Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
50 mi
80 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rochester, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Contoocook, NH
Mohan Nannapaneni
Rochester, NH to Contoocook, NH is 50 miles and takes about 1 hour 21 minutes via I 89 and local roads, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within New Hampshire, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. The route offers a mix of highway cruising and surface street driving, making it a straightforward option for a quick drive. Consider this route if you're looking for an easy, direct connection between these two New Hampshire towns without a significant time commitment.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 10.1 mi | 11m |
| 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 |
| Rochester Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 3 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,385 veh/hr typical · worst 2,924
Quietest
1 AM
~85 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
28.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Rochester, NH and Contoocook, 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 NH 127
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25 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 48.4 — 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 NH 127: Contoocook, West Hopkinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$8.84 one way
$17.68 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $9.68 | $19.36 |
| premium | $5.29 | $10.41 | $20.82 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $10.53 | $21.06 |
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
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20 | 0 | $7.00 | $3.20 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Rochester on Wednesday
Local time
3:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Afternoon in Contoocook on Wednesday
Local time
3:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Partly Cloudy
52°F
Northwood, NH
25 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
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.
About half of this 50-mile drive, or 49%, is on the highway, specifically I 89. You'll experience a stretch of 10.1 miles on I 89 before transitioning to surface roads like Dover Road and Washington Street. Expect to encounter more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you exit the interstate and approach your destination. This transition from faster highway speeds to local traffic is a key aspect of the drive.
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 50 miles you will encounter 18 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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
838 ft
Total Descent
702 ft
Highest Point
633 ft
~14.3 mi in
Elevation Range
405 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rochester, NH and Contoocook, NH, road signs point toward Lebanon and White River Junction Vermont.
Lebanon
White River Junction Vermont
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 50 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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