft
Total Climb
1,054 ft
Total Descent
1,410 ft
Highest Point
1,235 ft
~30.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,205 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Charlestown, NH to Portsmouth, NH is easy. At 2h 41m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Charlestown, NH to Portsmouth, NH is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sullivan Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Claremont Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Charlestown Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Pleasant Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Glidden Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Broad Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Washington Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Sullivan Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlestown, NH and Portsmouth, NH.
1
Start on Sullivan Street
92 ft
·
3 sec
·
Sullivan Street
2
Continue on Sullivan Street
144 ft
·
7 sec
·
Sullivan Street
3
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Main Street
4
Continue on Claremont Road
7.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Claremont Road
5
Continue on Charlestown Road
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Charlestown Road
6
Continue on West Pleasant Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Pleasant Street
7
Turn right onto Glidden Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Glidden Street
8
At the end of the road, turn left onto Broad Street
518 ft
·
13 sec
·
Broad Street
9
Keep slight right to continue on Broad Street
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Broad Street
10
Continue on Washington Street
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Washington Street
11
Continue on State Route 11
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
State Route 11
12
Continue on John Stark Highway
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
John Stark Highway
13
Continue on Elm Street
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Elm Street
14
Continue on Maple Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Maple Street
15
Turn left onto Cross Street
472 ft
·
21 sec
·
Cross Street
16
Turn right onto Canal Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Canal Street
17
Turn right onto Sunapee Street
2.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Sunapee Street
18
Turn straight onto State Route 11
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
State Route 11
19
Continue on Route 11
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Route 11
20
Continue on State Route 11
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 11
21
Take the exit slight right
11 mi
·
12 min
22
Continue straight
24 mi
·
27 min
23
Take the exit slight right toward I 93 South Toll: Manchester, Boston
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 93 South Toll: Manchester, Boston
24
Merge slight right onto Everett Turnpike
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Everett Turnpike
25
Keep slight left to continue on Everett Turnpike
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Everett Turnpike
26
Keep slight right to continue on I 93 South: Salem, Boston
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
I 93 South: Salem, Boston
27
Take the exit slight left toward NH 101 East: Seacoast, Portsmouth
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
NH 101 East: Seacoast, Portsmouth
28
Merge slight right
31 mi
·
35 min
29
Take the exit slight right toward I 95: Portsmouth, Boston
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 95: Portsmouth, Boston
30
Keep slight left to continue on I 95 North: Portsmouth, Maine, Pease International Tradeport
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 North: Portsmouth, Maine, Pease International Tradeport
31
Continue straight
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
32
Merge slight left onto Blue Star Turnpike
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Blue Star Turnpike
33
Keep slight right to continue on Blue Star Turnpike
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Blue Star Turnpike
34
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
35
Turn right onto Market Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Market Street
36
At the end of the road, turn right onto Congress Street
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
Congress Street
37
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best to avoid peak traffic hours. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh, as the drive spans nearly three hours. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the initial segments, as the $20 estimate is based on standard consumption patterns for this 123.1-mile distance. Given that the longest stretch of 32.3 miles occurs on NH 11, try to time your breaks either just before or immediately after that section to maximize your momentum. Staying aware of the transition between NH 11 and NH 101 will help ensure you stay on course throughout the journey.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 61.5 miles from Charlestown, NH, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.5 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Portsmouth, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Charlestown, 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 Charlestown, NH
This is one driving day of about 123.1 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Charlestown, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 61.5 mi from Charlestown, NH · 1h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
62 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 61.5 miles from Charlestown, NH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Portsmouth, NH
The final approach into Portsmouth, 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 Portsmouth, NH.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.71 one way
$39.41 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $21.60 | $43.20 |
| premium | $4.83 | $23.40 | $46.80 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $27.35 | $54.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.9 | 0 | $12.93 | $5.91 |
| Efficient EV | 30.8 | 0 | $10.77 | $4.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49.2 | 0 | $17.23 | $7.88 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Portsmouth, NH
Late night in Portsmouth on Monday
Local time
4:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°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
10 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
2h 41m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Charlestown, NH to Portsmouth, NH covers 123.1 miles and takes about 2h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sullivan Street, North Main Street, Claremont Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61.5 miles from Charlestown, NH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.71 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Charlestown, NH to Portsmouth, NH is easy. At 2h 41m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Charlestown, NH to Portsmouth, NH is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Charlestown, NH to Portsmouth, NH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 30 ft to 1,235 ft elevation with about 1,054 ft of total climbing.
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