Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
41.5 mi
67 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rochester, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Bow, NH
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Rochester, NH to Bow, NH covers 41.5 miles and takes about 1h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dover Road, Washington Street, First New Hampshire Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9.2 miles on Dover Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.91 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dover Road | 9.2 mi | 15m |
| Washington Street | 7.7 mi | 14m |
| First New Hampshire Turnpike | 7.1 mi | 11m |
| I 393 | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| Franklin Pierce Highway | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Everett Turnpike | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Bow Center Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Rochester Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 7 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,530 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~136 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
33.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 101 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Rochester, NH and Bow, NH.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Hanson Street
At end of road, turn right onto NH 202A
Keep slight left at fork onto NH 202A
Turn right onto NH 202A
Enter roundabout onto Washington Street
Continue on Washington Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 202; NH 9
Continue on US 202; NH 9
Turn right onto US 4; US 202; NH 9
Continue on US 4; US 202; NH 9; NH 107
Enter roundabout onto US 4; US 202; NH 9
Continue on US 4; US 202; NH 9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 393; US 4; US 202
Continue on I 393; US 202
Take the exit
Merge onto I 93
Continue on I 93
Take the exit
Merge onto I 89
Take the exit
Turn right onto South Street
Continue on Logging Hill Road
Continue on Bow Center Road
Turn right onto Branch Londonderry Turnpike West
Turn sharp left onto White Rock Hill Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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.
A short stop after about 41.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 20.7 miles from Rochester, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 38.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right onto NH 202A / Wakefield Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Turn right onto US 4; US 202; NH 9 / First New Hampshire Turnpike
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 93 South: Manchester, Lebanon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Take the exit toward Bow
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Regular Gas
$6.91 one way
$13.83 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $7.67 | $15.34 |
| premium | $5.07 | $8.28 | $16.55 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $9.15 | $18.30 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.68
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.36 | $1.99 |
| Efficient EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.81 | $2.66 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Rochester on Friday
Local time
4:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Patchy Fog
Destination
Late night in Bow on Friday
Local time
4:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Cloudy
55°F
Northwood, NH
21 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
41.5 mi in 1h 12m — 35% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Dover Road.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near NH 202A / Wakefield Street.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 41.5 miles you will encounter 19 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 13.3 miles (US 4; US 202; NH 9 / First New Hampshire Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,077 ft
Total Descent
706 ft
Highest Point
746 ft
~14.8 mi in
Elevation Range
517 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rochester, NH and Bow, NH, road signs point toward Lebanon and White River Junction Vermont.
Lebanon
White River Junction Vermont
Founded 1727
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 41.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Rochester, NH or browse trips ending in Bow, NH.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NH road trips.
