Nashua, NH to Sandwich, NH is 86.5 miles and takes about 2 hours via Everett Turnpike and NH 104, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within New Hampshire, moving from the bustling Northeast region towards a more rural setting. You'll experience a mix of highway speeds and local road cruising, making it a straightforward drive for a single day. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to get between these two points without a significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.3 miles from Nashua, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Everett Turnpike
32 mi
39m
Styles Bridges Highway
30 mi
33m
NH 104
8.3 mi
12m
Whittier Highway
6.4 mi
13m
Whittier Street
3.1 mi
6m
Holland Street
1.7 mi
3m
Amherst Street
1.4 mi
3m
Wentworth Hill Road
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Everett Turnpike
— 32 mi, about 39m
Traffic on I-93
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,422 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,053
Quietest
2 AM
~108 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
31.7×
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 Nashua, NH and Sandwich, NH.
1
Start on NH 101A
27 ft·4 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto NH 101A
1.4 mi·3 min·Amherst Street
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
4
Merge onto Everett Turnpike
22 mi·27 min·Everett Turnpike
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
10 mi·12 min·Everett Turnpike
6
Continue on I 93
17 mi·19 min·Styles Bridges Highway
7
Continue on I 93
0.7 mi·46 sec·Sen Styles Bridges Highway
8
Continue on I 93
13 mi·14 min·Styles Bridges Highway
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 23Toward NH 104, NH 132: Meredith, New HamptonUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto NH 104
4.7 mi·7 min·NH 104
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on NH 104
3.6 mi·5 min·NH 104
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto US 3
0.9 mi·2 min·Daniel Webster Highway
Use the left lane.
13
Turn slight right
138 ft·7 sec
Toward NH 25 East
14
Turn right onto NH 25
0.1 mi·12 sec·Winnipesaukee Street
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on NH 25
3.1 mi·6 min·Whittier Street
16
Continue on NH 25
6.4 mi·13 min·Whittier Highway
17
Turn left onto NH 109
1.7 mi·3 min·Holland Street
18
Continue on NH 109
1.0 mi·1 min·Wentworth Hill Road
19
Arrive at destination
NH 109
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 2-hour drive, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. Leaving Nashua in the morning will get you to Sandwich with plenty of daylight remaining. With only 86.5 miles and a $14 fuel estimate, you likely won't need to worry about extensive stops for gas or long breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition off the Everett Turnpike onto NH 104, as services might be less frequent on the latter half of the route.
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 43.3 miles from Nashua, NH, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32 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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.3 miles or 55m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sandwich, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Nashua, 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 Nashua, NH
This is one driving day of about 86.5 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Nashua, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Everett Turnpike for about 32 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 74.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|NH 101A / Amherst Street
Turn left onto NH 101A / Amherst Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
64.6 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward NH 104, NH 132: Meredith, New Hampton
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 23
Toward NH 104, NH 132: Meredith, New Hampton
5
65 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|NH 104
Turn right onto NH 104
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
73.2 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|US 3 / Daniel Webster Highway
Turn left onto US 3 / Daniel Webster Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
74.2 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|NH 25 / Winnipesaukee Street
Turn right onto NH 25 / Winnipesaukee Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.29 one way
$30.58 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$16.75
$33.50
premium
$5.29
$18.01
$36.02
diesel
$5.35
$18.22
$36.44
Estimated Tolls: $2.24
Everett Turnpike
(21.9 mi)$1.53
Everett Turnpike
(10.2 mi)$0.71
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
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26
0
$9.08
$4.15
Efficient EV
21.6
0
$7.57
$3.46
EV Truck/SUV
34.6
0
$12.11
$5.54
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Nashua, NH
Afternoon
in Nashua on Wednesday
Local time
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Isolated Rain Showers
N 5 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Sandwich, NH
Afternoon
in Sandwich on Wednesday
Local time
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Scattered Rain Showers
0 mph33% 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 47% of this drive is on highways, beginning with the Everett Turnpike. You'll encounter a 32-mile stretch on the Everett Turnpike before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to navigate mixed highway and surface driving conditions for the majority of your trip. This means you'll experience periods of higher-speed travel followed by sections with more local traffic and intersections.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32 mi on Everett Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NH 101A / Amherst Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 (NH 101A / Amherst Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 64.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65 miles (NH 104): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
778 ft160 ft
Total Climb
872 ft
Total Descent
254 ft
Highest Point
778 ft
~86.5 mi in
Elevation Range
618 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 Nashua, NH to Sandwich, NH, road signs begin pointing toward New Hampton along the way.
Nashua is a city in the southern part of New Hampshire. It is the state's second largest city behind Manchester with a population of about 88,000 (2016).
Top landmarks
•Nashua Manufacturing Company Historic District — historic district in New Hampshire, United States
•Hunt Memorial Library — library in Nashua, New Hampshire, USA
•Abbot House — historic house in Nashua, New Hampshire, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h. Total distance: 86.5 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 (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32 miles on Everett Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.24 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.
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 Sandwich, 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 (NH 101A / Amherst Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 64.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65 miles (NH 104): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sandwich, NH before heading back.
