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Trip from Dover, NH to Sunapee, NH

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 58m

Distance

81.6 mi

131 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 49m ★
6 AM
1h 58m
8 AM
2h 15m
10 AM
2h 4m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 5m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 53m

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

county seat city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States

Dover, NH

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Sunapee, NH, NH

Sunapee, NH

Mohan Nannapaneni

Trip Overview

The drive from Dover, NH to Sunapee, NH covers 81.6 miles and takes about 1h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 89, Dover Road, First New Hampshire Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34.5 miles on I 89. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.14 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

40.8 miles from Dover, NH

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 1h 58m highway drive covering 81.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 89 and Dover Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 34.5 miles on I 89.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 89 is the longest continuous segment at about 34.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 early in the drive near NH 9; NH 108 / Main Street.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 81.6 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: near the start (NH 9; NH 108 / Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles (NH 4; NH 9; NH 108 / Central Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

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

7
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | NH 4; NH 9; NH 108 / Central Avenue

Turn sharp left onto NH 4; NH 9; NH 108 / Central Avenue

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
6
37.7 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in

Take the exit toward I 93 South: Manchester, Lebanon

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

Toward I 93 South: Manchester, Lebanon
7
41.3 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 89 North: Lebanon, White River Junctio...
8
76.4 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in | NH 11

Keep slight left at fork onto NH 11 toward NH 11 West: New London, Sunapee, Newport, Claremont

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 12 Toward NH 11 West: New London, Sunapee, Newport...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Dover, NH and Sunapee, NH, road signs point toward Lebanon, White River Junction Vermont, Newport and Claremont.

Lebanon

37.7 mi in | ~1h 2m

White River Junction Vermont

41.3 mi in | ~1h 7m

Newport

76.1 mi in | ~1h 48m | via NH 11

Claremont

76.1 mi in | ~1h 48m | via NH 11

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 89 34.5 mi 40m
Dover Road 9.2 mi 15m
First New Hampshire Turnpike 7.8 mi 12m
NH 11 5.4 mi 9m
Old Turnpike Road 5.1 mi 7m
I 393 4.9 mi 7m
Knox Marsh Road 3.2 mi 5m
Everett Turnpike 2.5 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 89 — 34.5 mi, about 40m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dover, NH and Sunapee, NH.

1

Start on this road

21 ft · 8 sec · this road
2

Turn sharp left onto NH 9; NH 108

320 ft · 18 sec · Main Street
3

Turn sharp left onto NH 4; NH 9; NH 108

0.4 mi · 57 sec · Central Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
4

Turn right onto Hale Street

344 ft · 18 sec · Hale Street
5

Turn left onto Locust Street

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Locust Street
6

Turn right onto NH 9

0.6 mi · 1 min · Silver Street
7

Enter roundabout onto NH 9

215 ft · 4 sec · Knox Marsh Road
8

Continue on NH 9

3.2 mi · 5 min · Knox Marsh Road
Use the straight lane.
9

Continue on NH 155

347 ft · 7 sec · Manchester Road
10

Continue on NH 155

1.3 mi · 2 min · Lee Road
11

Continue on NH 155

1.1 mi · 2 min · Turtle Pond Road
12

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 19 sec
13

Merge onto US 4

1.3 mi · 1 min · Concord Road
14

Enter roundabout onto US 4

158 ft · 4 sec · Concord Road
15

Continue on US 4

0.5 mi · 55 sec · Concord Road
16

Continue on US 4

1.8 mi · 2 min · Old Concord Turnpike
17

Continue on US 4

5.1 mi · 7 min · Old Turnpike Road
Use the straight lane.
18

Continue on US 4

7.8 mi · 12 min · First New Hampshire Turnpike
Use the right lane.
19

Continue on US 4; US 202; NH 9; NH 107

4.3 mi · 7 min · Dover Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Enter roundabout onto US 4; US 202; NH 9

265 ft · 6 sec · Dover Road
21

Continue on US 4; US 202; NH 9

4.9 mi · 7 min · Dover Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
22

Keep slight right at fork onto I 393; US 4; US 202

4.6 mi · 6 min · I 393; US 4; US 202
23

Continue on I 393; US 202

0.2 mi · 24 sec · I 393; US 202
24

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 50 sec
Toward I 93 South: Manchester, Lebanon
25

Merge onto I 93

0.8 mi · 1 min · Styles Bridges Highway
26

Continue on I 93

2.5 mi · 3 min · Everett Turnpike
27

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 89 North: Lebanon, White River Junction Vermont Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Merge onto I 89

34 mi · 40 min · I 89
29

Take the exit onto NH 11

0.2 mi · 31 sec · NH 11
Exit 12 Toward NH 11 West: New London, Sunapee, Newport, Claremont
30

Keep slight left at fork onto NH 11

154 ft · 11 sec · NH 11
Exit 12 Toward NH 11 West: New London, Sunapee, Newport, Claremont
31

Continue on NH 11

5.2 mi · 9 min · NH 11
32

Arrive at destination

NH 11

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 40.8 miles from Dover, NH, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.5 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 80 miles or 1h 55m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 40.8 miles or 1h 6m 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 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sunapee, 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 81.6 miles and 1h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Dover, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 89 for about 34.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 40.8 mi from Dover, NH · 1h 6m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Albany, NY

41 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

Albany, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Albany, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 40.8 miles from Dover, NH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Sunapee, NH

The final approach into Sunapee, 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 Sunapee, NH.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.14 one way

$26.27 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $14.45 $28.91
premium $4.86 $15.63 $31.25
diesel $5.61 $18.02 $36.03

Estimated Tolls: $1.20

First New Hampshire Turnpike (7.8 mi) $0.54
Old Turnpike Road (5.1 mi) $0.35
Everett Turnpike (2.5 mi) $0.18
Old Concord Turnpike (1.8 mi) $0.13

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

$13

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.5 0 $8.57 $3.92
Efficient EV 20.4 0 $7.14 $3.26
EV Truck/SUV 32.6 0 $11.42 $5.22

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Forecast data refreshed 4 days ago

Origin

Dover, NH

Afternoon in Dover on Tuesday

Local time

2:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sunapee, NH

Afternoon in Sunapee on Tuesday

Local time

2:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

70°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

26 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 58m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Dover, NH to Sunapee, NH covers 81.6 miles and takes about 1h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 89, Dover Road, First New Hampshire Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.8 miles from Dover, NH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.14 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 81.6 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NH 9; NH 108 / Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles (NH 4; NH 9; NH 108 / Central Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Dover, NH and Sunapee, NH, road signs point toward Lebanon, White River Junction Vermont, Newport and Claremont.

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