New Hampton to Keene is 85.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 52 minutes via Styles Bridges Highway and US 202, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Hampshire, connecting two points in the Northeast region. The drive offers a mix of highway and surface roads, making for a varied but manageable one-day excursion. You'll find it's a practical option for a short getaway or a convenient way to travel between these two areas without a significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.7 miles from New Hampton, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Styles Bridges Highway
15.7 mi
17m
US 202
15.5 mi
21m
Senator Styles Bridges Highway
15.4 mi
17m
Route 9
11.9 mi
16m
I 89
7.8 mi
9m
Keene Road
5.7 mi
8m
Franklin Pierce Highway
3.3 mi
4m
Everett Turnpike
2.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Styles Bridges Highway
— 15.7 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Hampton, NH and Keene, NH.
1
Start on NH 132
0.2 mi·39 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto NH 104
0.8 mi·1 min·New Hampshire Highway 104
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 93 South: Tilton, ConcordUse the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 93
15 mi·16 min·Styles Bridges Highway
5
Continue on I 93
15 mi·17 min·Senator Styles Bridges Highway
6
Continue on I 93
0.7 mi·1 min·Styles Bridges Highway
7
Continue on I 93
2.5 mi·3 min·Everett Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 89 North: Lebanon, White River Junction VermontUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 89
7.8 mi·9 min·I 89
10
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 5Toward US 202 West, NH 9 West: Henniker, Keene
11
Continue on US 202; NH 9
15 mi·21 min·US 202; NH 9
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on NH 9
1.9 mi·2 min·West Main Street
13
Continue on NH 9; NH 31
5.7 mi·8 min·Keene Road
14
Continue on NH 9
6.7 mi·9 min·Route 9
15
Continue on NH 9
3.3 mi·4 min·Franklin Pierce Highway
16
Continue on NH 9
1.8 mi·2 min·Route 9
17
Continue on NH 9
1.5 mi·2 min·NH Route 9
18
Continue on NH 9
3.4 mi·4 min·Route 9
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto Washington Street
1.7 mi·4 min·Washington Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto Central Square
218 ft·7 sec·Central Square
21
Continue on Central Square
248 ft·8 sec·Central Square
22
Turn left onto Roxbury Street
126 ft·2 sec·Roxbury Street
23
Arrive at destination
Roxbury Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short, one-day trip of under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning allows you to arrive in Keene with ample daylight for any activities or simply to explore the town. There are no designated stops provided for this route, so plan your own breaks as needed, keeping in mind the $14 fuel cost. The longest stretch without a break is 15.7 miles, so you can easily manage fuel and rest stops within the total duration.
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 42.7 miles from New Hampton, NH, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.7 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 42.7 miles or 50m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Keene, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving New Hampton, NH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from New Hampton, NH
This is one driving day of about 85.4 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from New Hampton, 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 15.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 83.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|NH 104 / New Hampshire Highway 104
Turn right onto NH 104 / New Hampshire Highway 104
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 93 South: Tilton, Concord
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 93 South: Tilton, Concord
7
34.9 mi into trip|~40m in
Take the exit toward I 89 North: Lebanon, White River Junction Vermont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 89 North: Lebanon, White River Junctio...
6
43.1 mi into trip|~50m in
Take the exit toward US 202 West, NH 9 West: Henniker, Keene
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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: 29.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
3 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Tesla Supercharger
Tilton, New Hampshire
Tesla
1 DCFC
Ford Charging Station
Bow, New Hampshire
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Concord, New Hampshire
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla: 1
Other: 1
ChargePoint: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.6
0
$8.97
$4.10
Efficient EV
21.4
0
$7.47
$3.42
EV Truck/SUV
34.2
0
$11.96
$5.47
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
New Hampton, NH
Late night
in New Hampton on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Keene, NH
Late night
in Keene on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
16 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 52m 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?
About half of this 85.4-mile drive is on highways, with the remaining portion on surface roads. You'll encounter a stretch of 15.7 miles on Styles Bridges Highway before transitioning. Expect a mix of faster highway cruising and more local traffic as you move onto US 202. The profile is mixed highway & surface, so be prepared for changes in speed and road type.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.7 mi on Styles Bridges Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near NH 104 / New Hampshire Highway 104.
Driving Effort5/10
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 85.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.2 miles (NH 104 / New Hampshire Highway 104): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 New Hampton, NH to Keene, NH, road signs begin pointing toward White River Junction Vermont along the way.
White River Junction Vermont
34.9 mi in|~40m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 85.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.7 miles on Styles Bridges Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.18 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. 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 0.2 miles (NH 104 / New Hampshire Highway 104): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Keene, NH before heading back.
