The drive from Wakefield, NH to Nashua, NH covers 80.2 miles and takes about 1h 54m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NH 101, Calef Highway, Spaulding Turnpike for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.2 miles on NH 101.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.91 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
40.1 miles from Wakefield, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 80.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 54m highway drive covering 80.2 miles, with most of the trip on NH 101 and Calef Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 24.2 miles on NH 101.
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.
NH 101 is the longest continuous segment at about 24.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NH 101 and Calef Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 21.1 miles in near Exit 12.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.2 miles you will encounter 19 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: at 21.1 miles (Exit 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.4 miles (Exit 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 61.2 miles (NH 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
21.1 mi into trip|~31m in|Exit 12
Take the exit onto Exit 12 toward NH 125: Rochester, Gonic
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 12
Toward NH 125: Rochester, Gonic
5
21.4 mi into trip|~32m in|Exit 12
Keep slight right at fork onto Exit 12
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
8
61.2 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|NH 101
Keep slight right at fork onto NH 101 toward I 293 North, NH 101 West: Manchester Airport, Manchester, Bedford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 293 North, NH 101 West: Manchester Air...
6
64.5 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|NH 101
Keep slight left at fork onto NH 101 toward NH 101 West: Bedford, Nashua
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NH 101 West: Bedford, Nashua
6
78.7 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NH 130 East: Nashua
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward NH 130 East: Nashua
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Wakefield, NH and Nashua, NH, road signs point toward Gonic, Manchester, Bedford, Everett Turnpike South: Merrimack and Manchester Airport.
Gonic
21.1 mi in|~31m|via Exit 12
Manchester
61.2 mi in|~1h 27m|via NH 101
Bedford
61.2 mi in|~1h 27m|via NH 101
Everett Turnpike South: Merrimack
65 mi in|~1h 33m
Manchester Airport
65 mi in|~1h 33m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NH 101
24.2 mi
29m
Calef Highway
17.3 mi
27m
Spaulding Turnpike
14.4 mi
19m
Everett Turnpike
13.1 mi
16m
Wakefield Road
3.4 mi
6m
White Mountain Highway
3.2 mi
4m
Gonic Road
1.7 mi
3m
Broad Street
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
NH 101
— 24.2 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wakefield, NH and Nashua, NH.
1
Start on this road
173 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto NH 153
3.4 mi·6 min·Wakefield Road
3
Take the ramp
185 ft·10 sec
4
Turn left onto NH 16
3.2 mi·4 min·White Mountain Highway
5
Continue on NH 16
14 mi·19 min·Spaulding Turnpike
6
Take the exit onto Exit 12
0.3 mi·52 sec·Exit 12
Exit 12Toward NH 125: Rochester, Gonic
7
Keep slight right at fork onto Exit 12
443 ft·17 sec·Exit 12
8
Merge onto NH 125
1.7 mi·3 min·Gonic Road
9
Continue on NH 125
7.7 mi·12 min·Calef Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto NH 125
165 ft·4 sec·Calef Highway
11
Continue on NH 125
9.6 mi·14 min·Calef Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Use the right lane.
13
Merge onto NH 101
20 mi·23 min·NH 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto NH 101
3.3 mi·4 min·NH 101
Toward I 293 North, NH 101 West: Manchester Airport, Manchester, BedfordUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto NH 101
0.5 mi·44 sec·NH 101
Toward NH 101 West: Bedford, Nashua
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward Everett Turnpike South: Merrimack, Nashua, Manchester Airport
17
Merge onto Everett Turnpike
13 mi·16 min·Everett Turnpike
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 6Toward NH 130: Hollis
19
Keep slight left at fork
241 ft·7 sec
Toward NH 130 East: Nashua
20
Turn left onto NH 130
0.8 mi·2 min·Broad Street
Use the straight lane.
21
At end of road, turn right onto NH 101A
0.7 mi·1 min·Amherst Street
22
Turn right onto NH 101A
27 ft·0 sec·Main Street
Use the right lane.
23
Arrive at destination
NH 101A
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 40.1 miles from Wakefield, NH, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.2 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 18 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.1 miles or 1h 2m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nashua, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wakefield, NH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Wakefield, NH
This is one driving day of about 80.2 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Wakefield, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NH 101 for about 24.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.1 mi from Wakefield, NH
· 1h 2m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.91 one way
$25.82 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$14.21
$28.41
premium
$4.86
$15.36
$30.72
diesel
$5.61
$17.71
$35.41
Estimated Tolls: $1.93
Spaulding Turnpike
(14.4 mi)$1.01
Everett Turnpike
(13.1 mi)$0.92
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
$13
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.1
0
$8.42
$3.85
Efficient EV
20.1
0
$7.02
$3.21
EV Truck/SUV
32.1
0
$11.23
$5.13
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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 15, 2026
Origin
Wakefield, NH
Late night
in Wakefield on Saturday
Local time
4:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Nashua, NH
Late night
in Nashua on Saturday
Local time
4:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Barrington, NH
40 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
4 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
1h 54m 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 Wakefield, NH to Nashua, NH covers 80.2 miles and takes about 1h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NH 101, Calef Highway, Spaulding Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.1 miles from Wakefield, NH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.91 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 80.2 miles you will encounter 19 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: at 21.1 miles (Exit 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.4 miles (Exit 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 61.2 miles (NH 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Wakefield, NH and Nashua, NH, road signs point toward Gonic, Manchester, Bedford, Everett Turnpike South: Merrimack and Manchester Airport.
