Spanning 56.8 miles across New Hampshire, this route from Alexandria to Rochester is a manageable trek that typically takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete. It is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations along the way. With a fuel budget of approximately $9, the trip is quite economical for most travelers. You will navigate a combination of NH 11, Mount Major Highway, and New Hampshire Highway 104 throughout the journey. Because the entire route remains within the Northeast, you can expect a familiar regional feel as you transition between these two New Hampshire hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
28.4 miles from Alexandria, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NH 11
14.8 mi
23m
Mount Major Highway
6.3 mi
10m
New Hampshire Highway 104
6 mi
9m
Lakeshore Road
4.6 mi
7m
Summer Street
4.4 mi
7m
NH 104
3.6 mi
5m
Mt. Major Highway
2.1 mi
4m
Endicott Street North
2.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
NH 11
— 14.8 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, NH and Rochester, NH.
1
Start on Town Pound Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Town Pound Road
2
Turn left onto Thissell Road
0.4 mi·51 sec·Thissell Road
3
Continue on Plumer Hill Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Plumer Hill Road
4
Continue on Bristol Hill Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Bristol Hill Road
5
Turn straight onto NH 3A
0.4 mi·1 min·Lake Street
6
Continue on Pleasant Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·Pleasant Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on NH 104
4.4 mi·7 min·Summer Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8
Continue on NH 104
6.0 mi·9 min·New Hampshire Highway 104
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on NH 104
3.6 mi·5 min·NH 104
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto US 3
0.4 mi·53 sec·Daniel Webster Highway
Use the right lane.
11
Enter roundabout onto US 3
117 ft·6 sec·Daniel Webster Highway
12
Continue on US 3
1.5 mi·3 min·Daniel Webster Highway
13
Continue on US 3
2.1 mi·4 min·Endicott Street North
14
Enter roundabout onto NH 11B
153 ft·2 sec·Endicott Street East
15
Continue on NH 11B
1.4 mi·2 min·Endicott Street East
16
Continue on NH 11B
2.0 mi·4 min·Weirs Road
17
Turn left onto NH 11
4.6 mi·7 min·Lakeshore Road
18
Continue on NH 11
6.3 mi·10 min·Mount Major Highway
19
Continue on NH 11
2.1 mi·4 min·Mt. Major Highway
20
Continue on NH 11
0.1 mi·17 sec·Main Street
21
Turn left onto NH 28A
305 ft·9 sec·East Side Drive
22
Turn slight right onto Bay Hill Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Bay Hill Road
23
Turn right onto NH 28
1.6 mi·2 min·State Route 28
24
Enter roundabout onto NH 11
0.1 mi·21 sec·NH 11
25
Continue on NH 11
15 mi·22 min·NH 11
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on North Main Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on North Main Street
125 ft·3 sec·North Main Street
28
Enter roundabout onto NH 202A
127 ft·3 sec·North Main Street
29
Continue on NH 202A
0.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
30
Turn slight left
150 ft·4 sec
31
Turn slight left onto NH 202A
136 ft·5 sec·Wakefield Street
32
Turn right onto Museum Way
120 ft·5 sec·Museum Way
33
Turn right
55 ft·4 sec
34
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this trip takes less than two hours, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than worrying about strict timing. While there are no mandatory stops listed, keep in mind that the 1 hour and 40 minute duration is a great window to stretch your legs if you feel the need. Budgeting $9 for fuel should keep you covered, but it is always wise to ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Alexandria to avoid any last-minute stress. Because this is a relatively short trip, prioritize a steady pace rather than rushing through the 56.8 miles. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage by choosing your own preferred intervals to pull over if you need a quick break.
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 28.4 miles from Alexandria, NH, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.8 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 12 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28.4 miles or 52m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rochester, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alexandria, NH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alexandria, NH
This is one driving day of about 56.8 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 12 miles from Alexandria, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NH 11 for about 14.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.5 and 56.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
17.5 mi into trip|~31m in|US 3 / Daniel Webster Highway
Turn right onto US 3 / Daniel Webster Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
17.9 mi into trip|~32m in|US 3 / Daniel Webster Highway
Enter roundabout onto US 3 / Daniel Webster Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
21.6 mi into trip|~40m in|NH 11B / Endicott Street East
Enter roundabout onto NH 11B / Endicott Street East
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
38.2 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|NH 28A / East Side Drive
Turn left onto NH 28A / East Side Drive
Navigation decision point
5
56.2 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|NH 202A / North Main Street
Enter roundabout onto NH 202A / North Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.14 one way
$18.29 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg20 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$10.06
$20.12
premium
$4.86
$10.88
$21.75
diesel
$5.61
$12.54
$25.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17
0
$5.96
$2.73
Efficient EV
14.2
0
$4.97
$2.27
EV Truck/SUV
22.7
0
$7.95
$3.64
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 12, 2026
Origin
Alexandria, NH
Night
in Alexandria on Saturday
Local time
10:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
SW 0 to 5 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Rochester, NH
Night
in Rochester on Saturday
Local time
10:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 mph11% chanceLive 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
1 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
1h 40m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 56.8-mile journey offers a mixed drive profile, balancing various road types to keep you engaged behind the wheel. Only 46% of your time will be spent on highways, so prepare for a fair amount of local driving as you transition between routes. You will find the longest uninterrupted stretch on NH 11, which spans 14.8 miles of the drive. The road personality shifts as you move from the quieter stretches of Alexandria toward the more populated areas near Rochester. Expect a dynamic experience that moves away from a monotonous interstate grind, favoring a more varied driving environment instead.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.8 mi on NH 11.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 17.5 miles in near US 3 / Daniel Webster Highway.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 17.5 miles (US 3 / Daniel Webster Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.9 miles (US 3 / Daniel Webster Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 21.6 miles (NH 11B / Endicott Street East): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 56.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.8 miles on NH 11. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through NH can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.5 miles (US 3 / Daniel Webster Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.9 miles (US 3 / Daniel Webster Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 21.6 miles (NH 11B / Endicott Street East): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rochester, NH before heading back.
