How far is Pelham, NH from Portsmouth, NH?

The driving distance from Pelham, NH to Portsmouth, NH is about 48.2 miles (77.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 37.2 miles (59.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
48.21 mi
00h 53m
Flight
37.19 mi
59.85 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Pelham.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
37.19 mi
Kilometers
59.85 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
48.21 mi
Kilometers
77.59 km
Drive Time
00h 53m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Portsmouth
Sat, May 2, 11:22 PM EDT
Return by in Pelham
Sun, May 3, 12:15 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Pelham
2026-05-02T22:28
Arrive Portsmouth
Sat, May 2, 11:22 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:53 AM to 10:53 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:44 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Pelham
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Newton
NH

Town in New Hampshire, in the United States

From Pelham
24 mi
00h 26m
To Portsmouth
24.1 mi
00h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph W
Destination
Portsmouth Weather
NH
Live fallback forecast
55°F
Saturday
Using Greenland as the closest live forecast in the Rockingham County weather hub.

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Pelham and Portsmouth.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pelham and Portsmouth.

  1. 1

    Start on Nashua Road

    108 m · 11 sec · Nashua Road

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Main Street

    34 m · 6 sec · Main Street

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto Main Street

    1824 ft · 58 sec · Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Bridge Street

    3.2 mi · 6 min · Bridge Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Lowell Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Lowell Road

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Stiles Road

    1.2 km · 2 min · Stiles Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Pelham Road

    1028 ft · 25 sec · Pelham Road

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 93 South

    2617 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    2.9 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward MA 213 East: Methuen, Haverhill

    1938 ft · 42 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Loop Connector

    76 m · 5 sec · Loop Connector

  12. 12

    Continue on Loop Connector

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Loop Connector

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 495 North: Haverhill, Salisbury

    2822 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    16.8 mi · 20 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    6.7 mi · 8 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Blue Star Turnpike

    7.8 mi · 9 min · Blue Star Turnpike

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Blue Star Turnpike

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Blue Star Turnpike

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right

    1313 ft · 35 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Market Street

    1 mi · 3 min · Market Street

  20. 20

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Congress Street

    16 m · 1 sec · Congress Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Congress Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Pelham and Portsmouth.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
21 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
43.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 495 North
24 mi · 50%
Blue Star Turnpike
10 mi · 21%
Loop Connector
3.58 mi · 7%
I 93 South
3.4 mi · 7%
Bridge Street
3.24 mi · 7%
Lowell Road
1.14 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 495 North

Merge slight left

16.8 mi · 00h 20m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 53m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11 mi
37.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Newton
00h 26m from Pelham
Leave By
4:44 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Pelham and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Portsmouth.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Pelham to Portsmouth?

The road trip is about 48.2 miles (77.6 km) and usually takes 00h 53m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Newton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 24 miles from Pelham and 24.1 miles from Portsmouth.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 37.2 miles (59.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 11 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:44 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.71 one way or $13.41 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Pelham and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Portsmouth.

Stop Ideas Near Newton

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Newton, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Newton.

BUS

Newburyport, Massachusetts

11 mi away
90 Storey Avenue
RAIL

Haverhill station

12 mi away
Washington Street at Railroad Square
RAIL

Exeter station

14 mi away
60 Lincoln Street
BUS

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

28 mi away
185 Grafton Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Pelham and Portsmouth. Straight-line distance: 37.19 mi (59.85 km).

Pelham

#1 Pelham

City in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States of America

Population14,306
Coordinates42.7345300, -71.3245100
Altitude47
CountryUnited States
Portsmouth

#2 Portsmouth

City in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States

Population21,557
Coordinates43.0770400, -70.7576600
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Start: Nashua Road (-71.324395, 42.73464)
End: Congress Street (-70.757617, 43.077054)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 78 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 41m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.7 gal
6.44 L · about $6.71
Round trip
$13.41
3.4 gal · 12.88 L
Estimated CO2
15.1 kg one way
Round trip: 30.2 kg / 67 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $6.71 $13.41
Mid-grade $4.46 $7.58 $15.15
Premium $4.86 $8.26 $16.52
Diesel $6.00 $10.19 $20.39

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in New Hampshire · May 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Pelham and Portsmouth. The current time is 22:28:40.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.