Dover to Canaan is 83.5 miles and takes about 2 hours 19 minutes via U.S. Route 4, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Hampshire, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Expect a mixed drive experience that balances highway speeds with more local road conditions. It's a straightforward, one-day journey with a manageable distance, making it ideal if you're looking for a relatively quick transition between locations within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.8 miles from Dover, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Route 4
13 mi
21m
Main Street
10.6 mi
20m
Old Turnpike Road
10.5 mi
16m
Dover Road
9.2 mi
15m
First New Hampshire Turnpike
7.8 mi
12m
US 4
6.5 mi
8m
High Street
5 mi
7m
I 393
4.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Route 4
— 13 mi, about 21m
Traffic on I-393
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 3 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,449 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~47 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
52.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dover, NH and Canaan, 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
Take the exit onto US 4
5.7 mi·7 min·US 4
Toward I 93 North, US 4 West: Plymouth
24
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.
25
Enter roundabout onto US 4
148 ft·2 sec·King Street
26
Continue on US 4
0.7 mi·1 min·King Street
Use the straight lane.
27
Enter roundabout onto US 4
115 ft·1 sec·King Street
28
Continue on US 4
2.5 mi·4 min·King Street
Use the straight lane.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 4
5.0 mi·7 min·High Street
30
Continue on US 4
5.4 mi·9 min·Old Turnpike Road
31
Continue on US 4
2.0 mi·3 min·Salisbury Highway
32
Continue on US 4; NH 11
2.7 mi·6 min·Main Street
33
Turn right onto US 4
10 mi·17 min·U.S. Route 4
Use the right lane.
34
Continue on US 4
7.8 mi·14 min·Main Street
35
Continue on US 4
2.6 mi·4 min·U.S. Route 4
36
Continue on US 4
0.2 mi·33 sec·Church Street
37
Turn right onto Canaan Street
413 ft·11 sec·Canaan Street
38
Arrive at destination
Canaan Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour, 19-minute drive, departing in the morning is a good bet, allowing you ample time to reach Canaan without feeling rushed. Since the total distance is only 83.5 miles and the longest stretch is 13 miles, you have flexibility with stops; there's no need to plan for an overnight stay. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $13, and it's wise to top off before leaving Dover or during a break. A practical tip for this route is to be aware that U.S. Route 4 can have varying speed limits, so pay attention to posted signs as the road type changes.
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 41.8 miles from Dover, NH, or about 1h 7m 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 18 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.8 miles or 1h 7m 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 57m
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 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 83.5 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Dover, 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 43.2 — 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.
5
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in|NH 9 / Knox Marsh Road
Enter roundabout onto NH 9 / Knox Marsh Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
37.5 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|US 4
Take the exit onto US 4 toward I 93 North, US 4 West: Plymouth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 93 North, US 4 West: Plymouth
8
43.2 mi into trip|~1h 8m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.10 one way
$26.21 round trip
$3.99/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$14.71
$29.43
premium
$4.81
$15.82
$31.64
diesel
$4.80
$15.77
$31.53
Estimated Tolls: $1.40
Old Turnpike Road
(10.5 mi)$0.73
First New Hampshire Turnpike
(7.8 mi)$0.54
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
$13
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.1
0
$8.77
$4.01
Efficient EV
20.9
0
$7.31
$3.34
EV Truck/SUV
33.4
0
$11.69
$5.34
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 Jul 14, 2026
Origin
Dover, NH
Night
in Dover on Saturday
Local time
9:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
98°F
Mostly Sunny
W 10 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 5:37AM EDT until July 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Gray ME
Destination
Canaan, NH
Night
in Canaan on Saturday
Local time
9:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny
W 10 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 5:37AM EDT until July 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Gray ME
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 19m 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 83.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 83.5-mile route offers a mixed drive, with 53% of it on highways. You'll navigate primarily on U.S. Route 4, experiencing stretches of faster travel alongside more local road segments like Main Street and Old Turnpike Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is about 13 miles on U.S. Route 4. As you progress, the character of the road will shift, moving from potentially more developed areas to a more rural feel as you approach Canaan.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
38 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 early in the drive near NH 9; NH 108 / Main Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 83.5 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 1.3 miles (NH 9 / Knox Marsh Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
953 ft66 ft
Total Climb
1,443 ft
Total Descent
556 ft
Highest Point
953 ft
~83.5 mi in
Elevation Range
887 ft
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 Canaan, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Boscawen along the way.
Boscawen
43.2 mi in|~1h 8m|via US 4
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 19m. Total distance: 83.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). 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 $1.40 in tolls one way, starting with Old Turnpike Road. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. 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 1.3 miles (NH 9 / Knox Marsh Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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.
