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Trip from Dover, NH to Alstead, NH

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 35m

Distance

94.7 mi

152 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 25m ★
6 AM
2h 35m
8 AM
2h 56m
10 AM
2h 43m
12 PM
2h 41m
3 PM
2h 44m
5 PM
2h 55m
8 PM
2h 29m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

county seat city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States

Dover, NH

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Alstead, NH, NH

Alstead, NH

Mohan Nannapaneni

Trip Overview

Dover to Alstead is 94.7 miles and takes about 2h 35m via US 202 and I-89, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New Hampshire, moving from the Northeast region towards its western edge. It's a straightforward, mostly highway-focused trip, making it a practical choice for a single-day excursion. If you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground between these two points without extensive planning, this route will get you there reliably.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

47.3 miles from Dover, NH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 202 15.5 mi 21m
Dover Road 9.2 mi 15m
I 89 7.8 mi 9m
First New Hampshire Turnpike 7.8 mi 12m
Route 123 North 7.4 mi 13m
Keene Road 5.7 mi 8m
Old Turnpike Road 5.1 mi 7m
I 393 4.9 mi 7m
Longest stretch: US 202 — 15.5 mi, about 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dover, NH and Alstead, NH.

1

Start on this road

21 ft · 8 sec · this road
2

Turn sharp left onto NH 9; NH 108

320 ft · 18 sec · Main Street
3

Turn sharp left onto NH 4; NH 9; NH 108

0.4 mi · 57 sec · Central Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
4

Turn right onto Hale Street

344 ft · 18 sec · Hale Street
5

Turn left onto Locust Street

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Locust Street
6

Turn right onto NH 9

0.6 mi · 1 min · Silver Street
7

Enter roundabout onto NH 9

215 ft · 4 sec · Knox Marsh Road
8

Continue on NH 9

3.2 mi · 5 min · Knox Marsh Road
Use the straight lane.
9

Continue on NH 155

347 ft · 7 sec · Manchester Road
10

Continue on NH 155

1.3 mi · 2 min · Lee Road
11

Continue on NH 155

1.1 mi · 2 min · Turtle Pond Road
12

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 19 sec
13

Merge onto US 4

1.3 mi · 1 min · Concord Road
14

Enter roundabout onto US 4

158 ft · 4 sec · Concord Road
15

Continue on US 4

0.5 mi · 55 sec · Concord Road
16

Continue on US 4

1.8 mi · 2 min · Old Concord Turnpike
17

Continue on US 4

5.1 mi · 7 min · Old Turnpike Road
Use the straight lane.
18

Continue on US 4

7.8 mi · 12 min · First New Hampshire Turnpike
Use the right lane.
19

Continue on US 4; US 202; NH 9; NH 107

4.3 mi · 7 min · Dover Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Enter roundabout onto US 4; US 202; NH 9

265 ft · 6 sec · Dover Road
21

Continue on US 4; US 202; NH 9

4.9 mi · 7 min · Dover Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
22

Keep slight right at fork onto I 393; US 4; US 202

4.6 mi · 6 min · I 393; US 4; US 202
23

Continue on I 393; US 202

0.2 mi · 24 sec · I 393; US 202
24

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 50 sec
Toward I 93 South: Manchester, Lebanon
25

Merge onto I 93

0.8 mi · 1 min · Styles Bridges Highway
26

Continue on I 93

2.5 mi · 3 min · Everett Turnpike
27

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 89 North: Lebanon, White River Junction Vermont Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Merge onto I 89

7.8 mi · 9 min · I 89
29

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 5 Toward US 202 West, NH 9 West: Henniker, Keene
30

