Traveling from Derry to Canaan covers 74.2 miles across the heart of New Hampshire. Expect a drive time of approximately 1 hour and 53 minutes, making this a very manageable day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via West Broadway, Nashua Road, and I-93 North to reach your destination. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, it is a budget-friendly excursion for a weekend or a quick getaway. Because this trip is entirely contained within the Northeast region, you can anticipate a consistent New England atmosphere throughout your journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.1 miles from Derry, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Route 4
13 mi
21m
Main Street
10.6 mi
20m
Everett Turnpike
10.2 mi
12m
I 93
7.1 mi
8m
Styles Bridges Highway
6.4 mi
7m
Alan B Shepard Highway
5.7 mi
7m
Old Turnpike Road
5.4 mi
9m
High Street
5 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Route 4
— 13 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Derry, NH and Canaan, NH.
1
Start on this road
78 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn left
105 ft·9 sec
3
Turn right onto NH 102
0.6 mi·1 min·West Broadway
4
Continue on NH 102
0.3 mi·43 sec·Nashua Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 93 North: Manchester, ConcordUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 93
2.3 mi·2 min·Alan Bartlett Shepard Junior Highway
7
Continue on I 93
1.0 mi·1 min·Alan B Shepard Jr Highway
8
Continue on I 93
5.7 mi·7 min·Alan B Shepard Highway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
7.1 mi·8 min·I 93
Toward I 93 North: Concord, Plymouth
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
10 mi·12 min·Everett Turnpike
11
Continue on I 93
6.4 mi·7 min·Styles Bridges Highway
12
Take the exit onto US 4
0.8 mi·1 min·US 4
Exit 17Toward US 4, US 3: Penacook, BoscawenUse the straight / left lanes.
13
Enter roundabout onto US 4
148 ft·2 sec·King Street
14
Continue on US 4
0.7 mi·1 min·King Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Enter roundabout onto US 4
115 ft·1 sec·King Street
16
Continue on US 4
2.5 mi·4 min·King Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 4
5.0 mi·7 min·High Street
18
Continue on US 4
5.4 mi·9 min·Old Turnpike Road
19
Continue on US 4
2.0 mi·3 min·Salisbury Highway
20
Continue on US 4; NH 11
2.7 mi·6 min·Main Street
21
Turn right onto US 4
10 mi·17 min·U.S. Route 4
Use the right lane.
22
Continue on US 4
7.8 mi·14 min·Main Street
23
Continue on US 4
2.6 mi·4 min·U.S. Route 4
24
Continue on US 4
0.2 mi·33 sec·Church Street
25
Turn right onto Canaan Street
413 ft·11 sec·Canaan Street
26
Arrive at destination
Canaan Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersections as you move between local roads. You won't need to plan for formal stops given the sub-two-hour duration, but keeping a small buffer in your $12 fuel budget is always a smart move for local detours. Because the route relies on local infrastructure, prioritize checking for any local road closures before you head out. Enjoy the freedom of a direct drive that gets you to Canaan without the need for complex multi-day planning.
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 37.1 miles from Derry, NH, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13 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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.1 miles or 49m 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 Canaan, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Derry, NH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Derry, NH
This is one driving day of about 74.2 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Derry, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Route 4 for about 13 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 74.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 93 North: Manchester, Concord
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 93 North: Manchester, Concord
6
10.2 mi into trip|~14m in|I 93
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 North: Concord, Plymouth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 93 North: Concord, Plymouth
8
33.9 mi into trip|~43m in|US 4
Take the exit onto US 4 toward US 4, US 3: Penacook, Boscawen
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Exit 17
Toward US 4, US 3: Penacook, Boscawen
5
53.1 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|US 4 / U.S. Route 4
Turn right onto US 4 / U.S. Route 4
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
74.1 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|Canaan Street
Turn right onto Canaan Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.95 one way
$23.89 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$13.14
$26.29
premium
$4.86
$14.21
$28.42
diesel
$5.61
$16.38
$32.76
Estimated Tolls: $1.09
Everett Turnpike
(10.2 mi)$0.71
Old Turnpike Road
(5.4 mi)$0.38
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
$12
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.3
0
$7.79
$3.56
Efficient EV
18.6
0
$6.49
$2.97
EV Truck/SUV
29.7
0
$10.39
$4.75
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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 18, 2026
Origin
Derry, NH
Late night
in Derry on Sunday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Canaan, NH
Late night
in Canaan on Sunday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
53°F
Webster, NH
37 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 53m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Your National Park for the Arts preserves the home and studio of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907). Here stories flow through a landscape of inspiration. Discover the history behind the capt...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
$10
near mile 74.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will spend your time navigating local roads rather than cruising at high speeds. The path transitions through various town settings, offering a technical driving experience rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. You should expect a winding journey that keeps you engaged with the road's geometry from start to finish. It is a practical route for those who prefer backroad driving over the predictability of major expressways.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13 mi on U.S. Route 4.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.2 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.9 miles (US 4): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Derry, NH and Canaan, NH, road signs point toward Plymouth and Boscawen.
Plymouth
10.2 mi in|~14m|via I 93
Boscawen
33.9 mi in|~43m|via US 4
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 74.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13 miles on U.S. Route 4. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.09 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 Canaan, 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 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.2 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.9 miles (US 4): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Canaan, NH before heading back.
