Origin
Winchester, NH
Morning in Winchester on Monday
Local time
8:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winchester, NH to Salem, NH
Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
89.2 mi
144 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 58m
★
6 AM
2h 7m
8 AM
2h 25m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 24m
8 PM
2h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Winchester, NH
Mohan Nannapaneni
Salem, NH
Banx Photography
Trip Overview
The drive from Winchester, NH to Salem, NH covers 89.2 miles and takes about 2h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 495, Concord Turnpike, MA 140 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.1 miles on I 495. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.28 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
44.6 miles from Winchester, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 6m highway drive covering 89.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 495 and Concord Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch is about 19.1 miles on I 495.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 495 is the longest continuous segment at about 19.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and Concord Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 46.5 miles in near MA 2 / Concord Turnpike.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 89.2 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 46.5 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
46.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
MA 2 / Concord Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2 / Concord Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
58.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 113B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
6
59.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
7
78.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward I 93 North: Salem New Hampshire
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 97B
Toward I 93 North: Salem New Hampshire
7
86.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward Salem
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1
Toward Salem
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Winchester, NH to Salem, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Lawrence along the way.
Lawrence
59.3 mi in
|
~1h 27m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 19.1 mi | 22m |
| Concord Turnpike | 12.3 mi | 16m |
| MA 140 | 11.7 mi | 17m |
| I 93 | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Green Street | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| Fitzwilliam Road | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Gardner Road | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| Winchester Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 19.1 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winchester, NH and Salem, NH.
1
Start on NH 119
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Richmond Road
2
Continue on NH 119
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Winchester Road
3
Continue on NH 119
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Fitzwilliam Road
4
Continue on NH 119
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
State Route 119
5
Turn slight left onto Columbia Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Columbia Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto NH 119
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
NH Route 119 West
7
Turn right onto NH 119
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
NH Route 119 West
8
Turn slight right onto NH 12
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
NH Route 12 South
9
Continue on NH 12
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 12
10
Continue on MA 12
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
School Street
11
Turn left onto US 202; MA 12
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Front Street
12
Turn slight left onto Spring Street
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Spring Street
13
Continue on MA 12
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Gardner Road
14
Continue on MA 140
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Green Street
15
Take the exit onto MA 140
12 mi
·
17 min
·
MA 140
16
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Concord Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 113B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
Use the right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
19
Merge onto I 495
19 mi
·
22 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 97B
Toward I 93 North: Salem New Hampshire
Use the slight right lane.
21
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
this road
Exit 97B
Toward I 93 North: Salem New Hampshire
22
Merge onto I 93
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
I 93
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 93
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
I 93
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1
Toward Salem
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Salem
26
Continue on NH 38
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Rockingham Park Boulevard
27
Continue on Veterans Memorial Parkway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Veterans Memorial Parkway
28
Turn left onto Lawrence Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lawrence Road
29
Turn straight onto NH 97
487 ft
·
13 sec
·
Main Street
30
Turn right
113 ft
·
8 sec
31
Arrive at destination
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 44.6 miles from Winchester, NH, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.1 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 80 miles or 1h 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.6 miles or 1h 7m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salem, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Winchester, 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 Winchester, NH
This is one driving day of about 89.2 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Winchester, 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 I 495 for about 19.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.6 mi from Winchester, NH · 1h 7m 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 44.6 miles from Winchester, NH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Salem, NH
The final approach into Salem, 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 Salem, 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
$14.28 one way
$28.56 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $15.65 | $31.30 |
| premium | $4.83 | $16.96 | $33.91 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $19.82 | $39.63 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.86
Concord Turnpike
(12.3 mi)
$0.86
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: 31.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.8 | 0 | $9.37 | $4.28 |
| Efficient EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.81 | $3.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.7 | 0 | $12.49 | $5.71 |
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.
Destination
Salem, NH
Morning in Salem on Monday
Local time
8:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°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 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 6m 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 Winchester, NH to Salem, NH covers 89.2 miles and takes about 2h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 495, Concord Turnpike, MA 140. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.6 miles from Winchester, NH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.28 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 14 significant decision points across 89.2 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 46.5 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Winchester, NH to Salem, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Lawrence along the way.
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