Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 19m
Distance
83.5 mi
134 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dover, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Canaan, NH
Wikimedia Commons
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 .
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Dover, NH and Canaan, NH.
Start on this road
Turn sharp left onto NH 9; NH 108
Turn sharp left onto NH 4; NH 9; NH 108
Turn right onto Hale Street
Turn left onto Locust Street
Turn right onto NH 9
Enter roundabout onto NH 9
Continue on NH 9
Continue on NH 155
Continue on NH 155
Continue on NH 155
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 4
Enter roundabout onto US 4
Continue on US 4
Continue on US 4
Continue on US 4
Continue on US 4
Continue on US 4; US 202; NH 9; NH 107
Enter roundabout onto US 4; US 202; NH 9
Continue on US 4; US 202; NH 9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 393; US 4; US 202
Take the exit onto US 4
Take the exit onto US 4
Enter roundabout onto US 4
Continue on US 4
Enter roundabout onto US 4
Continue on US 4
Keep slight left at fork onto US 4
Continue on US 4
Continue on US 4
Continue on US 4; NH 11
Turn right onto US 4
Continue on US 4
Continue on US 4
Continue on US 4
Turn right onto Canaan Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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.
A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 41.8 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.
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.
Turn sharp left onto NH 9; NH 108 / Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Turn sharp left onto NH 4; NH 9; NH 108 / Central Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Enter roundabout onto NH 9 / Knox Marsh Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
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
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
Regular Gas
$13.44 one way
$26.88 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $14.79 | $29.58 |
| premium | $4.86 | $15.99 | $31.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.44 | $36.87 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.40
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, 2026-04-13.
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Dover on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Canaan on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
57°F
Loudon, NH
42 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
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.
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.
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.
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
Dover is a city in New Hampshire, United States. Settled in 1623, it pre-dates the founding of America and is the 7th oldest city in the country.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
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.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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