Dover to Wilton is 63.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 33 minutes via NH 101 and Calef Highway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within New Hampshire, beginning in the Northeast region and ending in the same area. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on highways, making it a convenient option for a short trip between these two points. Given its duration, it's easily manageable as a same-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
31.8 miles from Dover, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NH 101
43.5 mi
58m
Calef Highway
9.6 mi
14m
Knox Marsh Road
3.2 mi
5m
Concord Road
1.3 mi
1m
Lee Road
1.3 mi
2m
Turtle Pond Road
1.1 mi
2m
Elm Street
0.8 mi
1m
Silver Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
NH 101
— 43.5 mi, about 58m
Traffic on I-293
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 3 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,588 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~166 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
27.6×
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 Wilton, 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 NH 125
290 ft·8 sec·Calef Highway
15
Continue on NH 125
9.6 mi·14 min·Calef Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Use the right lane.
17
Merge onto NH 101
20 mi·23 min·NH 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto NH 101
3.3 mi·4 min·NH 101
Toward I 293 North, NH 101 West: Manchester Airport, Manchester, BedfordUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto NH 101
2.2 mi·3 min·NH 101
Toward NH 101 West: Bedford, Nashua
20
Turn left onto NH 101
0.4 mi·48 sec·NH 101
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on NH 101
17 mi·25 min·NH 101
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Turn left onto NH 101
0.8 mi·1 min·Elm Street
23
Turn right onto Wilton Road
0.4 mi·45 sec·Wilton Road
24
Turn right onto Madison Street
519 ft·28 sec·Madison Street
25
At end of road, turn left onto Maple Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Maple Street
26
Arrive at destination
Maple Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours, this trip offers considerable flexibility. You can depart anytime, but leaving in the morning or early afternoon will give you ample daylight for the drive and any potential detours. The longest stretch without exits is 43.5 miles on NH 101, so ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on that segment. Given the short distance and estimated $11 fuel cost, you won't need extensive rest stops, but a quick break around the halfway point might be comfortable.
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 31.8 miles from Dover, NH, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.5 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 14 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31.8 miles or 47m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wilton, 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 63.7 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Dover, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NH 101 for about 43.5 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 42.1 — 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
8
38.8 mi into trip|~55m in|NH 101
Keep slight right at fork onto NH 101 toward I 293 North, NH 101 West: Manchester Airport, Manchester, Bedford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 293 North, NH 101 West: Manchester Air...
6
42.1 mi into trip|~59m in|NH 101
Keep slight left at fork onto NH 101 toward NH 101 West: Bedford, Nashua
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NH 101 West: Bedford, Nashua
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.26 one way
$22.52 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg22 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$12.33
$24.67
premium
$5.29
$13.26
$26.53
diesel
$5.35
$13.42
$26.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.1
0
$6.69
$3.06
Efficient EV
15.9
0
$5.57
$2.55
EV Truck/SUV
25.5
0
$8.92
$4.08
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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 May 21, 2026
Origin
Dover, NH
Afternoon
in Dover on Wednesday
Local time
3:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 5 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 21 at 2:27AM EDT until May 22 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gray ME
Destination
Wilton, NH
Afternoon
in Wilton on Wednesday
Local time
3:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 21 at 2:27AM EDT until May 22 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gray ME
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
1h 33m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 68% of the driving taking place on limited-access roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 43.5 miles on NH 101 before transitioning to surface roads like Calef Highway and Knox Marsh Road. Expect a consistent cruising pace for a significant portion of the drive, with fewer exits and more open stretches on the highway segments.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.5 mi on NH 101.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NH 101 and Calef Highway. 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 Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.7 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 1.3 miles (NH 9 / Knox Marsh Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
385 ft66 ft
Total Climb
512 ft
Total Descent
196 ft
Highest Point
385 ft
~27.3 mi in
Elevation Range
319 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dover, NH and Wilton, NH, road signs point toward Manchester, Bedford and Nashua.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 63.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.5 miles on NH 101. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Wilton, 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wilton, NH before heading back.
