The drive from Tuftonboro, NH to Merrimack, NH covers 73 miles and takes about 2h 2m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NH 28, Everett Turnpike, State Route 28 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.1 miles on NH 28.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.75 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
36.5 miles from Tuftonboro, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 73 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Tuftonboro, NH to Merrimack, NH covers 73 miles and takes about 2h 2m, 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 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NH 28 is the longest continuous segment at about 20.1 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 4.7 miles in near NH 28 / Center Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 73 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 4.7 miles (NH 28 / Center Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 11.4 miles (NH 28 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 51.5 miles (US 3; NH 28 / Allenstown Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4.7 mi into trip|~11m in|NH 28 / Center Street
Turn sharp right onto NH 28 / Center Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
7
11.4 mi into trip|~21m in|NH 28 / South Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto NH 28 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
51.5 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|US 3; NH 28 / Allenstown Road
At end of road, turn left onto US 3; NH 28 / Allenstown Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
57.4 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|I 293 / Everett Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 293 / Everett Turnpike toward I 293 South: Manchester, Nashua
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 293 South: Manchester, Nashua
6
65.6 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|Everett Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto Everett Turnpike toward Merrimack, Nashua
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Merrimack, Nashua
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tuftonboro, NH and Merrimack, NH, road signs point toward Hooksett Village, Nashua and Airport.
Hooksett Village
54 mi in|~1h 30m
Nashua
57.4 mi in|~1h 37m|via I 293
Airport
68 mi in|~1h 51m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NH 28
20.1 mi
31m
Everett Turnpike
11.6 mi
15m
State Route 28
9 mi
13m
Center Street
6.7 mi
10m
Suncook Valley Highway
4.3 mi
6m
Daniel Webster Highway
3.8 mi
8m
Pinewood Road
3.1 mi
5m
Pork Hill Road
2.3 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
NH 28
— 20.1 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuftonboro, NH and Merrimack, NH.
1
Start on Durgin Road
92 ft·9 sec·Durgin Road
2
Turn left onto NH 171
1.9 mi·3 min·Mountain Road
3
Continue on NH 171
0.5 mi·49 sec·Water Village Road
4
Turn right onto Pork Hill Road
2.3 mi·7 min·Pork Hill Road
5
Turn sharp right onto NH 28
6.7 mi·10 min·Center Street
6
At end of road, turn left onto NH 28
2.3 mi·5 min·South Main Street
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on NH 28
9.0 mi·13 min·State Route 28
8
Enter roundabout onto NH 28
398 ft·11 sec·NH 28
9
Continue on NH 28
20 mi·31 min·NH 28
Use the straight lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto NH 28
189 ft·4 sec·Suncook Valley Highway
11
Continue on NH 28
4.3 mi·6 min·Suncook Valley Highway
12
Continue on NH 28
1.3 mi·1 min·Route 28
13
Continue on NH 28
3.1 mi·5 min·Pinewood Road
14
At end of road, turn left onto US 3; NH 28
0.3 mi·36 sec·Allenstown Road
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on US 3; NH 28
2.2 mi·4 min·Hooksett Road
16
Turn slight right
253 ft·9 sec
Toward Hooksett Village
17
Turn straight onto College Park Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·College Park Drive
18
Continue on Main Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·Main Street
19
Turn right onto Riverside Street
0.3 mi·59 sec·Riverside Street
20
Turn left onto NH 3A
0.3 mi·44 sec·West River Road
21
Turn right onto Hackett Hill Road
0.3 mi·34 sec·Hackett Hill Road
22
Take the ramp
419 ft·10 sec
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
24
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·29 sec·this road
Toward I 93 South
25
Merge onto I 93
1.0 mi·1 min·Everett Turnpike
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 293
8.2 mi·10 min·Everett Turnpike
Toward I 293 South: Manchester, NashuaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto Everett Turnpike
2.4 mi·3 min·Everett Turnpike
Toward Merrimack, Nashua
28
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward Airport
29
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Merrimack
30
Turn right onto US 3
0.1 mi·13 sec·South River Road
31
Continue on US 3
3.8 mi·8 min·Daniel Webster Highway
Use the straight lane.
32
Turn slight left onto Loop Road
83 ft·3 sec·Loop Road
33
Arrive at destination
Loop Road
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 36.5 miles from Tuftonboro, NH, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.1 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 16 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.5 miles or 1h 1m 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 Merrimack, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tuftonboro, 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 Tuftonboro, NH
This is one driving day of about 73 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Tuftonboro, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NH 28 for about 20.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.5 mi from Tuftonboro, NH
· 1h 1m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.75 one way
$23.50 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$12.93
$25.86
premium
$4.86
$13.98
$27.96
diesel
$5.61
$16.12
$32.23
Estimated Tolls: $0.81
Everett Turnpike
(8.2 mi)$0.57
Everett Turnpike
(2.4 mi)$0.17
Everett Turnpike
(1 mi)$0.07
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
$12
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.9
0
$7.66
$3.50
Efficient EV
18.3
0
$6.39
$2.92
EV Truck/SUV
29.2
0
$10.22
$4.67
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Tuftonboro, NH
Late night
in Tuftonboro on Saturday
Local time
12:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Merrimack, NH
Late night
in Merrimack on Saturday
Local time
12:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°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
3 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
2h 2m 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 Tuftonboro, NH to Merrimack, NH covers 73 miles and takes about 2h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NH 28, Everett Turnpike, State Route 28. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.5 miles from Tuftonboro, NH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.75 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 19 significant decision points across 73 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 4.7 miles (NH 28 / Center Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 11.4 miles (NH 28 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 51.5 miles (US 3; NH 28 / Allenstown Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Tuftonboro, NH and Merrimack, NH, road signs point toward Hooksett Village, Nashua and Airport.
