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Trip from Keene, NH to Exeter, NH

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 3m

Distance

91.8 mi

148 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 54m ★
6 AM
2h 3m
8 AM
2h 21m
10 AM
2h 9m
12 PM
2h 7m
3 PM
2h 10m
5 PM
2h 20m
8 PM
1h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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city in New Hampshire, United States

Keene, NH

Wikimedia Commons

town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States

Exeter, NH

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Keene, NH to Exeter, NH covers 91.8 miles and takes about 2h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on NH 101, Franklin Pierce Highway, Route 9 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 25.1 miles on NH 101. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.29 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

45.9 miles from Keene, NH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
NH 101 25.1 mi 29m
Franklin Pierce Highway 19.5 mi 26m
Route 9 11.8 mi 16m
I 89 7.9 mi 9m
Everett Turnpike 7.6 mi 8m
Keene Road 5.7 mi 8m
I 93 5.7 mi 6m
West Main Street 1.9 mi 2m
Longest stretch: NH 101 — 25.1 mi, about 29m

Traffic on I-93

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 29 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~4,228 veh/hr typical · worst 4,949

Quietest

2 AM

~143 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

29.6×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 101 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 Exeter, 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

7.9 mi · 9 min · I 89
14

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 93 South Toll: Manchester, Boston
15

Merge onto I 93

5.7 mi · 6 min · Everett Turnpike
16

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93

2.0 mi · 2 min · Everett Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 93

5.7 mi · 6 min · I 93
Toward I 93 South: Salem, Boston Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Exit 7 Toward NH 101 East: Seacoast, Portsmouth
19

Merge onto NH 101

25 mi · 29 min · NH 101
20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Exit 10 Toward NH 85: Exeter, Newfields Use the slight right lane.
21

Turn right onto NH 85

0.9 mi · 1 min · Newfields Road
22

Continue on NH 85

0.5 mi · 1 min · Water Street
23

At end of road, turn left onto NH 27

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Water Street
24

Arrive at destination

NH 27

Trip Plan

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 45.9 miles from Keene, NH, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.1 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 20 miles or 30m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 45.9 miles or 1h 6m 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 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Exeter, 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 91.8 miles and 2h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Keene, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NH 101 for about 25.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Webster, NH, NH

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Webster, NH

46 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

Stoddard, NH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Concord, NH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 45.9 miles from Keene, 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop

Stage Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Keene, New Hampshire

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $20 to $30

Hours: 11:30 am–9:30 pm

+16033578389

Visit website

Lindy's Diner

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Keene, New Hampshire

0.1 mi

Kurama Omakase

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Keene, New Hampshire

0.1 mi

Best coffee break

Prime Roast Coffee Co

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Keene, New Hampshire

Near the start, right off the route

0 mi from route $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+16033527874

Visit website

Brewbakers Café

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Keene, New Hampshire

0.2 mi

Monadnock Food Co-op

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Keene, New Hampshire

0.2 mi

Stage Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $20 to $30

Keene, New Hampshire

Hours: 11:30 am–9:30 pm

+16033578389

Visit website

Lindy's Diner

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Keene, New Hampshire

Hours: 6 am–1:45 pm

+16033524273

Visit website

Kurama Omakase

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route Moderately

Keene, New Hampshire

Hours: 11 am–10:30 pm

+16033553888

Visit website

Granita Enoteca

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $50 to $10

Keene, New Hampshire

Hours: 5–9 pm

+16033555242

Visit website

Pub Restaurant & Caterers

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Keene, New Hampshire

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+16033523135

Visit website

Tempesta's Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30

Keene, New Hampshire

Hours: 11:30 am–2 pm

+16033551311

Visit website

Papagallos Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30

Swanzey, New Hampshire

Hours: 4–9:30 pm

+16033529400

Visit website

Cotton Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

Final third 3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $30 to $50

Manchester, New Hampshire

Hours: 5–8:30 pm

+16036225488

Visit website

Prime Roast Coffee Co

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0 mi from route $1 to $10

Keene, New Hampshire

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+16033527874

Visit website

Brewbakers Café

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Keene, New Hampshire

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+16033578728

Visit website

Monadnock Food Co-op

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

Keene, New Hampshire

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+16033558008

Visit website

Aroma Joe's Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Keene, New Hampshire

