Dover, NH to Danbury, NH is 69.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 55 minutes via Old Turnpike Road, Dover Road, and First New Hampshire Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Hampshire, taking you from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you travel. It's a straightforward, relatively short drive, making it a good option for a single-day excursion when you don't want to spend too much time behind the wheel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.7 miles from Dover, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Old Turnpike Road
10.5 mi
16m
Dover Road
9.2 mi
15m
First New Hampshire Turnpike
7.8 mi
12m
U.S. Route 4
7 mi
11m
US 4
6.5 mi
8m
High Street
5 mi
7m
I 393
4.6 mi
6m
King Street
3.2 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Old Turnpike Road
— 10.5 mi, about 16m
Traffic on I-393
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 7 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,451 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,884
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 103 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 Danbury, 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
7.0 mi·11 min·U.S. Route 4
Use the right lane.
34
Turn slight right
136 ft·10 sec
Toward NH 104 East
35
Turn right onto NH 104
170 ft·4 sec·Ragged Mountain Highway
36
Arrive at destination
NH 104
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 55 minute duration, this is a perfect same-day trip. Aim to leave Dover in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only 69.5 miles and a fuel cost around $12, you won't need many stops. The longest stretch on a surface road is 10.5 miles, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering those sections. Plan for a brief stop around the halfway point if you like, but it's not strictly necessary for this relatively short distance.
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 34.7 miles from Dover, NH, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.5 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 15 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.7 miles or 57m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Danbury, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dover, NH
This is one driving day of about 69.5 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Dover, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Old Turnpike Road for about 10.5 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
$11.70 one way
$23.40 round trip
$4.28/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.88
$13.34
$26.68
premium
$5.33
$14.59
$29.18
diesel
$6.36
$17.39
$34.78
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
$12
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.9
0
$7.30
$3.34
Efficient EV
17.4
0
$6.08
$2.78
EV Truck/SUV
27.8
0
$9.73
$4.45
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Dover, NH
Afternoon
in Dover on Saturday
Local time
12:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 10 to 15 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Danbury, NH
Afternoon
in Danbury on Saturday
Local time
12:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
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
1h 55m 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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
$10
near mile 67.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 55% highway, meaning you'll transition from faster-paced driving to surface roads about halfway through. Your longest uninterrupted stretch on a surface road will be 10.5 miles on Old Turnpike Road. You'll notice the change from highway cruising to more local traffic patterns as you progress. Be prepared for a shift in speed and road environment.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.5 mi on Old Turnpike Road.
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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.5 miles you will encounter 22 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 1.3 miles (NH 9 / Knox Marsh Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
818 ft66 ft
Total Climb
1,381 ft
Total Descent
628 ft
Highest Point
818 ft
~69.5 mi in
Elevation Range
753 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 Danbury, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Boscawen along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 69.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). 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 10.5 miles on Old Turnpike Road. 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 Danbury, 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 1.3 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 Danbury, NH before heading back.
