Keene to Strafford is 78.2 miles and takes about 2 hours via Franklin Pierce Highway and Route 9, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Hampshire, moving from the Monadnock Region towards the Seacoast. The drive offers a mix of highway and local road travel, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to connect these two points without a long commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.1 miles from Keene, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Franklin Pierce Highway
19.5 mi
26m
Route 9
11.8 mi
16m
I 89
8.3 mi
10m
Suncook Valley Road
7.5 mi
11m
Keene Road
5.7 mi
8m
I 393
4.4 mi
6m
South Barnstead Road
3.9 mi
7m
Main Street
2.5 mi
5m
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 Strafford, 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
2.7 mi·3 min·Suncook Valley Road
Use the right lane.
29
Turn right onto NH 126
3.9 mi·7 min·South Barnstead Road
Use the right lane.
30
Turn left onto Welch Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Welch Road
31
Turn left onto New Road
35 ft·2 sec·New Road
32
Turn right onto Tom Berry Road
1.3 mi·3 min·Tom Berry Road
33
Turn right onto Barn Door Gap Road
496 ft·18 sec·Barn Door Gap Road
34
Turn left
42 ft·3 sec
35
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour drive, leaving Keene in the morning allows ample time to reach Strafford without feeling rushed. Since it's a shorter trip with no designated stops, you have flexibility to take breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $14, and plan your last refueling stop before you begin the final leg. The longest stretch without a road change is 19.5 miles on Franklin Pierce Highway, so be aware of that segment if you prefer to break up longer periods of driving.
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 39.1 miles from Keene, NH, or about 57m 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 17 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.1 miles or 57m 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 Strafford, 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 78.2 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 72.2 — 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...
6
72.2 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|NH 126 / South Barnstead Road
Turn right onto NH 126 / South Barnstead Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.82 one way
$27.65 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$15.14
$30.28
premium
$5.29
$16.28
$32.57
diesel
$5.35
$16.47
$32.94
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
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.5
0
$8.21
$3.75
Efficient EV
19.6
0
$6.84
$3.13
EV Truck/SUV
31.3
0
$10.95
$5.00
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 3, 2026
Origin
Keene, NH
Afternoon
in Keene on Wednesday
Local time
4:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Strafford, NH
Afternoon
in Strafford on Wednesday
Local time
4:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph2% chanceLive forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 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?
About 36% of this 78.2-mile drive is on highways. The longest stretch without a major road change is 19.5 miles on Franklin Pierce Highway. You'll transition from higher-speed highway driving to more local road conditions as you progress. Expect to notice the change in pace as you move between the limited-access sections and the surface streets.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
35 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?
9/10
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 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 18 significant decision points across 78.2 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
1,432 ft233 ft
Total Climb
1,397 ft
Total Descent
1,250 ft
Highest Point
1,432 ft
~11.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,199 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 Strafford, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Portsmouth along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h. Total distance: 78.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). 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 Strafford, 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 Strafford, NH before heading back.
