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Trip from Salem, NH to Alstead, NH

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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 5m ★
6 AM
2h 14m
8 AM
2h 33m
10 AM
2h 21m
12 PM
2h 19m
3 PM
2h 22m
5 PM
2h 32m
8 PM
2h 9m

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

Downtown Salem, NH, NH

Salem, NH

Banx Photography

Downtown Alstead, NH, NH

Alstead, NH

Mohan Nannapaneni

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: I 93 — 24.4 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Salem, NH and Alstead, NH.

1

Start on this road

113 ft · 13 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto NH 97

2.1 mi · 5 min · Main Street
3

Continue on Pelham Road

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Pelham Road
4

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 93 North Use the right lane.
5

Merge onto I 93

17 mi · 20 min · I 93
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93

7.1 mi · 8 min · I 93
Toward I 93 North: Concord, Plymouth
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93

7.0 mi · 8 min · Everett Turnpike
8

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 89 North: Lebanon, White River Junction Vermont
9

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 42 sec
Toward I 89 North: Lebanon, White River Junction Vermont Use the slight right lane.
10

Merge onto I 89

8.1 mi · 9 min · I 89
11

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 5 Toward US 202 West, NH 9 West: Henniker, Keene
12

Continue on US 202; NH 9

15 mi · 21 min · US 202; NH 9
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on NH 9

1.9 mi · 2 min · West Main Street
14

Continue on NH 9; NH 31

5.7 mi · 8 min · Keene Road
15

Continue on NH 9

2.3 mi · 3 min · Route 9
16

Turn right onto NH 123

7.4 mi · 13 min · Route 123 North
17

Continue on NH 123

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Forest Road East
18

Continue on NH 123

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Telephone Road
19

Turn right onto NH 10; NH 123

1.0 mi · 1 min · State Route 10
20

Turn left onto NH 123

4.8 mi · 12 min · NH Route 123
21

Continue on NH 123

4.7 mi · 11 min · Forest Road
22

Continue on NH 12A; NH 123

0.6 mi · 1 min · Mechanic Street
23

Arrive at destination

NH 12A; NH 123

Trip Plan

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 44.1 miles from Salem, NH, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.4 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Salem, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 93 for about 24.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Henniker, NH, NH

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Henniker, NH

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Derry, NH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Henniker, NH

Meal break

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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

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.

5
2.3 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the ramp toward I 93 North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 93 North
5
2.9 mi into trip | ~7m in | I 93

Merge onto I 93

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
20.2 mi into trip | ~27m in | I 93

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

Toward I 93 North: Concord, Plymouth
8
34.8 mi into trip | ~45m in

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 89 North: Lebanon, White River Junctio...
6
43.1 mi into trip | ~56m in

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

Exit 5 Toward US 202 West, NH 9 West: Henniker, Keene

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.21 one way

$28.43 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO2
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

Everett Turnpike (7 mi) $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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Salem, NH

Afternoon in Salem on Saturday

Local time

3:02 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Alstead, NH

Afternoon in Alstead on Saturday

Local time

3:02 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

5 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

2h 14m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

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...

24 mi from route ~61 min detour $10 near mile 88.3
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

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.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 93 is the longest continuous segment at about 24.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

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.

Driving Effort 8/10

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.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

20.2 mi in | ~27m | via I 93

White River Junction Vermont

34.3 mi in | ~44m

Keene

43.1 mi in | ~56m

Who Is This Route For?

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Salem, NH to Alstead, NH covers 88.3 miles and takes about 2h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 93, US 202, I 89. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 44.1 miles from Salem, NH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.21 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 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.

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.

Between Salem, NH and Alstead, NH, road signs point toward Plymouth, White River Junction Vermont and Keene.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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