How far is Portsmouth, NH from Durham, NH?

The driving distance from Portsmouth, NH to Durham, NH is about 11.9 miles (19.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 23m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 9.4 miles (15.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
11.91 mi
00h 23m
Flight
9.38 mi
15.09 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Portsmouth.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
9.38 mi
Kilometers
15.09 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
11.91 mi
Kilometers
19.16 km
Drive Time
00h 23m

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 23m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Durham
Thu, Apr 23, 12:38 AM EDT
Return by in Portsmouth
Thu, Apr 23, 1:02 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Portsmouth
2026-04-23T00:15
Arrive Durham
Thu, Apr 23, 12:38 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 23m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:23 AM to 7:23 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:44 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Portsmouth
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Newington
NH

Town in New Hampshire

From Portsmouth
6 mi
00h 11m
To Durham
6 mi
00h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Portsmouth Weather
NH
Live fallback forecast
56°F
Thursday
Using Greenland as the closest live forecast in the Rockingham County weather hub.

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph W
Destination
55°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Congress Street

    954 ft · 34 sec · Congress Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Maplewood Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · Maplewood Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Cutts Street

    139 m · 16 sec · Cutts Street

  4. 4

    Turn slight right

    1 km · 1 min

  5. 5

    Exit the rotary onto NH 16 North: Concord, Rochester

    2261 ft · 51 sec

  6. 6

    Take the exit straight

    961 ft · 15 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Spaulding Turnpike North, NH 16 North, US 4 West

    1364 ft · 21 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Spaulding Turnpike

    3.8 mi · 5 min · Spaulding Turnpike

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 4: Dover Point Road, Durham-UNH, Concord

    1594 ft · 39 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on US 4: Durham-UNH, Concord

    72 m · 8 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left

    1833 ft · 52 sec

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Boston Harbor Road

    37 m · 3 sec · Boston Harbor Road

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto Boston Harbor Road

    811 ft · 22 sec · Boston Harbor Road

  14. 14

    Continue on Scammell Bridge

    1132 ft · 28 sec · Scammell Bridge

  15. 15

    Continue on Piscataqua Road

    3 mi · 5 min · Piscataqua Road

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward NH 108: Durham, Dover

    939 ft · 41 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Dover Road

    1.1 km · 2 min · Dover Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Main Street

    1033 ft · 29 sec · Main Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Madbury Road

    149 m · 17 sec · Madbury Road

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on Pettee Brook Lane

    1092 ft · 37 sec · Pettee Brook Lane

  21. 21

    Continue on Pettee Brook Lane

    46 m · 5 sec · Pettee Brook Lane

  22. 22

    Turn straight onto Main Street

    560 ft · 19 sec · Main Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Mill Road

    61 m · 14 sec · Mill Road

  24. 24

    Continue on Mill Road

    33 m · 4 sec · Mill Road

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Mill Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
25 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
210.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Spaulding Turnpike
3.8 mi · 32%
Piscataqua Road
2.98 mi · 25%
Dover Road
0.7 mi · 6%
Maplewood Avenue
0.69 mi · 6%
NH 16 North
0.61 mi · 5%
US 4
0.35 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Spaulding Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Spaulding Turnpike

3.8 mi · 00h 05m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 23m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.5 mi
9.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Newington
00h 11m from Portsmouth
Leave By
7:44 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny leaving Portsmouth and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Durham.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 11.9 miles (19.2 km) and usually takes 00h 23m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Newington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6 miles from Portsmouth and 6 miles from Durham.

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

The direct path is about 9.4 miles (15.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.5 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:44 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.66 one way or $3.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Newington

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Newington and the surrounding midpoint area.
Old City Hall
Scenic stop 5 mi away

Old City Hall

Portsmouth , NH
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews City Hall,Tourist attraction
Dover City Hall
Meeting point 5.3 mi away

Dover City Hall

Dover , NH
288 Central Ave, Dover, NH 03820
Rating 4.2/5 38 reviews City Hall

Transit and Meeting Points

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

BUS

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

5 mi away
185 Grafton Drive
RAIL

Durham–UNH station

9 mi away
3 Depot Road
RAIL

Dover Transportation Center

12 mi away
33 Chestnut St.
RAIL

Exeter station

17 mi away
60 Lincoln Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Portsmouth and Durham. Straight-line distance: 9.38 mi (15.09 km).

Portsmouth

#1 Portsmouth

City in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States

Population21,557
Coordinates43.0770400, -70.7576600
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Durham

#2 Durham

Town in New Hampshire

Population16,441
Coordinates43.1339700, -70.9264500
Altitude15
CountryUnited States
Start: Portsmouth (-70.75766, 43.07704)
End: Durham (-70.92645, 43.13397)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 19 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.42 gal
1.59 L · about $1.66
Round trip
$3.31
0.84 gal · 3.18 L
Estimated CO2
3.7 kg one way
Round trip: 7.5 kg / 17 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $1.66 $3.31
Mid-grade $4.46 $1.87 $3.74
Premium $4.86 $2.04 $4.08
Diesel $6.00 $2.52 $5.04

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Portsmouth and Durham. The current time is 00:15:27.

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.