Origin
Dover, NH
Late night in Dover on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dover, NH to Atkinson, NH
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
42 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dover, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Atkinson, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Dover, NH to Atkinson, NH is 42 miles and takes about 58 minutes via Blue Star Turnpike, I 495, and Spaulding Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that keeps you within the Northeast region, specifically within New Hampshire. Given its short length and primarily highway profile, it's ideal for a quick trip or a segment of a larger journey. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained expressways, making it an efficient way to cover the distance. Consider this route if you prioritize speed and ease of travel over extensive sightseeing.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Star Turnpike | 14.9 mi | 17m |
| I 495 | 11.2 mi | 12m |
| Spaulding Turnpike | 10 mi | 13m |
| Main Street | 3.4 mi | 7m |
| Locust Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Central Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Atkinson Depot Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Leroy Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Turnpike
— 14.9 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dover, NH and Atkinson, 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
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Locust Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto NH 108
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Central Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto NH 16
10.0 mi
·
13 min
·
Spaulding Turnpike
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 95
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Blue Star Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Blue Star Turnpike
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 495
Exit 89
Toward I 495 South: Worcester
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 51
Toward MA 125: Plaistow New Hampshire, Haverhill
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 109B
Toward MA 125 North: Plaistow New Hampshire
14
Merge onto MA 125
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
15
Continue on NH 121
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Atkinson Depot Road
16
Continue on NH 121
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Main Street
17
Turn right onto Leroy Avenue
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Leroy Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Leroy Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 37.9 — 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.
7
1.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
18.9 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
7
37.9 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 125 North: Plaistow New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 109B
Toward MA 125 North: Plaistow New Hampshire
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.76 one way
$13.52 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.44 | $14.88 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.04 | $16.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.27 | $18.55 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.75
Blue Star Turnpike
(14.9 mi)
$1.05
Spaulding Turnpike
(10 mi)
$0.70
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.41 | $2.02 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.88 | $2.69 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Atkinson, NH
Late night in Atkinson on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 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
58m 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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 86% of the journey utilizing major expressways. You'll experience stretches of efficient travel, including a continuous segment of 14.9 miles on the Blue Star Turnpike. The character of the road is consistent, designed for steady progress rather than winding scenic exploration. Expect to maintain highway speeds for the majority of the 58-minute trip. While the route is direct, it offers a predictable driving experience suitable for those looking to get from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.9 mi on Blue Star Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Blue Star Turnpike and I 495. 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
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 42 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
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 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Dover, NH to Atkinson, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Haverhill along the way.
Haverhill
37.7 mi in
|
~48m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 42 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.9 miles on Blue Star Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.75 in tolls one way, starting with Blue Star 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 Atkinson, 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: 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 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Atkinson, 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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