Lincoln, NH to Bedford, NH is 84.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 41 minutes via Styles Bridges Highway and Everett Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Hampshire, moving from the Northeast region down towards another part of the Northeast. Expect a drive that involves more turns and local road segments rather than a straight shot on a major highway. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is well-suited for a quick trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a straightforward journey between these two New Hampshire locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.2 miles from Lincoln, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Styles Bridges Highway
46.9 mi
50m
Everett Turnpike
15.8 mi
18m
Senator Styles Bridges Highway
15.4 mi
17m
Main Street
1.7 mi
3m
Boynton Street
1.6 mi
3m
NH 101
1.1 mi
2m
McGregor Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Kancamagus Highway
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Styles Bridges Highway
— 46.9 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lincoln, NH and Bedford, NH.
1
Start on Church Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·Church Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto NH 112
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Continue on NH 112
0.4 mi·1 min·Kancamagus Highway
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 93
46 mi·49 min·Styles Bridges Highway
6
Continue on I 93
15 mi·17 min·Senator Styles Bridges Highway
7
Continue on I 93
0.7 mi·1 min·Styles Bridges Highway
8
Continue on I 93
8.9 mi·10 min·Everett Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
2.0 mi·2 min·Everett Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 293
4.9 mi·5 min·Everett Turnpike
Toward I 293 South: Manchester, NashuaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
401 ft·9 sec
Exit 6Toward Amoskeag Street, Goffstown Road
12
Keep slight left at fork
192 ft·11 sec
13
Turn left onto Eddy Road
0.3 mi·34 sec·Eddy Road
14
Continue on McGregor Street
0.4 mi·49 sec·McGregor Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on Main Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Main Street
16
Turn right onto Boynton Street
1.6 mi·3 min·Boynton Street
17
Continue on NH 101
0.4 mi·43 sec·NH 101
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on NH 101
0.7 mi·1 min·NH 101
19
Turn right onto Meetinghouse Road
0.1 mi·23 sec·Meetinghouse Road
20
Turn right onto Bedford Center Road
20 ft·0 sec·Bedford Center Road
21
Arrive at destination
Bedford Center Road
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 41-minute estimated drive time, this is easily a same-day trip, so you have flexibility on when to depart. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour if that's a concern in either area, and to allow for a relaxed pace. With a fuel cost estimate of around $14, it's an affordable journey. There are no specific stops recommended, so plan your own breaks for meals or stretching as needed. Pay close attention to navigation, especially during the segments on Styles Bridges Highway, as the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests frequent adjustments.
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 42.2 miles from Lincoln, NH, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.9 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 19 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.2 miles or 47m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bedford, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lincoln, NH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lincoln, NH
This is one driving day of about 84.4 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Lincoln, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Styles Bridges Highway for about 46.9 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 79.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
72.7 mi into trip|~1h 22m 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
74.7 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|I 293 / Everett Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 293 / Everett Turnpike toward I 293 South: Manchester, Nashua
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 293 South: Manchester, Nashua
6
79.5 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward Amoskeag Street, Goffstown Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 6
Toward Amoskeag Street, Goffstown Road
5
79.6 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.59 one way
$27.17 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$14.95
$29.90
premium
$4.86
$16.16
$32.32
diesel
$5.61
$18.63
$37.27
Estimated Tolls: $1.10
Everett Turnpike
(10.9 mi)$0.76
Everett Turnpike
(4.9 mi)$0.34
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
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.3
0
$8.86
$4.05
Efficient EV
21.1
0
$7.39
$3.38
EV Truck/SUV
33.8
0
$11.82
$5.40
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lincoln, NH
Night
in Lincoln on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
32°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bedford, NH
Night
in Bedford on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live 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
21 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 41m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 turn-heavy local drive experience for its 84.4 miles. While about 20% of the journey utilizes highway, the character is more about navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 46.9 miles on Styles Bridges Highway, providing a period of more consistent driving before transitioning. Be prepared for frequent changes in direction and speed as you move through different towns and road types. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; it's a drive that requires your attention to navigation.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.9 mi on Styles Bridges Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.4 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 72.7 miles (I 93 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.7 miles (I 293 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Lincoln, NH to Bedford, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Nashua along the way.
Nashua
74.7 mi in|~1h 25m|via I 293
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 84.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.9 miles on Styles Bridges Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.10 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 Bedford, 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: at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 72.7 miles (I 93 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.7 miles (I 293 / Everett Turnpike): 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 Bedford, NH before heading back.
