Keene to Plaistow is 93.1 miles and takes about 1h 59m via I 495 and Concord Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, traversing New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It's a fairly direct route, mostly utilizing major highways. Given the relatively short duration, it's a straightforward drive suitable for a single day. You'll likely find it a practical option for getting between these two points without significant detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.5 miles from Keene, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 495
30.8 mi
36m
Concord Turnpike
12.3 mi
16m
MA 140
11.7 mi
17m
Green Street
6.2 mi
7m
NH Route 12 North
5.1 mi
5m
Monadnock Highway
3.4 mi
3m
Main Street
3.4 mi
6m
Gardner Road
3.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 30.8 mi, about 36m
Traffic on I-495
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 127 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,337 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~304 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.3×
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 Keene, NH and Plaistow, 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·48 sec
Exit 109AToward MA 125 South: Haverhill
29
Turn slight right onto MA 125
0.2 mi·29 sec·Main Street
30
Turn slight left onto Marsh Avenue
0.2 mi·27 sec·Marsh Avenue
31
Continue on North Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·North Avenue
32
Turn right onto NH 121A
1.3 mi·2 min·Main Street
33
Arrive at destination
NH 121A
Trip Plan
Since this trip is just under 2 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. Leaving mid-morning could help you avoid the worst of any commuter traffic. With only 93.1 miles, you won't need extensive rest stops, but a quick break around the halfway point would be comfortable. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is around $15, and it's always wise to top up before you're running on empty. The longest stretch on I 495 is over 30 miles, so plan for that continuous highway time.
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 46.5 miles from Keene, NH, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.8 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 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.5 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Plaistow, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Keene, NH
This is one driving day of about 93.1 miles and 1h 59m.
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 I 495 for about 30.8 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
$16.46 one way
$32.91 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$18.03
$36.05
premium
$5.29
$19.39
$38.77
diesel
$5.35
$19.61
$39.22
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: 32.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.9
0
$9.78
$4.47
Efficient EV
23.3
0
$8.15
$3.72
EV Truck/SUV
37.2
0
$13.03
$5.96
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Keene, NH
Afternoon
in Keene on Wednesday
Local time
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Patchy Fog
NW 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Plaistow, NH
Afternoon
in Plaistow on Wednesday
Local time
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Scattered Rain Showers
N 5 mph31% chanceLive forecast
53°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
4 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
1h 59m 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 93.1 miles on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 30.8 miles on I 495. After the highway segments, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Expect to encounter a series of exits and potential traffic merging as you navigate through more populated areas on the Concord Turnpike.
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: 30.8 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
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 93.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 (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
1,179 ft41 ft
Total Climb
1,006 ft
Total Descent
1,391 ft
Highest Point
1,179 ft
~33.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,138 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 Plaistow, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Lawrence along the way.
The Seacoast is a region in New Hampshire along the state's 18 mile long coast, between Maine and Massachusetts. It contains several large communities, and a handful of smaller towns and villages. The region is unique in New Hampshire for its historical significance.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 93.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m 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 30.8 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 Plaistow, 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 (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 Plaistow, NH before heading back.
