Origin
Merrimack, NH
Evening in Merrimack on Friday
Local time
6:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Merrimack, NH to Rochester, NH
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
52.3 mi
84 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Merrimack, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Rochester, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Merrimack, NH to Rochester, NH covers 52.3 miles and takes about 1h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NH 101, Calef Highway, I 293 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.1 miles on NH 101. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.42 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 52.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Merrimack, NH to Rochester, NH covers 52.3 miles and takes about 1h 19m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 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 19.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 4.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
4.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward Concord, Nashua
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Concord, Nashua
6
4.7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Bedford, Manchester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Bedford, Manchester
5
6.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 293 South, NH 101 East: Exeter, Portsmouth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 293 South, NH 101 East: Exeter, Portsm...
7
12 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
NH 101
Keep slight right at fork onto NH 101 toward NH 101 East: Portsmouth, Seacoast
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 7
Toward NH 101 East: Portsmouth, Seacoast
8
31.1 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward NH 125: Epping, Kingston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7
Toward NH 125: Epping, Kingston
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Merrimack, NH and Rochester, NH, road signs point toward Concord, Nashua, Bedford, Manchester, Portsmouth and Seacoast - among others.
Concord
4.2 mi in
|
~9m
Nashua
4.2 mi in
|
~9m
Bedford
4.7 mi in
|
~10m
Manchester
4.7 mi in
|
~10m
Portsmouth
6.8 mi in
|
~13m
Seacoast
12 mi in
|
~21m
|
via NH 101
Kingston
31.1 mi in
|
~43m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NH 101 | 19.1 mi | 22m |
| Calef Highway | 17.4 mi | 27m |
| I 293 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Daniel Webster Highway | 3.8 mi | 8m |
| Gonic Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Everett Turnpike | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Columbus Avenue | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| South River Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
NH 101
— 19.1 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Merrimack, NH and Rochester, NH.
1
Start on Loop Road
83 ft
·
5 sec
·
Loop Road
2
Turn straight onto US 3
3.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Daniel Webster Highway
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 3
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
South River Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward Concord, Nashua
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto Raymond Wieczorek Drive
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Raymond Wieczorek Drive
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward Bedford, Manchester
7
Merge onto Everett Turnpike
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Everett Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 293 South, NH 101 East: Exeter, Portsmouth
9
Merge onto I 293; NH 101
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
I 293; NH 101
10
Keep slight right at fork onto NH 101
19 mi
·
22 min
·
NH 101
Exit 7
Toward NH 101 East: Portsmouth, Seacoast
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 7
Toward NH 125: Epping, Kingston
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto NH 125
9.7 mi
·
14 min
·
Calef Highway
Use the straight lane.
13
Enter roundabout onto NH 125
171 ft
·
5 sec
·
Calef Highway
14
Continue on NH 125
7.7 mi
·
12 min
·
Calef Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on NH 125
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Gonic Road
16
Continue on NH 125
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Columbus Avenue
17
Turn left onto NH 202A
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Main Street
18
Turn right onto Museum Way
120 ft
·
5 sec
·
Museum Way
19
Turn right
55 ft
·
4 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.1 mi from Merrimack, NH · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.1 miles from Merrimack, NH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Rochester, NH
The final approach into Rochester, NH usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.42 one way
$16.84 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $9.26 | $18.53 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.02 | $20.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.55 | $23.09 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.09
Everett Turnpike
(1.3 mi)
$0.09
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$0
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.3 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 | 15.7 | 0 | $5.49 | $2.51 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.58 | $2.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.32 | $3.35 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Rochester, NH
Evening in Rochester on Friday
Local time
6:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
13 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
1h 19m 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 Merrimack, NH to Rochester, NH covers 52.3 miles and takes about 1h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NH 101, Calef Highway, I 293. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.1 miles from Merrimack, NH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.42 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.3 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Merrimack, NH and Rochester, NH, road signs point toward Concord, Nashua, Bedford, Manchester, Portsmouth and Seacoast - among others.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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