Origin
Rochester, NH
Night in Rochester on Saturday
Local time
10:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rochester, NH to Barnstead, NH
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
38m
Distance
20 mi
32 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rochester, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Barnstead, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick excursion through New Hampshire, the 20-mile trek from Rochester to Barnstead is a straightforward journey. Expect to spend about 38 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of just $3, it is an incredibly affordable way to navigate between these two Northeast towns. Since there are no required stops along the way, you can easily complete the entire distance in one sitting. This drive is ideal for those who prefer navigating local roads rather than busy interstates. Planning is simple, as the entire route fits comfortably into a morning or afternoon schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Parker Mountain Road | 5.6 mi | 9m |
| South Barnstead Road | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| Strafford Road | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Walnut Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Mile Hill Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Parade Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Crown Point Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Parker Mountain Road
— 5.6 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rochester, NH and Barnstead, NH.
1
Start on this road
51 ft
·
3 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Hanson Street
247 ft
·
15 sec
·
Hanson Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto NH 202A
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Wakefield Street
4
Keep slight left at fork onto NH 202A
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
NH 202A
5
Turn right onto NH 202A
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
North Main Street
6
Enter roundabout onto Walnut Street
111 ft
·
2 sec
·
Walnut Street
7
Continue on Walnut Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Walnut Street
8
Continue on NH 202A
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Crown Point Road
9
Keep slight left at fork onto NH 202A
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Strafford Road
10
Continue on NH 202A
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Mile Hill Road
11
Continue on NH 202A
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Strafford Road
12
Continue on NH 126; NH 202A
5.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Parker Mountain Road
13
Continue on NH 126
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
South Barnstead Road
14
Turn left onto Parade Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Parade Road
15
Arrive at destination
Parade Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 3.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NH 202A / Wakefield Street
At end of road, turn right onto NH 202A / Wakefield Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NH 202A
Keep slight left at fork onto NH 202A
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
NH 202A / North Main Street
Turn right onto NH 202A / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Walnut Street
Enter roundabout onto Walnut Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
3.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
NH 202A / Strafford Road
Keep slight left at fork onto NH 202A / Strafford Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.22 one way
$6.44 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $3.54 | $7.09 |
| premium | $4.86 | $3.83 | $7.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.42 | $8.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6 | 0 | $2.10 | $0.96 |
| Efficient EV | 5 | 0 | $1.75 | $0.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8 | 0 | $2.80 | $1.28 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Barnstead, NH
Night in Barnstead on Saturday
Local time
10:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Light Rain
S 10 mph
78% chance
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
12 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
38m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you make your way from Rochester to Barnstead. You will spend your time navigating Parker Mountain Road, South Barnstead Road, and Strafford Road, which offer a completely different experience from a monotonous interstate cruise. In fact, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you stay on local thoroughfares for the duration of the 20-mile trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 5.6-mile segment on Parker Mountain Road. Because the road demands your full attention with its frequent turns, it offers an engaging, hands-on driving experience that keeps you focused on the road ahead.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.6 mi on Parker Mountain Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near NH 202A / Wakefield Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 20 miles you will encounter 7 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 0.1 miles (NH 202A / Wakefield Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (NH 202A): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.3 miles (NH 202A / North Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
944 ft
283 ft
Total Climb
791 ft
Total Descent
561 ft
Highest Point
944 ft
~11.4 mi in
Elevation Range
661 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 20 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.6 miles on Parker Mountain Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (NH 202A / Wakefield Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (NH 202A): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.3 miles (NH 202A / North Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Barnstead, 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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