Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
43.4 mi
70 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
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
Canterbury, NH
Mohan Nannapaneni
Dover, NH to Canterbury, NH is 43.4 miles and takes about 1h 17m via First New Hampshire Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, one-day trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically within New Hampshire. You'll experience a mixed drive, meaning it's not all highway or all backroads. Given the relatively short distance and time, this route is ideal for a leisurely half-day excursion or an easy transition between locations. It's a straightforward journey with minimal fuss, perfect for when you want to get from point A to point B without a major time commitment.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| First New Hampshire Turnpike | 7.8 mi | 12m |
| Dover Road | 7.4 mi | 12m |
| Old Turnpike Road | 5.1 mi | 7m |
| Baptist Road | 3.9 mi | 9m |
| NH Route 106 | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| Knox Marsh Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Old Concord Turnpike | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Concord Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Dover, NH and Canterbury, 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
Turn right onto King Road
Continue on Chichester Road
Turn right onto NH 106
Continue on NH 106
Turn left onto Shaker Road
Turn left onto Baptist Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.7 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 37.8 — 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
Turn left onto Locust Street
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto NH 9 / Knox Marsh Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Turn left onto Shaker Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.99 one way
$13.97 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.69 | $15.37 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.31 | $16.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.58 | $19.16 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.02
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.08 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.80 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.08 | $2.78 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Dover on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Canterbury on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
53°F
Northwood, NH
22 mi in
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.
This drive offers a mixed bag of road types, with 42% of it being highway. You'll encounter stretches on First New Hampshire Turnpike, Dover Road, and Old Turnpike Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 7.8 miles along the First New Hampshire Turnpike, offering a chance for steady progress. As you drive, expect the character of the road to shift, moving between more open highway conditions and potentially tighter local roads. This variety means you won't be stuck in a monotonous interstate crawl, but rather experience a dynamic drive.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NH 9; NH 108 / Main Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.4 miles you will encounter 16 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: 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 0.5 miles (Locust Street): Navigation decision point.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 43.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Dover, NH or browse trips ending in Canterbury, NH.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NH road trips.
