Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
50.5 mi
81 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
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
Sanbornton, NH
Mohan Nannapaneni
Dover, NH to Sanbornton, NH is 50.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 25 minutes via Main Street, Central Avenue, and Indian Brook Drive, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Hampshire, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a drive primarily on surface roads, offering a more local feel than a highway cruise. With no overnight stay recommended and a short duration, this route is ideal for a quick excursion or a leisurely afternoon drive.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire Route 140 | 10 mi | 17m |
| Spaulding Turnpike | 8.5 mi | 10m |
| Henry Wilson Highway | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| NH Route 11 | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| Frank C. Gilman Highway | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Depot Street | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Sanborn Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Farmington Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Dover, NH and Sanbornton, NH.
Start on this road
Turn sharp left onto NH 9; NH 108
Turn straight onto NH 9; NH 108
Turn left onto Indian Brook Drive
Take the ramp
Merge onto NH 16
Take the exit
Turn left onto NH 11
Continue on NH 11
Continue on NH 11
Enter roundabout onto NH 11; NH 28A
Continue on NH 11; NH 28A
Turn left onto NH 140
Continue on Frank C. Gilman Highway
Continue on NH 140
Continue on NH 140
Continue on NH 140
Continue on NH 140
Turn right onto NH 140
Continue on NH 140
Turn right onto US 3; NH 11; NH 132
Turn left onto NH 132
Turn sharp right onto Perkins Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.2 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 50.5 — 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
Take the ramp toward Spaulding Turnpike North, NH 16 North: Rochester
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NH 11 West: Farmington, Alton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto US 3; NH 11; NH 132 / Laconia Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn sharp right onto Perkins Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Regular Gas
$8.41 one way
$16.82 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $9.33 | $18.67 |
| premium | $5.07 | $10.07 | $20.14 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $11.13 | $22.26 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.59
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.30 | $2.42 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.42 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.07 | $3.23 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Evening in Dover on Friday
Local time
5:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Evening in Sanbornton on Friday
Local time
5:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Clear
55°F
Alton, NH
25 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 is entirely on surface roads, with 0% highway share. You'll be navigating local streets like Main Street and Central Avenue for the full 50.5 miles, with Indian Brook Drive also part of the path. The longest stretch without a significant break is not specified, but the overall duration suggests a continuous drive without extensive highway cruising. Be prepared for typical surface road conditions, which can include intersections and varying speed limits.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 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 50.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,232 ft
Total Descent
507 ft
Highest Point
986 ft
~39.7 mi in
Elevation Range
920 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Dover, NH to Sanbornton, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Alton along the way.
Alton
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 1770
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 50.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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