Origin
Salem, NH
Afternoon in Salem on Saturday
Local time
3:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 14m
Distance
88.3 mi
142 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salem, NH
Banx Photography
Alstead, NH
Mohan Nannapaneni
The drive from Salem, NH to Alstead, NH covers 88.3 miles and takes about 2h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 93, US 202, I 89 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.4 miles on I 93. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.21 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
44.1 miles from Salem, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 93 | 24.4 mi | 29m |
| US 202 | 15.5 mi | 21m |
| I 89 | 8.1 mi | 9m |
| Route 123 North | 7.4 mi | 13m |
| Everett Turnpike | 7 mi | 8m |
| Keene Road | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| NH Route 123 | 4.8 mi | 12m |
| Forest Road | 4.7 mi | 11m |
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, NH and Alstead, NH.
Start on this road
Turn left onto NH 97
Continue on Pelham Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 93
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 89
Take the exit
Continue on US 202; NH 9
Continue on NH 9
Continue on NH 9; NH 31
Continue on NH 9
Turn right onto NH 123
Continue on NH 123
Continue on NH 123
Turn right onto NH 10; NH 123
Turn left onto NH 123
Continue on NH 123
Continue on NH 12A; NH 123
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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.1 miles or 57m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alstead, NH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Salem, 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 Salem, NH
This is one driving day of about 88.3 miles and 2h 14m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 44.1 miles from Salem, NH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 43.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward I 93 North
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 93
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 North: Concord, Plymouth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 89 North: Lebanon, White River Junction Vermont
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 202 West, NH 9 West: Henniker, Keene
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$14.21 one way
$28.43 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $15.64 | $31.28 |
| premium | $4.86 | $16.91 | $33.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.50 | $38.99 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.49
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
$14
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.27 | $4.24 |
| Efficient EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.73 | $3.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.3 | 0 | $12.36 | $5.65 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Salem on Saturday
Local time
3:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Alstead on Saturday
Local time
3:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
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.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Historical Park
Your National Park for the Arts preserves the home and studio of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907). Here stories flow through a landscape of inspiration. Discover the history behind the capt...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This is a 2h 14m highway drive covering 88.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 93 and US 202. The longest continuous stretch is about 24.4 miles on I 93.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 93 and US 202. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 88.3 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 93): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.2 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Salem, NH and Alstead, NH, road signs point toward Plymouth, White River Junction Vermont and Keene.
Plymouth
White River Junction Vermont
Keene
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 88.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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