Rochester, NH to Fitzwilliam, NH is 95.1 miles and takes about 2h 26m via NH 101, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Hampshire, moving from the Northeast region towards the Northeast. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you make your way across the state. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this is a straightforward, same-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.5 miles from Rochester, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NH 101
43.5 mi
58m
Calef Highway
17.3 mi
27m
Gibbons Highway
9.3 mi
14m
NH Route 119
5.6 mi
9m
Wilton Road
4 mi
6m
Jaffrey Road
3.1 mi
5m
Peterborough Street
2.8 mi
4m
US Route 202
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
NH 101
— 43.5 mi, about 58m
Traffic on I-293
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 3 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,588 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~166 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
27.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rochester, NH and Fitzwilliam, NH.
1
Start on this road
55 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Museum Way
0.1 mi·19 sec·Museum Way
3
Turn right onto NH 125
1.6 mi·4 min·Columbus Avenue
4
Continue on NH 125
1.9 mi·3 min·Gonic Road
5
Continue on NH 125
7.7 mi·12 min·Calef Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Enter roundabout onto NH 125
165 ft·4 sec·Calef Highway
7
Continue on NH 125
9.6 mi·14 min·Calef Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Use the right lane.
9
Merge onto NH 101
20 mi·23 min·NH 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto NH 101
3.3 mi·4 min·NH 101
Toward I 293 North, NH 101 West: Manchester Airport, Manchester, BedfordUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto NH 101
2.2 mi·3 min·NH 101
Toward NH 101 West: Bedford, Nashua
12
Turn left onto NH 101
0.4 mi·48 sec·NH 101
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on NH 101
17 mi·25 min·NH 101
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn left onto NH 101
1.4 mi·2 min·Elm Street
15
Continue on NH 101
9.3 mi·14 min·Gibbons Highway
16
Continue on NH 101
4.0 mi·6 min·Wilton Road
17
Turn left onto US 202
0.2 mi·36 sec·Grove Street
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on US 202
3.1 mi·5 min·Jaffrey Road
19
Continue on US 202
2.8 mi·4 min·Peterborough Street
20
Turn right onto US 202; NH 124
353 ft·17 sec·Main Street
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto US 202
1.8 mi·3 min·River Street
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on US 202
2.1 mi·3 min·US Route 202
23
Turn right onto NH 119
5.6 mi·9 min·NH Route 119
Use the right lane.
24
Arrive at destination
NH 119
Trip Plan
For this 2h 26m drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet, allowing plenty of time for an unplanned stop if needed. Since the total distance is just over 95 miles and the fuel cost is estimated at $15, you won't need extensive planning for refueling. The longest stretch is 43.5 miles on NH 101, so consider filling up before you get on that segment if you're running low. This route is flexible enough that you can depart at your leisure, but aim to be on the road before midday to enjoy the full day.
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 47.5 miles from Rochester, NH, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.5 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 21 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.5 miles or 1h 8m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fitzwilliam, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Rochester, NH
This is one driving day of about 95.1 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Rochester, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NH 101 for about 43.5 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 41.6 and 85.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
41.6 mi into trip|~1h in|NH 101
Keep slight right at fork onto NH 101 toward I 293 North, NH 101 West: Manchester Airport, Manchester, Bedford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 293 North, NH 101 West: Manchester Air...
6
44.9 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|NH 101
Keep slight left at fork onto NH 101 toward NH 101 West: Bedford, Nashua
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NH 101 West: Bedford, Nashua
6
79.4 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|US 202 / Grove Street
Turn left onto US 202 / Grove Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
85.6 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|US 202; NH 124 / Main Street
Turn right onto US 202; NH 124 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
85.7 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|US 202 / River Street
Turn left onto US 202 / River Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.92 one way
$29.85 round trip
$3.99/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$16.76
$33.52
premium
$4.81
$18.02
$36.03
diesel
$4.80
$17.96
$35.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.5
0
$9.99
$4.56
Efficient EV
23.8
0
$8.32
$3.80
EV Truck/SUV
38
0
$13.31
$6.09
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 14, 2026
Origin
Rochester, NH
Night
in Rochester on Saturday
Local time
9:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
97°F
Mostly Sunny
W 10 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 14 at 9:27AM EDT by NWS Gray ME
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 5:37AM EDT until July 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Gray ME
Destination
Fitzwilliam, NH
Night
in Fitzwilliam on Saturday
Local time
9:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny
W 10 to 15 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 14 at 9:27AM EDT by NWS Gray ME
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 5:37AM EDT until July 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Gray ME
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
4 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
2h 26m 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 95.1-mile route features a significant portion on highways, with 54% of the drive occurring on these faster roads. You'll spend about 43.5 miles on NH 101, which is the longest continuous stretch. After this, expect the road profile to shift to a mix of highway and surface roads, indicating a transition from more controlled, higher-speed driving to areas with more local traffic and intersections. Keep an eye out for the change as the exits become less frequent.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.5 mi on NH 101.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 41.6 miles in near NH 101.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 95.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 41.6 miles (NH 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.9 miles (NH 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.4 miles (US 202 / Grove Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,228 ft130 ft
Total Climb
1,579 ft
Total Descent
657 ft
Highest Point
1,228 ft
~74.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,098 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rochester, NH and Fitzwilliam, NH, road signs point toward Manchester, Bedford and Nashua.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 95.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.5 miles on NH 101. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Fitzwilliam, NH before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 41.6 miles (NH 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.9 miles (NH 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.4 miles (US 202 / Grove Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fitzwilliam, NH before heading back.
