Keene to Alton is 81.8 miles and takes about 2h 3m via Franklin Pierce Highway, Suncook Valley Road, and Route 9, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New Hampshire, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a mixed drive, meaning you'll encounter a variety of road types rather than a single highway experience. Given its relatively short duration and manageable distance, this route is ideal for a single-day trip, allowing for a leisurely pace and perhaps a brief stop or two if you choose. Consider this if you're looking for a straightforward drive across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.9 miles from Keene, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Franklin Pierce Highway
19.5 mi
26m
Suncook Valley Road
16.5 mi
25m
Route 9
11.8 mi
16m
I 89
8.3 mi
10m
Keene Road
5.7 mi
8m
I 393
4.4 mi
6m
Main Street
2.5 mi
5m
Dover Road
2.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Franklin Pierce Highway
— 19.5 mi, about 26m
Traffic on I-89
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 3 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,385 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,924
Quietest
1 AM
~85 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
28.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Keene, NH and Alton, NH.
1
Start on Roxbury Street
33 ft·3 sec·Roxbury Street
2
Turn right onto Central Square
147 ft·3 sec·Central Square
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Keep slight right at fork onto Washington Street
1.6 mi·4 min·Washington Street
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·12 sec
5
Merge onto NH 9; NH 10
3.3 mi·4 min·Route 9
6
Continue on NH 9
1.5 mi·2 min·NH Route 9
7
Continue on NH 9
1.8 mi·2 min·Route 9
8
Continue on NH 9
3.3 mi·4 min·Franklin Pierce Highway
9
Continue on NH 9
6.7 mi·9 min·Route 9
10
Continue on NH 9
5.7 mi·8 min·Keene Road
11
Continue on NH 9; NH 31
1.9 mi·2 min·West Main Street
12
Turn straight onto NH 9
16 mi·22 min·Franklin Pierce Highway
Use the straight lane.
13
Merge onto I 89
8.3 mi·10 min·I 89
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto NH 3A
0.3 mi·41 sec·Route 3-A
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Continue on NH 3A
420 ft·10 sec·South Main Street
16
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·53 sec
Toward I 93 North
17
Merge onto I 93
1.7 mi·2 min·Everett Turnpike
18
Continue on I 93
0.5 mi·42 sec·Styles Bridges Highway
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 15EToward I 393 East, US 4 East, US 202 East: Loudon, Portsmouth
20
Merge onto I 393; US 4; US 202
4.4 mi·6 min·I 393; US 4; US 202
21
Continue on NH 9; US 4; US 202
0.2 mi·17 sec·Loudon Road
22
Continue on US 4; US 202; NH 9
2.4 mi·3 min·Dover Road
23
Turn left onto Main Street
2.5 mi·5 min·Main Street
Use the left lane.
24
At end of road, turn left onto NH 28
3.7 mi·5 min·Suncook Valley Road
25
Continue on NH 28
0.3 mi·30 sec·Suncook Valley Highway
26
Continue on NH 28
1.1 mi·2 min·Suncook Valley Road
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on NH 28
1.0 mi·1 min·Suncook Valley Highway
28
Continue on NH 28
12 mi·18 min·Suncook Valley Road
Use the right lane.
29
Enter roundabout onto NH 11; NH 28A
0.2 mi·31 sec·NH 11; NH 28A
30
Continue on NH 11; NH 28A
0.3 mi·43 sec·NH 11; NH 28A
31
Turn left
336 ft·24 sec
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 2 hours and a fuel cost around $13, this is a very manageable one-day trip. You could comfortably leave Keene in the morning and arrive in Alton by lunchtime. Since the drive is not excessively long, you have flexibility with your departure time. While there are no specific stops mandated by the route data, consider fueling up before you leave Keene to ensure you have a full tank for the 81.8-mile journey, as the longest stretch without major road changes is 19.5 miles.
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 40.9 miles from Keene, NH, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.5 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 18 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.9 miles or 59m 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 Alton, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Keene, 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 Keene, NH
This is one driving day of about 81.8 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Keene, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Franklin Pierce Highway for about 19.5 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 81.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Central Square
Turn right onto Central Square
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
42.2 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|I 89
Merge onto I 89
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
50.5 mi into trip|~1h 12m in|NH 3A / Route 3-A
Turn left onto NH 3A / Route 3-A
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
53.6 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 393 East, US 4 East, US 202 East: Loudon, Portsmouth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 15E
Toward I 393 East, US 4 East, US 202 East: Loud...
5
81.7 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.46 one way
$28.92 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$15.84
$31.68
premium
$5.29
$17.03
$34.07
diesel
$5.35
$17.23
$34.46
Estimated Tolls: $0.12
Everett Turnpike
(1.7 mi)$0.12
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
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.5
0
$8.59
$3.93
Efficient EV
20.5
0
$7.16
$3.27
EV Truck/SUV
32.7
0
$11.45
$5.24
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Keene, NH
Afternoon
in Keene on Wednesday
Local time
3:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Patchy Fog
NW 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Alton, NH
Afternoon
in Alton on Wednesday
Local time
3:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Isolated Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
NE 5 mph20% chanceLive forecast
50°F
Webster, NH
41 mi in
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
20 degrees warmer 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with only 35% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on well-maintained state routes like Franklin Pierce Highway, Suncook Valley Road, and Route 9. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 19.5 miles on Franklin Pierce Highway, providing a solid period of consistent driving. Expect the road to transition from more open highway sections to potentially more local road segments as you progress, offering a varied feel behind the wheel.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.5 mi on Franklin Pierce Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 Central Square.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 81.8 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 (Central Square): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.2 miles (I 89): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.5 miles (NH 3A / Route 3-A): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,351 ft231 ft
Total Climb
1,305 ft
Total Descent
1,245 ft
Highest Point
1,351 ft
~11.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,120 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 Keene, NH to Alton, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Portsmouth along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 81.8 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 (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.5 miles on Franklin Pierce Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.12 in tolls one way, starting with Everett 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.
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 Alton, 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 (Central Square): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.2 miles (I 89): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.5 miles (NH 3A / Route 3-A): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Alton, NH before heading back.
