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Trip from Unity, NH to Manchester, NH

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 34m

Distance

61 mi

98 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 27m ★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 48m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 38m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 48m
8 PM
1h 30m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States

Unity, NH

Wikimedia Commons

city in Hillsborough County in southern New Hampshire, United States

Manchester, NH

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 61-mile drive from Unity, NH to Manchester, NH is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 34 minutes. You'll spend about 46% of your time on highways, with the majority of the journey utilizing Franklin Pierce Highway and the Everett Turnpike, as well as some I-89. The estimated fuel cost for this relatively short route is around $10, making it an economical option. Given its duration and distance, this trip is ideal for a spontaneous outing or a planned day trip, offering a straightforward journey through the Northeast region of New Hampshire. You won't need to worry about breaking it up into multiple days.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

30.5 miles from Unity, NH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Franklin Pierce Highway 16.3 mi 22m
Everett Turnpike 12.5 mi 14m
I 89 7.9 mi 9m
2nd New Hampshire Turnpike 5.4 mi 10m
North Main Street 4.5 mi 8m
Lempster Street 3.5 mi 7m
Mountain Road 3.5 mi 7m
2nd NH Turnpike 2.1 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Franklin Pierce Highway — 16.3 mi, about 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Unity, NH and Manchester, NH.

1

Start on 2nd NH Turnpike

2.1 mi · 3 min · 2nd NH Turnpike
2

Continue on Lempster Street

3.5 mi · 7 min · Lempster Street
3

Continue on 2nd New Hampshire Turnpike

1.5 mi · 3 min · 2nd New Hampshire Turnpike
4

Continue on Mountain Road

3.5 mi · 7 min · Mountain Road
5

Continue on Lempster Mountain Road

2.0 mi · 4 min · Lempster Mountain Road
6

Turn right onto NH 31

4.5 mi · 8 min · North Main Street
7

Continue on NH 31

0.9 mi · 1 min · State Road
8

Continue on NH 31

3.9 mi · 6 min · 2nd New Hampshire Turnpike
9

Turn left onto NH 9

0.2 mi · 23 sec · West Main Street
10

Turn straight onto NH 9

16 mi · 22 min · Franklin Pierce Highway
Use the straight lane.
11

Merge onto I 89

7.9 mi · 9 min · I 89
12

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 93 South Toll: Manchester, Boston
13

Merge onto I 93

5.7 mi · 6 min · Everett Turnpike
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93

2.0 mi · 2 min · Everett Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto I 293

4.9 mi · 5 min · Everett Turnpike
Toward I 293 South: Manchester, Nashua Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

401 ft · 9 sec
Exit 6 Toward Amoskeag Street, Goffstown Road
17

Keep slight left at fork

192 ft · 11 sec
18

Turn left onto Eddy Road

0.3 mi · 34 sec · Eddy Road
19

Continue on McGregor Street

0.2 mi · 21 sec · McGregor Street
20

Turn left onto West Bridge Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · West Bridge Street
Use the left lane.
21

Arrive at destination

Bridge Street

Trip Plan

For this approximately 1 hour and 34-minute drive, you have the flexibility to leave whenever it suits you best. With no designated stops, you can easily pull over for breaks as needed, especially during the 16.3-mile stretch on Franklin Pierce Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is only $10, and it's always wise to top off before departing for any trip. Because this is a short drive, you can be quite spontaneous with your timing and any impromptu stops you might want to make along the way.

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 30.5 miles from Unity, NH, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.3 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 13 miles or 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 30.5 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 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manchester, NH than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Unity, NH so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Unity, NH

This is one driving day of about 61 miles and 1h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Unity, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Franklin Pierce Highway for about 16.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Antrim, NH, NH

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Antrim, NH

31 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Washington, NH

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Henniker, NH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.5 miles from Unity, 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 46.4 and 59.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
46.4 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in

Take the exit toward I 93 South Toll: Manchester, Boston

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 93 South Toll: Manchester, Boston
6
52.6 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in | I 93 / Everett Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93 / Everett Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
54.6 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in | I 293 / Everett Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 293 / Everett Turnpike toward I 293 South: Manchester, Nashua

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 293 South: Manchester, Nashua
6
59.5 mi into trip | ~1h 30m in

Take the exit toward Amoskeag Street, Goffstown Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 6 Toward Amoskeag Street, Goffstown Road
5
59.6 mi into trip | ~1h 30m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.82 one way

$19.64 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $10.80 $21.61
premium $4.86 $11.68 $23.36
diesel $5.61 $13.47 $26.94

Estimated Tolls: $1.40

Everett Turnpike (7.6 mi) $0.54
Everett Turnpike (4.9 mi) $0.34
2nd New Hampshire Turnpike (3.9 mi) $0.27
2nd NH Turnpike (2.1 mi) $0.14
2nd New Hampshire Turnpike (1.5 mi) $0.11

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

$10

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.3 0 $6.41 $2.93
Efficient EV 15.3 0 $5.34 $2.44
EV Truck/SUV 24.4 0 $8.54 $3.90

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Unity, NH

Night in Unity on Saturday

Local time

10:45 PM

EDT

Current temp

36°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Manchester, NH

Night in Manchester on Saturday

Local time

10:45 PM

EDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live 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

2 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 34m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

The drive offers a mixed profile, blending highway cruising with more localized road segments. You'll encounter 16.3 miles of uninterrupted driving on Franklin Pierce Highway, which provides a good sense of the road's character. While 46% of the route involves highway travel, expect transitions between faster-paced sections and potentially slower local roads as you progress. This variety means you won't be stuck on a monotonous interstate grind for the entire trip, but rather experience a dynamic drive that keeps things interesting.

46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.3 mi on Franklin Pierce Highway.

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 around 46.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61 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: at 46.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.6 miles (I 93 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.6 miles (I 293 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,698 ft 254 ft

Total Climb

411 ft

Total Descent

1,622 ft

Highest Point

1,698 ft

~8.7 mi in

Elevation Range

1,444 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Unity, NH and Manchester, NH, road signs point toward Boston and Nashua.

Boston

46.4 mi in | ~1h 14m

Nashua

54.6 mi in | ~1h 24m | via I 293

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 61 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 16.3 miles on Franklin Pierce Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.40 in tolls one way, starting with Everett Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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 Manchester, 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: at 46.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.6 miles (I 93 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.6 miles (I 293 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Manchester, NH before heading back.

How this page is built

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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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