Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 38m
Distance
109.6 mi
176 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
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
Lyme, NH
Erik Karits
Rochester, NH to Lyme, NH is 109.6 miles and takes about 2h 38m via I 89, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Hampshire, taking you from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. With over half the drive on the highway, you'll experience a mix of efficient travel and local roads. Plan for a straightforward, single-day excursion perfect for a quick getaway.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
54.8 miles from Rochester, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 89 | 55.9 mi | 1h 4m |
| Dover Road | 9.2 mi | 15m |
| Washington Street | 7.7 mi | 14m |
| First New Hampshire Turnpike | 7.1 mi | 11m |
| Lyme Road | 6.5 mi | 10m |
| I 393 | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| Franklin Pierce Highway | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Dartmouth College Highway | 3.1 mi | 4m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,701 veh/hr typical · worst 2,201
Quietest
1 AM
~64 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
26.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 93 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Rochester, NH and Lyme, 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 120
Continue on NH 120
Turn slight right onto NH 120
Turn right onto NH 10
Enter roundabout onto NH 10
Continue on NH 10
Enter roundabout onto NH 10
Continue on NH 10
Continue on NH 10
Continue on NH 10
Continue on NH 10
Continue on Main Street
Turn right onto On the Common
Turn slight left
Arrive at destination
Given the 2h 38m drive time, leaving Rochester, NH in the morning is ideal to maximize your day in Lyme, NH. The route is manageable enough that you might not need a dedicated stop, but there is one recommended stop if you choose to break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $18, and it's wise to top off before leaving Rochester, as highway services can vary. The longest stretch on I 89 is over 55 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with that duration of highway driving.
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.
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 24 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.8 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lyme, NH than in the middle of the route.
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 109.6 miles and 2h 38m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 54.8 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 94.2 — 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 120: Lebanon, Hanover
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$18.26 one way
$36.51 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $20.26 | $40.52 |
| premium | $5.07 | $21.86 | $43.72 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $24.16 | $48.32 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.68
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.9 | 0 | $11.51 | $5.26 |
| Efficient EV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.59 | $4.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.8 | 0 | $15.34 | $7.01 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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 Wednesday
Local time
2:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Lyme on Wednesday
Local time
2:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
76°F
Concord, NH
55 mi in
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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Historical Park
Your National Park for the Arts preserves the home and studio of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907). Here stories flow through a landscape of inspiration. Discover the history behind the capt...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
You'll spend about 64% of your 109.6 miles on highways, primarily I 89. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 55.9 miles, all on I 89. After that, you'll transition to surface roads like Dover Road and Washington Street. Expect a noticeable shift from highway cruising to more local driving as you approach your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 89 and Dover Road. 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 - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 109.6 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 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
1,830 ft
Total Descent
1,509 ft
Highest Point
1,360 ft
~86.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,131 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rochester, NH and Lyme, NH, road signs point toward Lebanon, White River Junction Vermont and Hanover.
Lebanon
White River Junction Vermont
Hanover
Founded 1761
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 109.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). 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, NPS for national parks, 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 Lyme, NH.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NH road trips.
