Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 59m
Distance
85.3 mi
137 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
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
Grantham, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Dover, NH to Grantham, NH is 85.3 miles and takes about 1h 59m via Main Street, Central Avenue, and Hale Street, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within New Hampshire, traversing the Northeast region. Since it's a relatively short drive, it's ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll spend the entire time on surface roads, so expect a more local driving experience rather than highway speeds. Consider this route if you prefer a more grounded, less hurried approach to covering this distance.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.6 miles from Dover, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 42.6 mi | 49m |
| Dover Road | 9.2 mi | 15m |
| First New Hampshire Turnpike | 7.8 mi | 12m |
| Old Turnpike Road | 5.1 mi | 7m |
| I 393 | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| Knox Marsh Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Everett Turnpike | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Old Concord Turnpike | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,701 veh/hr typical · worst 2,201
Quietest
1 AM
~64 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
26.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 93 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Dover, NH and Grantham, 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
Continue on I 393; US 202
Take the exit
Merge onto I 93
Continue on I 93
Take the exit
Merge onto I 89
Take the exit
Turn left onto Old State Route 10
Continue on NH 10
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Given this is a 1-day, under-2-hour drive with a $14 fuel cost, you have a lot of flexibility. Aim to depart mid-morning to avoid early rush hour and allow for any unforeseen delays. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed in the towns you pass through. No specific fuel or rest areas are highlighted, so keep an eye out for convenient spots along Main Street or Central Avenue. This route is straightforward, so focus on enjoying the local scenery as you make your way to Grantham.
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 19 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.6 miles or 1h 9m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grantham, NH than in the middle of the route.
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 85.3 miles and 1h 59m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 42.6 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 84.2 — 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
Take the exit toward I 93 South: Manchester, Lebanon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 89 North: Lebanon, White River Junction Vermont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NH 10: Grantham, Croydon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$14.21 one way
$28.42 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $15.77 | $31.53 |
| premium | $5.07 | $17.01 | $34.03 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $18.80 | $37.61 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.20
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
$14
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: 29.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.96 | $4.09 |
| Efficient EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.46 | $3.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.1 | 0 | $11.94 | $5.46 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 Wednesday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Grantham on Wednesday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Chance Rain Showers
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 85.3-mile drive is entirely on surface roads, with a 0% highway share. You'll be navigating through towns and local areas for the full duration. Expect to be on Main Street, Central Avenue, and Hale Street for much of your trip. Since there are no highway stretches, you won't encounter the typical dense exits or high-speed merging. Instead, anticipate a more consistent pace through populated areas.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and Dover Road. 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.3 miles you will encounter 19 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 37.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,919 ft
Total Descent
1,035 ft
Highest Point
1,292 ft
~79.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,227 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dover, NH and Grantham, NH, road signs point toward Lebanon and White River Junction Vermont.
Lebanon
White River Junction Vermont
Founded 1623
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.
Top landmarks
Founded 1761
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 85.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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