Origin
Pelham, NH
Night in Pelham on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pelham, NH to Dover, NH
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
56.5 mi
91 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pelham, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Dover, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Pelham to Dover is a straightforward 56.5-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 17 minutes. Because this drive is relatively short, you can easily complete it as a single-day trip without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-495, the Blue Star Turnpike, and the Spaulding Turnpike to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $9 for fuel should comfortably cover your transit costs. Since both towns are located within the Northeast region of New Hampshire, you will experience a familiar, consistent environment throughout the drive. It is a highly practical route for anyone needing to get between these two points efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 16.8 mi | 19m |
| Spaulding Turnpike | 9.9 mi | 13m |
| Blue Star Turnpike | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| I 95 | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| Loop Connector | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Bridge Street | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| I 93 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Lowell Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 16.8 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pelham, NH and Dover, NH.
1
Start on Nashua Road
355 ft
·
10 sec
·
Nashua Road
2
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
112 ft
·
6 sec
·
Main Street
3
Continue on Main Street
0.3 mi
·
58 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn left onto NH 38
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Bridge Street
5
Continue on NH 38
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Lowell Road
6
Turn left onto Stiles Road
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Stiles Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto Pelham Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Pelham Road
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 93 South
Use the right lane.
9
Merge onto I 93
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
I 93
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 48
Toward MA 213 East: Methuen, Haverhill
11
Merge onto MA 213
250 ft
·
5 sec
·
Loop Connector
Exit 1A
Toward I 93 South: Boston
12
Continue on MA 213
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Loop Connector
Exit 48
Toward MA 213 East: Methuen
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 5B
Toward I 495 North: Haverhill, Salisbury
14
Merge onto I 495
17 mi
·
19 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 95
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 95
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Blue Star Turnpike
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto Spaulding Turnpike
9.9 mi
·
13 min
·
Spaulding Turnpike
Exit 4
Toward US 4, NH 16: New Hampshire Lakes, White Mountains
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 7
Toward NH 108: Dover, Durham
Use the slight right lane.
19
Turn left onto NH 108
42 ft
·
1 sec
·
Central Avenue
20
Turn right
120 ft
·
4 sec
21
Turn right onto Locust Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Locust Street
22
Turn straight onto Chestnut Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Chestnut Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn right onto Third Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Third Street
24
Turn sharp right onto NH 4; NH 9; NH 108
212 ft
·
6 sec
·
Central Avenue
25
Turn left
114 ft
·
5 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
26
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.2 miles from Pelham, NH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 9.2 and 54.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward MA 213 East: Methuen, Haverhill
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 48
Toward MA 213 East: Methuen, Haverhill
7
13.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North: Haverhill, Salisbury
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 5B
Toward I 495 North: Haverhill, Salisbury
6
37.2 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
9
45 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
Spaulding Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto Spaulding Turnpike toward US 4, NH 16: New Hampshire Lakes, White Mountains
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 4
Toward US 4, NH 16: New Hampshire Lakes, White...
8
54.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward NH 108: Dover, Durham
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 7
Toward NH 108: Dover, Durham
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.10 one way
$18.19 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $10.01 | $20.02 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.82 | $21.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.47 | $24.95 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.24
Spaulding Turnpike
(9.9 mi)
$0.69
Blue Star Turnpike
(7.8 mi)
$0.55
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17 | 0 | $5.93 | $2.71 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.91 | $3.62 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Dover, NH
Night in Dover on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
11 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 17m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive, as 78% of your journey is spent on major thoroughfares. You will find yourself settling into a steady rhythm on the interstate, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 16.8 miles along I-495. While the route is designed for speed and directness, the character of the road shifts as you transition between the turns of the highway system. It is less about scenic winding backroads and more about maintaining a consistent pace across the state. Behind the wheel, you will experience a predictable, high-speed flow that prioritizes getting you to Dover without unnecessary detours.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.8 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and Spaulding Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.5 miles you will encounter 21 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 9.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.2 miles (I 95 / Blue Star Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
191 ft
22 ft
Total Climb
291 ft
Total Descent
376 ft
Highest Point
191 ft
~4 mi in
Elevation Range
169 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Pelham, NH and Dover, NH, road signs point toward Haverhill, Salisbury and White Mountains.
Haverhill
9.2 mi in
|
~16m
Salisbury
13.1 mi in
|
~21m
White Mountains
45 mi in
|
~59m
|
via Spaulding Turnpike
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 56.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.8 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.24 in tolls one way, starting with Spaulding 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 Dover, 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 9.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.2 miles (I 95 / Blue Star 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 Dover, NH before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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