Connecting Charlestown to Manchester, this 80.7-mile drive is a straightforward journey through New Hampshire that typically takes about 1 hour and 49 minutes. Because the trip is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $13 on fuel for the trip, making this a budget-friendly option for your travel plans. The route utilizes a combination of NH 11, State Route 11, and the Everett Turnpike to navigate across the Northeast region. It serves as an efficient transition between the two communities, offering a practical way to reach your destination without unnecessary complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.4 miles from Charlestown, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NH 11
32.3 mi
37m
Everett Turnpike
12.5 mi
14m
State Route 11
9.4 mi
14m
Claremont Road
7.4 mi
11m
John Stark Highway
4.6 mi
5m
Sunapee Street
2.8 mi
6m
I 89
2.6 mi
3m
Washington Street
2.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
NH 11
— 32.3 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlestown, NH and Manchester, NH.
1
Start on Sullivan Street
90 ft·2 sec·Sullivan Street
2
Continue on Sullivan Street
143 ft·7 sec·Sullivan Street
3
Turn right onto NH 12
0.2 mi·16 sec·North Main Street
4
Continue on NH 12
7.4 mi·11 min·Claremont Road
5
Continue on NH 11; NH 12
2.1 mi·3 min·Charlestown Road
6
Continue on NH 11; NH 12
0.8 mi·1 min·West Pleasant Street
7
Turn right onto Glidden Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·Glidden Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto Broad Street
517 ft·13 sec·Broad Street
9
Keep slight right at fork onto NH 11; NH 103
0.2 mi·15 sec·Broad Street
10
Continue on NH 11; NH 103
2.3 mi·2 min·Washington Street
11
Continue on NH 11; NH 103
2.3 mi·2 min·State Route 11
12
Continue on NH 11; NH 103
4.6 mi·5 min·John Stark Highway
13
Continue on NH 11; NH 103
0.2 mi·14 sec·Elm Street
14
Continue on Maple Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·Maple Street
15
Turn left onto Cross Street
472 ft·21 sec·Cross Street
16
Turn right onto Canal Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·Canal Street
17
Turn right onto NH 11; NH 103
2.8 mi·6 min·Sunapee Street
18
Turn straight onto NH 11
2.5 mi·4 min·State Route 11
19
Continue on NH 11
0.4 mi·59 sec·Route 11
20
Continue on NH 11
4.7 mi·7 min·State Route 11
21
Take the exit onto NH 11
32 mi·37 min·NH 11
22
Continue on I 89
2.6 mi·3 min·I 89
23
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 93 South Toll: Manchester, Boston
24
Merge onto I 93
5.7 mi·6 min·Everett Turnpike
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
2.0 mi·2 min·Everett Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 293
4.9 mi·5 min·Everett Turnpike
Toward I 293 South: Manchester, NashuaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
401 ft·9 sec
Exit 6Toward Amoskeag Street, Goffstown Road
28
Keep slight left at fork
192 ft·11 sec
29
Turn left onto Eddy Road
0.3 mi·34 sec·Eddy Road
30
Continue on McGregor Street
0.2 mi·21 sec·McGregor Street
31
Turn left onto West Bridge Street
0.9 mi·2 min·West Bridge Street
Use the left lane.
32
Arrive at destination
Bridge Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick trip under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for lengthy rest stops, but it is wise to fuel up before you head out to keep your costs near the estimated $13 mark. Because the route relies heavily on major roads like the Everett Turnpike, keep an eye on traffic reports for any potential congestion as you approach Manchester. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage by planning your arrival time to perfectly match your schedule. Given that the longest stretch of 32.3 miles happens early on NH 11, ensure you are comfortable and settled before you hit the main highway segments.
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 40.4 miles from Charlestown, NH, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.3 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.4 miles or 59m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manchester, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Charlestown, NH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Charlestown, NH
This is one driving day of about 80.7 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Charlestown, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NH 11 for about 32.3 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.8 and 79.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
10.8 mi into trip|~16m in|NH 11; NH 103 / Broad Street
Keep slight right at fork onto NH 11; NH 103 / Broad Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
66 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward I 93 South Toll: Manchester, Boston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 93 South Toll: Manchester, Boston
6
72.3 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|I 93 / Everett Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93 / Everett Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
74.3 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|I 293 / Everett Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 293 / Everett Turnpike toward I 293 South: Manchester, Nashua
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 293 South: Manchester, Nashua
6
79.2 mi into trip|~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward Amoskeag Street, Goffstown Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 6
Toward Amoskeag Street, Goffstown Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.99 one way
$25.98 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$14.29
$28.59
premium
$4.86
$15.45
$30.91
diesel
$5.61
$17.82
$35.64
Estimated Tolls: $0.88
Everett Turnpike
(7.6 mi)$0.54
Everett Turnpike
(4.9 mi)$0.34
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
$13
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.2
0
$8.47
$3.87
Efficient EV
20.2
0
$7.06
$3.23
EV Truck/SUV
32.3
0
$11.30
$5.16
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Charlestown, NH
Morning
in Charlestown on Sunday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Manchester, NH
Morning
in Manchester on Sunday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 49m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive is designed for efficiency, with 71% of the route consisting of highway travel. You will experience a mix of road types, starting with the longest uninterrupted stretch of 32.3 miles along NH 11. The character of the road shifts as you transition from local state routes onto the faster-paced Everett Turnpike. Behind the wheel, you can expect a steady rhythm that prioritizes consistent progress over technical winding roads. It is a functional drive that balances the pace of major thoroughfares with the necessity of navigating through regional corridors.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.3 mi on NH 11.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NH 11 and Everett Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.8 miles in near NH 11; NH 103 / Broad Street.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.7 miles you will encounter 16 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 10.8 miles (NH 11; NH 103 / Broad Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 66 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.3 miles (I 93 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,204 ft254 ft
Total Climb
1,181 ft
Total Descent
1,312 ft
Highest Point
1,204 ft
~33.4 mi in
Elevation Range
950 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Charlestown, NH and Manchester, NH, road signs point toward Boston and Nashua.
Boston
66 mi in|~1h 30m
Nashua
74.3 mi in|~1h 40m|via I 293
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 80.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.3 miles on NH 11. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.88 in tolls one way, starting with Everett Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Manchester, NH before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 10.8 miles (NH 11; NH 103 / Broad Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 66 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.3 miles (I 93 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Manchester, NH before heading back.