Continue on US 202; NH 9

15 mi · 21 min · US 202; NH 9
Use the straight lane.
31

Continue on NH 9

1.9 mi · 2 min · West Main Street
32

Continue on NH 9; NH 31

5.7 mi · 8 min · Keene Road
33

Continue on NH 9

2.3 mi · 3 min · Route 9
34

Turn right onto NH 123

7.4 mi · 13 min · Route 123 North
35

Continue on NH 123

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Forest Road East
36

Continue on NH 123

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Telephone Road
37

Turn right onto NH 10; NH 123

1.0 mi · 1 min · State Route 10
38

Turn left onto NH 123

4.8 mi · 12 min · NH Route 123
39

Continue on NH 123

4.7 mi · 11 min · Forest Road
40

Continue on NH 12A; NH 123

0.6 mi · 1 min · Mechanic Street
41

Arrive at destination

NH 12A; NH 123

Trip Plan

Given the 2h 35m duration, this is a comfortable one-day trip, so consider leaving in the morning to maximize your time at your destination. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $15, you won't need extensive planning for amenities. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when transitioning between US 202 and I-89, as highway services can be more spread out. The longest stretch on US 202 is about 15.5 miles, so plan any brief stops before or after that segment.

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 47.3 miles from Dover, NH, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.5 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 21 miles or 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 47.3 miles or 1h 14m 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 58m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alstead, NH than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Dover, NH so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Dover, NH

This is one driving day of about 94.7 miles and 2h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Dover, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 202 for about 15.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

capital city of state of New Hampshire, United States; county seat of Merrimack County, New Hampshire

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Concord, NH

47 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Northwood, NH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Concord, NH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47.3 miles from Dover, NH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 21

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 49.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | NH 9; NH 108 / Main Street

Turn sharp left onto NH 9; NH 108 / Main Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

7
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | NH 4; NH 9; NH 108 / Central Avenue

Turn sharp left onto NH 4; NH 9; NH 108 / Central Avenue

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
6
37.7 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in

Take the exit toward I 93 South: Manchester, Lebanon

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 93 South: Manchester, Lebanon
7
41.3 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in

Take the exit toward I 89 North: Lebanon, White River Junction Vermont

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 89 North: Lebanon, White River Junctio...
6
49.5 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in

Take the exit toward US 202 West, NH 9 West: Henniker, Keene

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 5 Toward US 202 West, NH 9 West: Henniker, Keene

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.25 one way

$30.49 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $16.77 $33.55
premium $4.86 $18.13 $36.27
diesel $5.61 $20.91 $41.82

Estimated Tolls: $1.20

First New Hampshire Turnpike (7.8 mi) $0.54
Old Turnpike Road (5.1 mi) $0.35
Everett Turnpike (2.5 mi) $0.18
Old Concord Turnpike (1.8 mi) $0.13

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

$15

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.4 0 $9.94 $4.55
Efficient EV 23.7 0 $8.29 $3.79
EV Truck/SUV 37.9 0 $13.26 $6.06

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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 15, 2026

Origin

Dover, NH

Night in Dover on Saturday

Local time

9:17 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Alstead, NH

Night in Alstead on Saturday

Local time

9:17 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

51°F

Concord, NH

47 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

5 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

2h 35m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This journey is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 64% of the total mileage on faster roads like I-89. You'll experience stretches of efficient travel, including a longest continuous segment of 15.5 miles on US 202. Expect a mix of speeds, transitioning from local roads near Dover to more open highway driving as you progress. The overall feel is one of steady forward momentum, designed for covering distance effectively rather than lingering at viewpoints.

64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.5 mi on US 202.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 202 and Dover Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NH 9; NH 108 / Main Street.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 94.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (NH 9; NH 108 / Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles (NH 4; NH 9; NH 108 / Central Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Dover, NH and Alstead, NH, road signs point toward Lebanon, White River Junction Vermont and Keene.

Lebanon

37.7 mi in | ~1h 2m

White River Junction Vermont

41.3 mi in | ~1h 7m

Keene

49.5 mi in | ~1h 17m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 35m. Total distance: 94.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 15.5 miles on US 202. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.20 in tolls one way, starting with First New Hampshire 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 Alstead, NH before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

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: near the start (NH 9; NH 108 / Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles (NH 4; NH 9; NH 108 / Central Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Alstead, NH before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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