Origin
Dover, NH
Night in Dover on Wednesday
Local time
10:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dover, NH to Wakefield, NH
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
30 mi
48 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dover, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Wakefield, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Dover, NH to Wakefield, NH is 30 miles and takes about 45m via Spaulding Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within New Hampshire, moving from the Northeast region's coastal proximity into its inland areas. Most of the route is highway, making it a quick and efficient connection. Given its brevity, this drive is ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing for ample time to enjoy your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Spaulding Turnpike | 20.8 mi | 26m |
| Wakefield Road | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| White Mountain Highway | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Central Avenue | 1.9 mi | 5m |
| Indian Brook Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Spaulding Turnpike
— 20.8 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dover, NH and Wakefield, NH.
1
Start on this road
21 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn sharp left onto NH 9; NH 108
320 ft
·
11 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn straight onto NH 9; NH 108
1.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto Indian Brook Drive
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Indian Brook Drive
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Spaulding Turnpike North, NH 16 North: Rochester
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto NH 16
21 mi
·
26 min
·
Spaulding Turnpike
7
Continue on NH 16
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
White Mountain Highway
8
Take the exit
185 ft
·
10 sec
9
Turn left onto NH 153
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Wakefield Road
10
Turn left
173 ft
·
12 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 26.6 — 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
4
2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Indian Brook Drive
Turn left onto Indian Brook Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
2.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward Spaulding Turnpike North, NH 16 North: Rochester
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Spaulding Turnpike North, NH 16 North: R...
5
26.6 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
26.6 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
NH 153 / Wakefield Road
Turn left onto NH 153 / Wakefield Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.00 one way
$9.99 round trip
$4.23/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $5.55 | $11.09 |
| premium | $5.07 | $5.98 | $11.97 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $6.61 | $13.23 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.46
Spaulding Turnpike
(20.8 mi)
$1.46
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9 | 0 | $3.15 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.20 | $1.92 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (60% 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.
Destination
Wakefield, NH
Night in Wakefield on Wednesday
Local time
10:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Rochester, NH
15 mi in
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
45m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 69% of the 30 miles on roads like the Spaulding Turnpike. You'll experience a stretch of 20.8 miles on the Spaulding Turnpike before transitioning to Wakefield Road and then White Mountain Highway. Expect a more rural feel as you move off the main turnpike and onto these surface roads.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.8 mi on Spaulding Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Spaulding Turnpike and Wakefield Road. You will hit about 8 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.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 30 miles you will encounter 8 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 miles (Indian Brook Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
728 ft
66 ft
Total Climb
990 ft
Total Descent
387 ft
Highest Point
728 ft
~19.3 mi in
Elevation Range
662 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Wakefield, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Spaulding Turnpike North along the way.
Spaulding Turnpike North
2.3 mi in
|
~6m
About the Cities
Starting in Dover, NH
Full guide →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
- • Woodman Institute Museum — historic house in New Hampshire, United States
- • Cocheco Mills
- • Sawyer Woolen Mills — historic district in Dover, United States of America
Arriving in Wakefield, NH
Full guide →Founded 1774
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 30 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.8 miles on Spaulding Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.46 in tolls one way, starting with Spaulding Turnpike. 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.
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 2 miles (Indian Brook Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wakefield, NH before heading back.
How this page is built
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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