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Trip from Salem, MA to Haverhill, MA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

41m

Distance

24 mi

39 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 11 min
4 AM
0h 38m ★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 40m

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

Downtown Salem, MA, MA

Salem, MA

José Alcalá

city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States

Haverhill, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 24-mile drive from Salem, MA to Haverhill, MA is a quick trip, taking about 41 minutes to complete. It's an easy day trip, perfect for a short excursion within the Northeast region of Massachusetts. You'll navigate a mix of major highways and local streets, with about a third of the journey on interstate roads. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $4, making it an economical option. Given its short distance and duration, no overnight stay is necessary; you can easily complete this journey and return within the same day.

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

12 miles from Salem, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with 33% of the drive utilizing highways, primarily I-95. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8 miles on I-95, offering a chance for steady progress. Outside of the interstate sections, you'll transition to local roads like East Main Street and Water Street, which will likely involve navigating town traffic and varying speed limits. This blend means you'll experience both efficient highway travel and more localized, potentially slower-paced driving as you approach your destination.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Holyoke Square.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 24 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (Holyoke Square): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MA 114 / Norman Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Holyoke Square

Turn right onto Holyoke Square

Navigation decision point

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | MA 114 / Norman Street

Turn left onto MA 114 / Norman Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in

Enter roundabout

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
15.3 mi into trip | ~24m in

Take the exit toward MA 133 West: Georgetown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 78B Toward MA 133 West: Georgetown
4
24 mi into trip | ~41m in | MA 125 / Main Street

Turn left onto MA 125 / Main Street

Navigation decision point

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 Salem, MA to Haverhill, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Portsmouth New Hampshire along the way.

Portsmouth New Hampshire

6.2 mi in | ~12m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 8 mi 9m
East Main Street 3.2 mi 6m
Water Street 2.1 mi 3m
Maple Street 2.1 mi 3m
School Street 1.6 mi 3m
North Street 1.2 mi 3m
High Street 0.9 mi 1m
Lincoln Avenue 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 8 mi, about 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Salem, MA and Haverhill, MA.

1

Start on Gedney Street

204 ft · 10 sec · Gedney Street
2

Turn right onto Holyoke Square

263 ft · 16 sec · Holyoke Square
3

Turn left onto MA 114

219 ft · 3 sec · Norman Street
4

Enter roundabout

14 ft · 0 sec
5

Continue

88 ft · 1 sec
6

Turn straight onto MA 114

394 ft · 11 sec · Summer Street
7

Continue on MA 114

1.2 mi · 3 min · North Street
Use the straight lane.
8

Continue on MA 114

0.8 mi · 1 min · Margin Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
9

Continue on MA 35

1.0 mi · 1 min · Water Street
Use the straight lane.
10

Turn left onto MA 35

0.9 mi · 1 min · High Street
11

Continue on MA 35

2.1 mi · 3 min · Maple Street
12

Turn slight right

0.2 mi · 44 sec
Toward US 1 North: Topsfield, Portsmouth New Hampshire
13

Turn straight onto US 1

0.6 mi · 54 sec · Newbury Street
14

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward I 95 North: Portsmouth New Hampshire
15

Merge onto I 95

8.0 mi · 9 min · I 95
16

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Exit 78B Toward MA 133 West: Georgetown
17

Merge onto MA 133

3.2 mi · 6 min · East Main Street
18

Continue on MA 97

0.6 mi · 1 min · Salem Street
19

Continue on MA 97

1.6 mi · 3 min · School Street
20

Continue on MA 97

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Elm Park
21

Continue on MA 97; MA 113

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Bates Bridge
22

Turn slight left onto MA 97; MA 113

0.9 mi · 1 min · Lincoln Avenue
23

Continue on MA 97; MA 113

1.1 mi · 1 min · Water Street
24

Continue on MA 97

0.5 mi · 49 sec · James P Ginty Boulevard
25

Turn left onto MA 125

138 ft · 3 sec · Main Street
26

Arrive at destination

MA 125

Trip Plan

With a total duration of just 41 minutes, this short 24-mile drive offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart at any time without needing to worry about breaking it up. Plan to leave a bit earlier in the morning to avoid potential local traffic, especially as you transition from I-95 onto East Main Street. The estimated fuel cost is a low $4, so you won't need to make excessive fuel stops. Keep an eye out for the turn onto East Main Street from I-95, as this is a key transition point on your journey to Haverhill.

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 12 miles from Salem, MA, or about 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8 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 24 miles or 41m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 12 miles or 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 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Haverhill, MA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Salem, MA 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 Salem, MA

This is one driving day of about 24 miles and 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Salem, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 12 mi from Salem, MA · 20m into the drive

town in New York

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brunswick, NY

12 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

Albany, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brunswick, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 12 miles from Salem, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Haverhill, MA

The final approach into Haverhill, MA 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 Haverhill, MA.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.84 one way

$7.68 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 8 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $4.19 $8.38
premium $4.82 $4.56 $9.11
diesel $5.61 $5.30 $10.60

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.2 0 $2.52 $1.15
Efficient EV 6 0 $2.10 $0.96
EV Truck/SUV 9.6 0 $3.36 $1.54

Gas CO2

8 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (63% 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 data refreshed 4 days ago

Origin

Salem, MA

Late night in Salem on Wednesday

Local time

3:33 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Haverhill, MA

Late night in Haverhill on Wednesday

Local time

3:33 AM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

57°F

Brunswick, NY

12 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

18 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

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 Salem, MA to Haverhill, MA covers 24 miles and takes about 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, East Main Street, Water Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12 miles from Salem, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.84 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 24 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (Holyoke Square): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MA 114 / Norman Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
On the drive from Salem, MA to Haverhill, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Portsmouth New Hampshire along the way.

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