Trip from Exeter, NH to Merrimack, NH

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are NH 101, Daniel Webster Highway, Everett Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 20.1 miles from Exeter, NH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.47 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

55m

Distance

40.2 mi

65 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min

4 AM

0h 51m ★

6 AM

0h 56m

8 AM

1h 5m

10 AM

0h 59m

12 PM

0h 58m

3 PM

1h 0m

5 PM

1h 5m

8 PM

0h 53m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Exeter, NH to Merrimack, NH covers 40.2 miles and takes about 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on NH 101, Daniel Webster Highway, Everett Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.1 miles on NH 101. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.47 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 40.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 55m highway drive covering 40.2 miles, with most of the trip on NH 101 and Daniel Webster Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 31.1 miles on NH 101.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

NH 101 is the longest continuous segment at about 31.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NH 101 and Daniel Webster Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 40.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles (NH 101): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.2 miles (NH 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7

1.7 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward NH 101 West: Epping, Manchester

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward NH 101 West: Epping, Manchester

5

1.9 mi into trip | ~4m in | NH 101

Merge onto NH 101

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

8

29.2 mi into trip | ~36m 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

32.5 mi into trip | ~41m 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

5

33 mi into trip | ~42m in

Take the exit toward Everett Turnpike South: Merrimack, Nashua, Manchester Airport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Everett Turnpike South: Merrimack, Nashu...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Exeter, NH and Merrimack, NH, road signs point toward Manchester, Bedford, Nashua, Everett Turnpike South: Merrimack, Manchester Airport and Airport.

Manchester

29.2 mi in | ~36m | via NH 101

Bedford

29.2 mi in | ~36m | via NH 101

Nashua

32.5 mi in | ~41m | via NH 101

Everett Turnpike South: Merrimack

33 mi in | ~42m

Manchester Airport

33 mi in | ~42m

Airport

35.2 mi in | ~45m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
NH 101	31.1 mi	37m
Daniel Webster Highway	3.8 mi	8m
Everett Turnpike	1.9 mi	2m
Newfields Road	1 mi	2m
Water Street	0.7 mi	2m
South River Road	0.1 mi	<1m
Loop Road	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: NH 101 — 31.1 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Exeter, NH and Merrimack, NH.

1

Start on NH 27

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Water Street

2

Continue on NH 85

0.5 mi · 1 min · Water Street

3

Continue on NH 85

1.0 mi · 2 min · Newfields Road

4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Toward NH 101 West: Epping, Manchester Use the left lane.

5

Merge onto NH 101

27 mi · 31 min · NH 101

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

6

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, Bedford Use the slight right lane.

7

Keep slight left at fork onto NH 101

0.5 mi · 44 sec · NH 101

Toward NH 101 West: Bedford, Nashua

8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec

Toward Everett Turnpike South: Merrimack, Nashua, Manchester Airport

9

Merge onto Everett Turnpike

1.9 mi · 2 min · Everett Turnpike

10

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min

Toward Airport

11

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward Merrimack

12

Turn right onto US 3

0.1 mi · 13 sec · South River Road

13

Continue on US 3

3.8 mi · 8 min · Daniel Webster Highway

Use the straight lane.

14

Turn slight left onto Loop Road

83 ft · 3 sec · Loop Road

15

Arrive at destination

Loop Road

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 20.1 mi from Exeter, NH · 26m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

South Hooksett, NH

20 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

Bedford, NH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Chester, NH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20.1 miles from Exeter, NH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Merrimack, NH

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Merrimack, NH if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.47 one way

$12.94 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.50	$7.12	$14.24
premium	$4.86	$7.70	$15.40
diesel	$5.61	$8.88	$17.75

Estimated Tolls: $0.13

Everett Turnpike (1.9 mi) $0.13

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Tolls

$0

Total

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	12.1	$4.22	$1.93
Efficient EV	10.1	$3.52	$1.61
EV Truck/SUV	16.1	$5.63	$2.57

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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

Exeter, NH

Evening in Exeter on Thursday

Local time

6:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Merrimack, NH

Evening in Merrimack on Thursday

Local time

6:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

39°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

19 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

55m 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 Exeter, NH to Merrimack, NH covers 40.2 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.