Rochester, NH to Temple, NH is 74 miles and takes about 1 hour 52 minutes via NH 101, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New Hampshire, taking you from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a relatively short trip, making it a good option for a single-day excursion. The route mostly uses highways, offering a straightforward transit between these two points. Plan for a budget-friendly excursion with minimal driving time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37 miles from Rochester, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NH 101
43.5 mi
58m
Calef Highway
17.3 mi
27m
Gibbons Highway
4.6 mi
7m
General Miller Highway
2.1 mi
4m
Gonic Road
1.9 mi
3m
Columbus Avenue
1.6 mi
4m
Elm Street
1.4 mi
2m
Temple Road
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
NH 101
— 43.5 mi, about 58m
Traffic on I-293
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 7 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,592 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~166 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
27.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 75 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 Temple, 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
4.6 mi·7 min·Gibbons Highway
16
Turn left onto Temple Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Temple Road
17
Continue on General Miller Highway
2.0 mi·4 min·General Miller Highway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto General Miller Highway
0.1 mi·19 sec·General Miller Highway
19
Turn left onto NH 45
298 ft·6 sec·Senator Tobey Highway
20
Arrive at destination
NH 45
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of this 1 hour 52 minute drive, you have a lot of flexibility. Leaving Rochester, NH in the morning should get you to Temple, NH with plenty of daylight to spare. With only 74 miles, you likely won't need many stops, but there's room to pull over if you need a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated cost is $12, but it's always wise to top off before heading out, especially since the longest stretch without a likely exit is over 43 miles.
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 37 miles from Rochester, NH, or about 54m 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 16 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37 miles or 54m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Temple, 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 74 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 44.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Museum Way
Turn right onto Museum Way
Navigation decision point
5
20.9 mi into trip|~35m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
21.3 mi into trip|~36m in|NH 101
Merge onto NH 101
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.43 one way
$24.87 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$14.17
$28.34
premium
$5.33
$15.52
$31.04
diesel
$6.36
$18.54
$37.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.2
0
$7.77
$3.55
Efficient EV
18.5
0
$6.48
$2.96
EV Truck/SUV
29.6
0
$10.36
$4.74
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Rochester, NH
Evening
in Rochester on Sunday
Local time
5:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
25°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Temple, NH
Evening
in Temple on Sunday
Local time
5:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
26°F
Clear
NW 5 mph0% 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
1 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 52m 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?
You'll spend about 59% of this 74-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 43.5 miles on NH 101. After that, expect to transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. The profile is mixed, meaning you'll experience both highway cruising and potentially more varied speeds on local roads.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 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?
8/10
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 early in the drive near Museum Way.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (Museum Way): Navigation decision point; at 20.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.3 miles (NH 101): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,010 ft136 ft
Total Climb
1,087 ft
Total Descent
306 ft
Highest Point
1,010 ft
~74 mi in
Elevation Range
874 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 Temple, NH, road signs point toward Manchester, Bedford and Nashua.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 74 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). 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 Temple, NH before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: near the start (Museum Way): Navigation decision point; at 20.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.3 miles (NH 101): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Temple, NH before heading back.
