Origin
Dover, NH
Afternoon in Dover on Saturday
Local time
4:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dover, NH to Franconia, NH
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 29m
Distance
107.9 mi
174 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 19m
★
6 AM
2h 30m
8 AM
2h 50m
10 AM
2h 37m
12 PM
2h 35m
3 PM
2h 38m
5 PM
2h 49m
8 PM
2h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dover, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Franconia, NH
Mohan Nannapaneni
Trip Overview
The drive from Dover, NH to Franconia, NH covers 107.9 miles and takes about 2h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Styles Bridges Highway, New Hampshire Route 140, Spaulding Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.5 miles on Styles Bridges Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.37 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.
Midpoint
53.9 miles from Dover, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Styles Bridges Highway | 51.5 mi | 55m |
| New Hampshire Route 140 | 10 mi | 17m |
| Spaulding Turnpike | 8.5 mi | 10m |
| Franconia Notch Parkway | 7.7 mi | 12m |
| Henry Wilson Highway | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| NH Route 11 | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| Frank C. Gilman Highway | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Depot Street | 2.9 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Styles Bridges Highway
— 51.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dover, NH and Franconia, NH.
1
Start on this road
21 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn sharp left onto NH 9; NH 108
320 ft
·
11 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn straight onto NH 9; NH 108
1.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto Indian Brook Drive
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Indian Brook Drive
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Spaulding Turnpike North, NH 16 North: Rochester
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto NH 16
8.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Spaulding Turnpike
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 15
Toward NH 11 West: Farmington, Alton
8
Turn left onto NH 11
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Farmington Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on NH 11
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
NH Route 11
10
Continue on NH 11
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Henry Wilson Highway
11
Enter roundabout onto NH 11; NH 28A
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
NH 11; NH 28A
12
Continue on NH 11; NH 28A
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
NH 11; NH 28A
13
Turn left onto NH 140
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Factory Street
14
Continue on Frank C. Gilman Highway
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Frank C. Gilman Highway
15
Continue on NH 140
10 mi
·
17 min
·
New Hampshire Route 140
16
Continue on NH 140
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Gilmanton Road
17
Continue on NH 140
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
State Route 140
18
Continue on NH 140
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Main Street
19
Turn right onto NH 140
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Depot Street
20
Continue on NH 140
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Tilton Road
21
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
this road
Toward I 93 North
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Merge onto I 93
47 mi
·
50 min
·
Styles Bridges Highway
23
Continue on I 93
7.7 mi
·
12 min
·
Franconia Notch Parkway
24
Continue on I 93
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Styles Bridges Highway
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward NH 18, NH 116, NH 117, NH 142: Franconia, Sugar Hill
26
Turn left onto NH 116
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Wallace Hill Road
27
Arrive at destination
NH 116
Trip Plan
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 53.9 miles from Dover, NH, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.5 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 24 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.9 miles or 1h 27m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Franconia, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dover, 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 Dover, NH
This is one driving day of about 107.9 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Dover, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Styles Bridges Highway for about 51.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 53.9 miles from Dover, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 107.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NH 9; NH 108 / Main Street
Turn sharp left onto NH 9; NH 108 / Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Indian Brook Drive
Turn left onto Indian Brook Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
2.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward Spaulding Turnpike North, NH 16 North: Rochester
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Spaulding Turnpike North, NH 16 North: R...
6
11 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward NH 11 West: Farmington, Alton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 15
Toward NH 11 West: Farmington, Alton
5
107.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 28m in
Take the exit toward NH 18, NH 116, NH 117, NH 142: Franconia, Sugar Hill
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NH 18, NH 116, NH 117, NH 142: Franconia...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.37 one way
$34.74 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $19.11 | $38.22 |
| premium | $4.86 | $20.66 | $41.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.82 | $47.65 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.59
Spaulding Turnpike
(8.5 mi)
$0.59
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
$17
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.4 | 0 | $11.33 | $5.18 |
| Efficient EV | 27 | 0 | $9.44 | $4.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.2 | 0 | $15.11 | $6.91 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Franconia, NH
Afternoon in Franconia on Saturday
Local time
4:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
5 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 29m 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?
107.9 mi in 2h 29m — 31% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Styles Bridges Highway.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.5 mi on Styles Bridges Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NH 9; NH 108 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 107.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 (NH 9; NH 108 / Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2 miles (Indian Brook Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Dover, NH to Franconia, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Alton along the way.
Alton
11 mi in
|
~16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 107.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.5 miles on Styles Bridges Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.59 in tolls one way, starting with Spaulding 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 (NH 9; NH 108 / Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2 miles (Indian Brook Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: 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 Franconia, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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