Hours: 5 am–9 pm

+16033520233

Visit website

Chapters Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Keene, New Hampshire

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+16033521558

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Final third 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Hooksett, New Hampshire

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

Hooksett, New Hampshire

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18882642208

Visit website

Ford Charging Station

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Bow, New Hampshire

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18883571009

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Hooksett, New Hampshire

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Hooksett, NH

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

Final third 3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour

Manchester, New Hampshire

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.2 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

Final third 3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour

Manchester, New Hampshire

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

Halfway reset 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Concord, New Hampshire

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Lab'n Lager

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour Inexpensiv

Keene, New Hampshire

Hours: 3 pm–1 am

+16033520028

Pats Peak Ski Area

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Henniker, New Hampshire

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+16034283245

Visit website

Manchester Historic Association's Millyard Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

Final third 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Manchester, New Hampshire

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+16036227531

Visit website

SEE Science Center

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

Final third 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Manchester, New Hampshire

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+16036690400

Visit website

Flag Hill Distillery & Winery

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

Lee, New Hampshire

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+16036592949

Visit website

Fun City Trampoline Park Goffstown

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

Final third 4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour

Goffstown, New Hampshire

Hours: 3–8 pm

+16036068807

Visit website

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 90 — 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.
6
56.4 mi into trip | ~1h 19m in | I 93 / Everett Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93 / Everett Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
58.3 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in | I 93

Keep slight right at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 South: Salem, Boston

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 93 South: Salem, Boston
6
64.1 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in

Take the exit toward NH 101 East: Seacoast, Portsmouth

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 7 Toward NH 101 East: Seacoast, Portsmouth
8
90 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in

Take the exit toward NH 85: Exeter, Newfields

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 10 Toward NH 85: Exeter, Newfields

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.29 one way

$30.58 round trip

$4.23/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.70 $16.97 $33.94
premium $5.07 $18.31 $36.62
diesel $5.60 $20.24 $40.47

Estimated Tolls: $0.54

Everett Turnpike (7.6 mi) $0.54

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

$15

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 27.5 0 $9.64 $4.41
Efficient EV 23 0 $8.03 $3.67
EV Truck/SUV 36.7 0 $12.85 $5.88

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 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 Aug 30, 2026

Origin

Keene, NH

Late night in Keene on Wednesday

Local time

3:16 AM

EDT

Current temp

82°F

Partly Sunny

SW 0 to 5 mph 6% chance Live forecast

Destination

Exeter, NH

Late night in Exeter on Wednesday

Local time

3:16 AM

EDT

Current temp

85°F

Partly Sunny

W 5 to 10 mph 2% chance Live forecast

78°F

Webster, NH

46 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

3 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.

What kind of drive is this?

91.8 mi in 2h 3m, mostly highway — 25.1 mi of that is on NH 101.

65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.1 mi on NH 101.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NH 101 and Franklin Pierce 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 Central Square.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 91.8 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 56.4 miles (I 93 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.3 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,424 ft 24 ft

Total Climb

1,075 ft

Total Descent

1,533 ft

Highest Point

1,424 ft

~13.1 mi in

Elevation Range

1,400 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Keene, NH and Exeter, NH, road signs point toward Boston and Portsmouth.

Boston

50.1 mi in | ~1h 11m

Portsmouth

64.1 mi in | ~1h 28m

About the Cities

Starting in Keene, NH

Full guide →

Founded 1736

Keene is a city in southern New Hampshire.

Top landmarks

  • • Dinsmoor-Hale House — historic house in New Hampshire, United States
  • • President's House — building on campus of Keene State College
  • • Stone Arch Bridge — historic bridge in Keene, New Hampshire

Arriving in Exeter, NH

Full guide →

Founded 1638

Exeter is a town in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire.

Top landmarks

  • • Front Street Historic District — historic district in Exeter, New Hampshire
  • • Exeter Waterfront Commercial Historic District — park in Exeter, Rockingham County, United States of America

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 2h 3m. Total distance: 91.8 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 (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 25.1 miles on NH 101. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.54 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 Exeter, 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 56.4 miles (I 93 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.3 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Exeter, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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