If you are planning a trip from Rochester to Bristol, New Hampshire, expect a manageable 53.4-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 32 minutes to complete. This route is a straightforward one-day drive, making it an ideal choice if you prefer to reach your destination without the hassle of an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Mount Major Highway, Henry Wilson Highway, and NH 104. Budgeting around $9 for fuel should comfortably cover your travel costs for this trip. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region, the transition between these two New Hampshire towns feels familiar and cohesive. Overall, this is a practical, efficient connection between the two areas that fits easily into a single afternoon.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
26.7 miles from Rochester, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NH 104
14 mi
23m
Mount Major Highway
6.3 mi
10m
Henry Wilson Highway
6.2 mi
8m
NH Route 11
6.1 mi
9m
Lakeshore Road
4.6 mi
7m
Farmington Road
2.4 mi
4m
Mt. Major Highway
2.1 mi
4m
Endicott Street North
2.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
NH 104
— 14 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rochester, NH and Bristol, 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 North Main Street
38 ft·0 sec·North Main Street
7
Continue on North Main Street
1.1 mi·2 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on Farmington Road
2.4 mi·4 min·Farmington Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on NH 11
6.1 mi·9 min·NH Route 11
10
Continue on NH 11
6.2 mi·8 min·Henry Wilson Highway
11
Enter roundabout onto NH 28
0.1 mi·17 sec·NH 28
12
Continue on NH 28
1.7 mi·2 min·NH 28
13
Turn left onto Bay Hill Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Bay Hill Road
14
Turn slight left onto NH 28A
177 ft·5 sec·East Side Drive
15
Turn right onto NH 11
0.1 mi·21 sec·Main Street
16
Continue on NH 11
2.1 mi·4 min·Mt. Major Highway
17
Continue on NH 11
6.3 mi·10 min·Mount Major Highway
18
Continue on NH 11
4.6 mi·7 min·Lakeshore Road
19
Turn right onto NH 11B
2.0 mi·4 min·Weirs Road
Use the right lane.
20
Continue on NH 11B
1.4 mi·2 min·Endicott Street East
21
Enter roundabout onto US 3
79 ft·1 sec·Daniel Webster Highway
22
Continue on US 3
114 ft·1 sec·Daniel Webster Highway
23
Continue on US 3
2.1 mi·4 min·Endicott Street North
24
Continue on US 3
1.5 mi·3 min·Daniel Webster Highway
25
Enter roundabout onto US 3
117 ft·6 sec·Daniel Webster Highway
26
Continue on US 3
0.4 mi·1 min·Daniel Webster Highway
27
Turn left onto NH 104
8.2 mi·12 min·NH 104
Use the left lane.
28
Continue on NH 104
5.8 mi·10 min·NH 104
29
Continue on NH 104; NH 3A
124 ft·3 sec·Pleasant Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
30
Arrive at destination
Pleasant Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though hitting the road mid-morning can help you avoid potential local traffic. Because there are zero formal stops identified in the data, you should plan to fuel up before leaving Rochester to ensure your $9 gas budget is utilized efficiently. Take advantage of the 14-mile stretch on NH 104 to settle into a comfortable pace, as this is the longest continuous segment of your journey. Keep in mind that there are no scheduled breaks, so it is wise to handle any personal needs before you begin the drive. Being prepared for a non-stop experience will make this 53.4-mile trek much smoother and more enjoyable.
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 26.7 miles from Rochester, NH, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14 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 12 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 26.7 miles or 45m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bristol, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rochester, NH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Rochester, NH
This is one driving day of about 53.4 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 12 miles from Rochester, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NH 104 for about 14 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 39.4 — 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
5
31.8 mi into trip|~53m in|NH 11B / Weirs Road
Turn right onto NH 11B / Weirs Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
38.9 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|US 3 / Daniel Webster Highway
Enter roundabout onto US 3 / Daniel Webster Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
39.4 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|NH 104
Turn left onto NH 104
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.60 one way
$17.19 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg19 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$9.46
$18.92
premium
$4.86
$10.23
$20.45
diesel
$5.61
$11.79
$23.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
16
0
$5.61
$2.56
Efficient EV
13.4
0
$4.67
$2.14
EV Truck/SUV
21.4
0
$7.48
$3.42
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Rochester, NH
Late night
in Rochester on Sunday
Local time
12:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Patchy Fog then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 0 to 5 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bristol, NH
Late night
in Bristol on Sunday
Local time
12:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 0 to 5 mph52% 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
6 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 32m 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?
This 53.4-mile trip offers a mixed drive profile, balancing various road types to keep the journey engaging. With a highway share of 41%, you will experience a combination of faster stretches and more conventional local driving. You should prepare for a bit of variety behind the wheel, as the road conditions shift as you transition between the designated highways. The longest uninterrupted section you will encounter is a 14-mile stretch along NH 104, which provides a steady rhythm to the latter portion of your drive. Because the route is not a monotonous interstate grind, you will find it requires a bit more focus as the road character evolves throughout the 1-hour and 32-minute transit.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14 mi on NH 104.
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 13 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 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 53.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 31.8 miles (NH 11B / Weirs Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
748 ft229 ft
Total Climb
839 ft
Total Descent
605 ft
Highest Point
748 ft
~17.8 mi in
Elevation Range
520 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 53.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14 miles on NH 104. 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 31.8 miles (NH 11B / Weirs Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bristol, NH before heading back.
