This 60.6-mile drive from Chesterfield, NH to Hudson, NH takes about 1 hour and 48 minutes and is easily manageable as a single-day trip. You'll primarily navigate via State Route 101, Main Street, and Gibbons Highway, with about 20% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $10. Given its relatively short distance and turn-heavy local road profile, it's a straightforward journey through the Northeast region, entirely within New Hampshire. This route is well-suited for a relaxed day trip without the need for an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
30.3 miles from Chesterfield, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Route 101
10.4 mi
16m
Main Street
9.9 mi
19m
Gibbons Highway
9.3 mi
14m
Franklin Pierce Highway
9 mi
13m
NH 101A
8.9 mi
18m
Wilton Road
4 mi
6m
Peterborough Bypass
2.4 mi
4m
Marlboro Street
1.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
State Route 101
— 10.4 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chesterfield, NH and Hudson, NH.
1
Start on Old Chesterfield Road
85 ft·3 sec·Old Chesterfield Road
2
Turn right onto NH 63
1.1 mi·2 min·Route 63
3
Turn right onto NH 9
8.3 mi·11 min·Franklin Pierce Highway
Use the straight lane.
4
Enter roundabout onto NH 9
135 ft·2 sec·Franklin Pierce Highway
5
Continue on NH 9
0.6 mi·1 min·Franklin Pierce Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Continue on NH 10; NH 12; NH 101
0.5 mi·49 sec·State Route 10
7
Enter roundabout onto NH 12; NH 101
177 ft·2 sec·State Route 101
8
Continue on NH 12; NH 101
2.0 mi·3 min·State Route 101
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Continue on NH 101
1.8 mi·3 min·Marlboro Street
10
Continue on NH 101
9.9 mi·19 min·Main Street
11
Continue on NH 101
3.5 mi·5 min·State Route 101
12
Continue on NH 101
1.8 mi·2 min·Peterborough Bypass
13
Enter roundabout onto NH 101
78 ft·2 sec·Peterborough Bypass
14
Continue on NH 101
0.6 mi·1 min·Peterborough Bypass
15
Continue on NH 101
4.0 mi·6 min·Wilton Road
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on NH 101
9.3 mi·14 min·Gibbons Highway
17
Continue on NH 101
1.3 mi·2 min·Elm Street
18
Turn right onto NH 101
4.9 mi·7 min·State Route 101
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward NH 101A: Milford, Nashua
20
Keep slight left at fork
223 ft·10 sec
21
Turn right onto NH 101A
8.9 mi·18 min·NH 101A
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on Lowell Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·Lowell Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
23
At end of road, turn left onto NH 101A
0.4 mi·1 min·Canal Street
24
Continue on NH 101A
0.6 mi·1 min·Bridge Street
25
Continue on NH 111
0.2 mi·33 sec·Ferry Street
26
Arrive at destination
NH 111
Trip Plan
With a duration of just under two hours, this 60.6-mile trip offers a lot of flexibility. Aiming for a mid-morning departure can help you avoid peak traffic and allows for a leisurely start. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan to make your own as needed, perhaps in one of the towns along the way. The longest stretch without a turn is 10.4 miles on State Route 101, so be prepared for frequent adjustments before and after that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $10, and it's always wise to top off before heading out on local roads.
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 30.3 miles from Chesterfield, NH, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.4 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 13 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.3 miles or 53m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hudson, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chesterfield, NH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chesterfield, NH
This is one driving day of about 60.6 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Chesterfield, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Route 101 for about 10.4 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 50.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|NH 9 / Franklin Pierce Highway
Turn right onto NH 9 / Franklin Pierce Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
9.5 mi into trip|~14m in|NH 9 / Franklin Pierce Highway
Enter roundabout onto NH 9 / Franklin Pierce Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
9.5 mi into trip|~14m in|NH 9 / Franklin Pierce Highway
Right onto NH 9 / Franklin Pierce Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
49.8 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward NH 101A: Milford, Nashua
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NH 101A: Milford, Nashua
6
50.3 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|NH 101A
Turn right onto NH 101A
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.76 one way
$19.51 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$10.73
$21.47
premium
$4.86
$11.60
$23.21
diesel
$5.61
$13.38
$26.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.2
0
$6.36
$2.91
Efficient EV
15.2
0
$5.30
$2.42
EV Truck/SUV
24.2
0
$8.48
$3.88
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Chesterfield, NH
Night
in Chesterfield on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hudson, NH
Night
in Hudson on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
51°F
Peterborough, NH
30 mi in
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
8 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 48m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for most of this 60.6-mile route. While 20% of the journey involves highway travel, much of your time will be spent on local roads, including State Route 101, Main Street, and Gibbons Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.4 miles on State Route 101. This means you'll be navigating a series of turns and changes in speed more frequently than on a pure highway cruise, offering a more connected feel to the local landscape.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.4 mi on State Route 101.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near NH 9 / Franklin Pierce Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
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 60.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.2 miles (NH 9 / Franklin Pierce Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles (NH 9 / Franklin Pierce Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.5 miles (NH 9 / Franklin Pierce Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,361 ft152 ft
Total Climb
1,447 ft
Total Descent
2,146 ft
Highest Point
1,361 ft
~21.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,210 ft
Notable High Points
1,338 ft at ~34.6 miles+613 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Chesterfield, NH to Hudson, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Nashua along the way.
Nashua
49.8 mi in|~1h 24m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 60.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.4 miles on State Route 101. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Hudson, 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 1.2 miles (NH 9 / Franklin Pierce Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles (NH 9 / Franklin Pierce Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.5 miles (NH 9 / Franklin Pierce Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hudson, NH before heading back.
