Origin
Salem, NH
Morning in Salem on Monday
Local time
10:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salem, NH to Thornton, NH
Drive Time
1h 47m
Distance
89.8 mi
145 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
31 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salem, NH
Banx Photography
Thornton, NH
Mohan Nannapaneni
Trip Overview
The drive from Salem, NH to Thornton, NH covers 89.8 miles and takes about 1h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Styles Bridges Highway, I 93, Everett Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.6 miles on Styles Bridges Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.38 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
44.9 miles from Salem, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Salem, NH to Thornton, NH covers 89.8 miles and takes about 1h 47m, 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 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Styles Bridges Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 49.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NH 97 / Main Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 47m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NH 97 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 93): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NH 97 / Main Street
Turn left onto NH 97 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
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
5
87.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward US 3: Thornton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 29
Toward US 3: Thornton
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Salem, NH to Thornton, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Plymouth along the way.
Plymouth
20.2 mi in
|
~27m
|
via I 93
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Styles Bridges Highway | 49.6 mi | 54m |
| I 93 | 24.4 mi | 29m |
| Everett Turnpike | 10.2 mi | 12m |
| Main Street | 2.1 mi | 5m |
| Daniel Webster Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Sen Styles Bridges Highway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Pelham Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Styles Bridges Highway
— 49.6 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, NH and Thornton, 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
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Everett Turnpike
8
Continue on I 93
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Styles Bridges Highway
9
Continue on I 93
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
·
Sen Styles Bridges Highway
10
Continue on I 93
33 mi
·
35 min
·
Styles Bridges Highway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 29
Toward US 3: Thornton
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 3
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Daniel Webster Highway
13
Arrive at destination
US 3
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 44.9 miles from Salem, NH, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.6 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.9 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thornton, 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 89.8 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Salem, NH.
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 Styles Bridges Highway for about 49.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.9 mi from Salem, NH · 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.9 miles from Salem, NH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Thornton, NH
The final approach into Thornton, 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 Thornton, NH.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.38 one way
$28.75 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $15.76 | $31.51 |
| premium | $4.83 | $17.07 | $34.14 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $19.95 | $39.90 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.71
Everett Turnpike
(10.2 mi)
$0.71
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
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
EV Charging Along Route
31 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
The Mall At Rockingham Park - Tesla Supercharger
Salem, NH
Tesla
12 DCFC
Target - Tesla Supercharger
Hooksett, NH
Tesla
12 DCFC
Hooksett Travel Plaza - Tesla Supercharger
Hooksett, NH
Tesla
12 DCFC
Hooksett Travel Plaza - Tesla Supercharger
Hooksett, NH
Tesla
10 DCFC
Target - Tesla Supercharger
Methuen, MA
Tesla
8 DCFC
South Willow Plaza - Tesla Supercharger
Manchester, NH
Tesla
8 DCFC
Georges Bakery Sunshine Foods
Methuen, MA
RED_E
6 DCFC
Grappone Ford
Bow, NH
FORD_CHARGE
6 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 12
Tesla: 6
Blink Network: 3
Electrify America: 2
RED_E: 1
EPIC_CHARGING: 1
TURNONGREEN: 1
eVgo Network: 1
EV Connect: 1
Non-Networked: 1
SHELL_RECHARGE: 1
FORD_CHARGE: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.9 | 0 | $9.43 | $4.31 |
| Efficient EV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.86 | $3.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.9 | 0 | $12.57 | $5.75 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (65% 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
Thornton, NH
Morning in Thornton on Monday
Local time
10:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
4 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
1h 47m 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, NH to Thornton, NH covers 89.8 miles and takes about 1h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Styles Bridges Highway, I 93, Everett Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.9 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 $14.38 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 straightforward 1h 47m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NH 97 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (I 93): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Salem, NH to Thornton, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Plymouth along the way.
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