Dover, NH to Grafton, NH is 75.1 miles and takes about 2h 3m via Old Turnpike Road and U.S. Route 4, with a fuel budget near $12 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 mix of driving experiences on this route, which is generally suited for a single day of travel. It's a straightforward drive that doesn't require extensive planning, making it a convenient option for a quick excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.5 miles from Dover, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Old Turnpike Road
10.5 mi
16m
U.S. Route 4
10.3 mi
17m
Dover Road
9.2 mi
15m
First New Hampshire Turnpike
7.8 mi
12m
US 4
6.5 mi
8m
Main Street
5.1 mi
9m
High Street
5 mi
7m
I 393
4.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Old Turnpike Road
— 10.5 mi, about 16m
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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Grafton, 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
2.3 mi·3 min·Main Street
35
Turn sharp left
46 ft·3 sec
36
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 3m duration, leaving Dover in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Grafton without feeling rushed. With only 75.1 miles and a $12 fuel estimate, this is a flexible trip; you can depart at your leisure. There are no designated stops provided, so plan any breaks as needed, perhaps around the halfway point or when you transition off the main highway sections. Pay attention to road signage as you move from U.S. Route 4 onto local roads heading into Grafton.
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 37.5 miles from Dover, NH, or about 1h 1m 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 17 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.5 miles or 1h 1m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grafton, 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 75.1 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 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
$13.28 one way
$26.55 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$14.54
$29.08
premium
$5.29
$15.64
$31.28
diesel
$5.35
$15.82
$31.64
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: 26.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.5
0
$7.89
$3.60
Efficient EV
18.8
0
$6.57
$3.00
EV Truck/SUV
30
0
$10.51
$4.81
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Dover, NH
Afternoon
in Dover on Wednesday
Local time
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Scattered Rain Showers
NE 5 mph32% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Grafton, NH
Afternoon
in Grafton on Wednesday
Local time
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Isolated Rain Showers
0 mph24% 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
2 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 3m 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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
$10
near mile 75.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 55% of this 75.1-mile drive is on highways, with the remainder on surface roads. You'll encounter a stretch of 10.5 miles on Old Turnpike Road, which likely offers a more local driving feel. The transition from highway to surface roads will be noticeable as you progress towards Grafton. Expect a varied driving experience, moving from faster-paced highway sections to slower, more direct routes.
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 is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 75.1 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
841 ft66 ft
Total Climb
1,352 ft
Total Descent
577 ft
Highest Point
841 ft
~75.1 mi in
Elevation Range
775 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 Grafton, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Boscawen along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 75.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m 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 Grafton, 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 Grafton, NH before heading back.
