Keene to Atkinson is 94.1 miles and takes about 2h 3m via I 495 and Concord Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Hampshire, connecting two points in the Northeast region. The drive primarily utilizes major roadways, making it a straightforward connection. With a low estimated fuel cost and a short duration, this route is ideal for a quick trip where you want to minimize time on the road and maximize your time at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47 miles from Keene, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 495
31.1 mi
36m
Concord Turnpike
12.3 mi
16m
MA 140
11.7 mi
17m
Green Street
6.2 mi
7m
Main Street
5.4 mi
11m
NH Route 12 North
5.1 mi
5m
Monadnock Highway
3.4 mi
3m
Gardner Road
3.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 31.1 mi, about 36m
Traffic on I-495
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 254 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,355 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,028
Quietest
2 AM
~309 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Atkinson, 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 left at fork onto Central Square
222 ft·6 sec·Central Square
4
Continue on Central Square
248 ft·7 sec·Central Square
5
Continue on Main Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Main Street
6
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
123 ft·2 sec·Main Street
7
Continue on Main Street
1.5 mi·2 min·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on NH 12
0.3 mi·21 sec·Monadnock Highway
9
Enter roundabout onto NH 12
89 ft·1 sec·Monadnock Highway
10
Continue on NH 12
3.1 mi·3 min·Monadnock Highway
11
Continue on NH 12
1.5 mi·1 min·NH Route 12
12
Continue on NH 12
2.6 mi·2 min·North Main Street
13
Merge onto NH 12
0.1 mi·8 sec·Central Square
14
Keep slight right at fork onto NH 12
0.2 mi·14 sec·South Main Street
15
Turn straight onto NH 12
1.2 mi·1 min·Fitzwilliam Road
16
Continue on NH 12
5.1 mi·5 min·NH Route 12 North
17
Continue on NH 12
2.9 mi·3 min·State Route 12
18
Continue on MA 12
3.0 mi·3 min·School Street
19
Turn left onto US 202; MA 12
0.2 mi·21 sec·Front Street
20
Turn slight left onto Spring Street
2.3 mi·2 min·Spring Street
21
Continue on MA 12
3.4 mi·3 min·Gardner Road
22
Continue on MA 140
6.2 mi·7 min·Green Street
23
Take the exit onto MA 140
12 mi·17 min·MA 140
24
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
12 mi·16 min·Concord Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Exit 113BToward I 495 North: LowellUse the right lane.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
27
Merge onto I 495
31 mi·36 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 109BToward MA 125 North: Plaistow New Hampshire
29
Continue on MA 125
1.4 mi·3 min·Main Street
30
Continue on NH 121
0.4 mi·57 sec·Atkinson Depot Road
31
Continue on NH 121
2.1 mi·4 min·Main Street
32
Turn right onto Leroy Avenue
0.1 mi·31 sec·Leroy Avenue
33
Arrive at destination
Leroy Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just over 2 hours, this route offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart mid-morning to avoid early rush hour or leave anytime in the afternoon. There are no specific stops recommended, so you can decide on the fly if you need to pull over. Plan for your fuel needs, as the estimated cost is around $15, and consider that the longest stretch without significant exits is over 30 miles on I 495, so ensure you're comfortable before that segment.
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 47 miles from Keene, NH, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.1 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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47 miles or 1h 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atkinson, 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 94.1 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Keene, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 495 for about 31.1 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 58.5 — 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
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Central Square
Keep slight left at fork onto Central Square
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
45.6 mi into trip|~58m in|MA 2 / Concord Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2 / Concord Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
58 mi into trip|~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 113B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
6
58.5 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.27 one way
$32.54 round trip
$4.39/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$18.15
$36.30
premium
$5.27
$19.53
$39.06
diesel
$6.28
$23.25
$46.50
Estimated Tolls: $0.86
Concord Turnpike
(12.3 mi)$0.86
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
$16
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.2
0
$9.88
$4.52
Efficient EV
23.5
0
$8.23
$3.76
EV Truck/SUV
37.6
0
$13.17
$6.02
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 24, 2026
Origin
Keene, NH
Evening
in Keene on Saturday
Local time
8:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
21°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Atkinson, NH
Evening
in Atkinson on Saturday
Local time
8:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
31°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
42°F
Westminster, MA
47 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
10 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 drive is mostly highway, with 69% of the 94.1 miles on major roads like I 495 and Concord Turnpike. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 31.1 miles on I 495, which means you'll likely encounter consistent traffic flow and fewer exits for a significant portion of the trip. The route transitions from highway driving to surface roads as you approach Atkinson.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.1 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and Concord Turnpike. 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 Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 94.1 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; near the start (Central Square): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 45.6 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,148 ft53 ft
Total Climb
921 ft
Total Descent
1,096 ft
Highest Point
1,148 ft
~26.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,096 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 Atkinson, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Lawrence along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 94.1 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 (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.1 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.86 in tolls one way, starting with Concord 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 — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Atkinson, 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. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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; near the start (Central Square): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 45.6 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Atkinson, NH before heading back.
