Boston to Salem, NH

Boston to Salem, NH is about 34 miles straight up I-93, roughly 45 minutes with no traffic. Salem is the first town over the New Hampshire line, so the first exits you reach after you cross are Salem’s. Without a car, you have two good options: the Boston Express bus from South Station or Logan Airport to Salem’s Exit 2 bus terminal, or the commuter rail to Lawrence, Mass., and a fare-free MeVa bus to Tuscan Village.

Driving from Boston to Salem NH

Take I-93 North out of the city and stay on it to the state line. Then pick your exit:

• Exit 1: the Mall at Rockingham Park and Tuscan Village.
• Exit 2: Canobie Lake Park, the Holiday Inn and La Quinta, and the Salem Transportation Center bus terminal.

From the State House it is about 34 miles and 45 minutes with no traffic. Rush hour adds time, so leave room in the schedule if you are heading up on a weekday afternoon.

Before you go, check that your map app says “Salem, NH.” Salem, Mass., is a different city northeast of Boston, and a search for “Salem” alone can land you there. Our Salem NH vs Salem MA guide explains the difference. For Canobie Lake Park, the park asks drivers to enter “85 North Policy Street.”

By bus: Boston Express from South Station and Logan

Boston Express runs coaches on I-93 between Boston’s South Station, Logan Airport and the Salem Transportation Center at 10 Raymond Ave., on Pelham Road just east of Exit 2. Some trips continue to North Londonderry.

• Trip time: on the weekday schedule posted in October 2026, a 10:50 a.m. bus from Salem reaches South Station at 11:35 a.m. and Logan at 11:55 a.m. Heading north, an 11 a.m. bus from South Station reaches Salem at 11:40 a.m.
• Not every bus stops in Salem. Some trips run only between North Londonderry and Boston, so read the Salem column of the schedule.
• Tickets: reservations are not necessary or accepted. In Salem, arrive 15–30 minutes early to buy a ticket; the terminal takes cash, major credit cards and most digital wallets. Some late trips have no ticketing, so buy those online or in advance.
• Parking: 476 free spaces, with long-term parking limited to 21 days.
• Terminal hours: 4 a.m.–4:50 p.m. weekdays and 6:30 a.m.–4:50 p.m. weekends.
• On board: Wi-Fi and an outlet at every seat.
• Holidays: some holidays run on the weekend schedule; Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day, Oct. 12, 2026, is one. Check the service notices.

Fares are posted on the Boston Express website. Questions: 1-800-639-8080.

By train and free bus: the Haverhill Line and MeVa Route 28

There is no commuter rail station in Salem, NH, but you can ride most of the way:

1. Take the MBTA Commuter Rail Haverhill Line from North Station to Lawrence (Zone 6). The Lawrence stop is part of the McGovern Transportation Center at 211 Merrimack St.
2. At McGovern, board MeVa Route 28, Salem/Tuscan Village. MeVa is fare-free.
3. Ride about 40 minutes, through Methuen and past stops at the Aldi and Target plazas, to the last stop: Mass General Brigham–Salem, 30 Tuscan Blvd., inside Tuscan Village.

On MeVa’s September 2026 schedule, weekday buses leave McGovern at 6:15, 8, 9:45 and 11:30 a.m., and 1:15, 3, 4:45 and 6:30 p.m. Weekend buses leave at 9:45 and 11:30 a.m., and 1:15, 3 and 4:45 p.m. The last ride back from Tuscan Village leaves at 7:10 p.m. on weekdays and 5:25 p.m. on weekends, so line up your train times with the bus. The route started April 6, 2026, as a pilot funded by a MassDOT grant; check the Route 28 page before you go. Once you are in the village, our Tuscan Village visitor guide shows what’s where.

Which option is best?

• Driving is the most flexible. Parking is free at Tuscan Village, and the trip is a straight shot on one highway.
• Boston Express is the simplest choice without a car, and it runs straight to Logan. It drops you at Exit 2, so you will need a ride from there to Tuscan Village or the mall at Exit 1. The Boston Express Salem stop page lists a 24-hour Salem-Windham-Derry taxi service at (603) 333-7764.
• Train plus MeVa costs only the commuter rail fare and drops you inside Tuscan Village, but buses come about every hour and 45 minutes, so it takes planning.

From Logan and Manchester airports

Boston Logan (BOS): about 36 miles and 50 minutes by car without traffic. Boston Express also serves Logan. Its posted Logan departure times are when buses begin picking up at Terminal A; the other terminals follow. As of fall 2026, the Terminal C stop is at the orange Scheduled Bus sign outside Door C-102, and the Terminal B2 stop is outside Door B111. There are no Boston Express ticket counters at Logan, so buy ahead.

Manchester-Boston Regional (MHT): about 21 miles and 37 minutes by car without traffic. A car or a ride-hailing app is the simple way to make this trip.

Coming from Salem, Mass.? It is a separate city, and the drive between the two Salems is also about 34 miles, roughly 50 minutes without traffic.

Heading home

Plan the return before you set out. On MeVa, the last bus back to Lawrence leaves Tuscan Village at 7:10 p.m. on weekdays and 5:25 p.m. on weekends, and you will want a Haverhill Line train that fits. On Boston Express, the Salem column of the southbound schedule shows which buses stop in Salem, and the posted Salem terminal hours end at 4:50 p.m.

Once you’re in Salem

A car is the easiest way to get between Salem’s attractions, which are spread across both exits. Tuscan Village is walkable once you park, and its lots are free. If you are staying over, compare hotels in Salem, NH, then build your days with things to do in Salem and our trip-planning page.