The drive from Effingham, NH to Salem, NH covers 90.5 miles and takes about 2h 10m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Spaulding Turnpike, Province Lake Road, Blue Star Turnpike for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34 miles on Spaulding Turnpike.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.57 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.
Midpoint
45.3 miles from Effingham, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 10m. Total distance: 90.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 10m highway drive covering 90.5 miles, with most of the trip on Spaulding Turnpike and Province Lake Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 34 miles on Spaulding Turnpike.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Spaulding Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 34 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Spaulding Turnpike and Province Lake Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 57.6 miles in near I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 90.5 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 57.6 miles (I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.8 miles (I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.5 miles (I 495): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
57.6 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike
Merge onto I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
64.8 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
6
72.5 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|I 495
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495 toward I 495 South: Worcester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 89
Toward I 495 South: Worcester
8
85.4 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward MA 97, MA 110, MA 113: Haverhill, Salem New Hampshire
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 108-107
Toward MA 97, MA 110, MA 113: Haverhill, Salem...
10
85.6 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 97: Haverhill, Salem New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 108
Toward MA 97: Haverhill, Salem New Hampshire
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Effingham, NH to Salem, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Salem New Hampshire along the way.
Salem New Hampshire
85.4 mi in|~1h 59m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Spaulding Turnpike
34 mi
45m
Province Lake Road
15.9 mi
29m
Blue Star Turnpike
14.9 mi
17m
I 495
12.9 mi
14m
White Mountain Highway
7 mi
10m
State Route 97
1.8 mi
3m
Broadway
1.2 mi
2m
Main Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Spaulding Turnpike
— 34 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Effingham, NH and Salem, NH.
1
Start on Plantation Road
59 ft·7 sec·Plantation Road
2
Turn left onto NH 153
16 mi·29 min·Province Lake Road
3
Turn sharp right onto Wakefield Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Wakefield Road
4
Turn left onto NH 16
7.0 mi·10 min·White Mountain Highway
5
Continue on NH 16
34 mi·45 min·Spaulding Turnpike
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 95
7.3 mi·8 min·Blue Star Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
7.7 mi·8 min·Blue Star Turnpike
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495
13 mi·14 min·I 495
Exit 89Toward I 495 South: Worcester
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 108-107Toward MA 97, MA 110, MA 113: Haverhill, Salem New HampshireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 108Toward MA 97: Haverhill, Salem New HampshireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto MA 97
1.2 mi·2 min·Broadway
12
Continue on MA 97
1.8 mi·3 min·State Route 97
13
Continue on MA 97
0.7 mi·1 min·Ayers Village Road
14
Continue on NH 97
1.0 mi·2 min·Main Street
15
Turn left
113 ft·8 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 45.3 miles from Effingham, NH, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34 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 20 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.3 miles or 1h 10m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salem, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Effingham, 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 Effingham, NH
This is one driving day of about 90.5 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Effingham, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Spaulding Turnpike for about 34 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45.3 mi from Effingham, NH
· 1h 10m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.57 one way
$29.14 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$16.03
$32.06
premium
$4.86
$17.33
$34.66
diesel
$5.61
$19.98
$39.96
Estimated Tolls: $3.43
Spaulding Turnpike
(34 mi)$2.38
Blue Star Turnpike
(14.9 mi)$1.05
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
$15
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
2 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Tesla Supercharger
Dover, New Hampshire
Tesla
1 DCFC
InCharge Energy Charging Station
Rochester, New Hampshire
InCharge
1 DCFC
Tesla: 1
InCharge: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.2
0
$9.50
$4.34
Efficient EV
22.6
0
$7.92
$3.62
EV Truck/SUV
36.2
0
$12.67
$5.79
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Effingham, NH
Night
in Effingham on Friday
Local time
10:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Salem, NH
Night
in Salem on Friday
Local time
10:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Rochester, NH
45 mi in
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
25 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
2h 10m 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 Effingham, NH to Salem, NH covers 90.5 miles and takes about 2h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Spaulding Turnpike, Province Lake Road, Blue Star Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 45.3 miles from Effingham, NH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.57 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 90.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 57.6 miles (I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.8 miles (I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.5 miles (I 495): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Effingham, NH to Salem, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Salem New Hampshire along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
