Drive Time
50m
Distance
30.5 mi
49 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
Photo: Mohan Nannapaneni
The drive from Barnstead, NH to Manchester, NH covers 30.5 miles and takes about 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Suncook Valley Highway, Suncook Valley Road, Everett Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7.2 miles on Suncook Valley Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.88 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
15.3 miles from Barnstead, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .
Expect a 50m drive with frequent turns across 30.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.2 miles in near US 3; NH 28 / Allenstown Road.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 30.5 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 18.2 miles (US 3; NH 28 / Allenstown Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles (Riverside Street): Navigation decision point; at 22.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn left onto US 3; NH 28 / Allenstown Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Riverside Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
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
Take the exit toward Amoskeag Street, Goffstown Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between Barnstead, NH and Manchester, NH, road signs point toward Hooksett Village and Nashua.
Hooksett Village
Nashua
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Suncook Valley Highway | 7.2 mi | 11m |
| Suncook Valley Road | 6.2 mi | 9m |
| Everett Turnpike | 5.9 mi | 7m |
| Pinewood Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Hooksett Road | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Route 28 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| West Bridge Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Parade Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Barnstead, NH and Manchester, NH.
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 30.5 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.3 miles or 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manchester, NH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Barnstead, 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 Barnstead, NH
This is one driving day of about 30.5 miles and 50m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.3 mi from Barnstead, NH · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 15.3 miles from Barnstead, NH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Manchester, NH usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Manchester, NH.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$4.88 one way
$9.76 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $5.35 | $10.70 |
| premium | $4.83 | $5.80 | $11.59 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.78 | $13.55 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.41
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
$5
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.20 | $1.46 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.67 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Barnstead on Saturday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Manchester on Saturday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
48°F
Albany, NY
15 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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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