Drive Time
47m
Distance
21.2 mi
34 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Photo: www.kaboompics.com
The drive from Hampstead, NH to Merrimack, NH covers 21.2 miles and takes about 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Hampstead Road, Daniel Webster Highway, Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 3.8 miles on Hampstead Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.39 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
10.6 miles from Hampstead, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .
Expect a 47m drive with frequent turns across 21.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in near Derry Road.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 21.2 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles (Derry Road): Navigation decision point; at 8 miles (NH 28 Bypass / North Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.8 miles (NH 28 / Manchester Road): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto Derry Road
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto NH 28 Bypass / North Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Turn right onto NH 28 / Manchester Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Raymond Wieczorek Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Merrimack
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hampstead Road | 3.8 mi | 8m |
| Daniel Webster Highway | 3.8 mi | 8m |
| Main Street | 2.9 mi | 6m |
| Stonehenge Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Litchfield Road | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| East Derry Road | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Rockingham Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Harvey Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hampstead, NH and Merrimack, NH.
Start on West Road
Turn left onto NH 121
Turn left onto Derry Road
Continue on Hampstead Road
Continue on East Derry Road
Enter roundabout onto NH 28 Bypass
Continue on NH 28 Bypass
Turn left onto Pinkerton Street
At end of road, turn left onto Tsienneto Road
Turn right onto NH 28
Continue on NH 28
Turn left onto Stonehenge Road
Continue on Litchfield Road
Turn right onto High Range Road
Continue on Harvey Road
At end of road, turn left onto Pettengill Road
Turn left onto Raymond Wieczorek Drive
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 3
Continue on US 3
Turn slight left onto Loop Road
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 21.2 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.6 miles or 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Merrimack, NH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Hampstead, 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 Hampstead, NH
This is one driving day of about 21.2 miles and 47m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.6 mi from Hampstead, NH · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 21.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 10.6 miles from Hampstead, NH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Merrimack, 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 Merrimack, NH.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$3.39 one way
$6.79 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $3.72 | $7.44 |
| premium | $4.83 | $4.03 | $8.06 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.71 | $9.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.23 | $1.02 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.85 | $0.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Hampstead on Saturday
Local time
5:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Merrimack on Saturday
Local time
5:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
48°F
Albany, NY
11 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
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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