Franconia to Dover is 108.4 miles and takes about 2 hours 29 minutes via Styles Bridges Highway and NH 11, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New Hampshire, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It offers a mixed driving experience, making it a manageable trip for a single day. You'll encounter a blend of highway travel and local road navigation. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward, relatively short journey between two points in the Granite State.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.2 miles from Franconia, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 108.4 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 (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route features a mixed drive, with 38% of it on highways. Expect a longest uninterrupted stretch of 51.7 miles on Styles Bridges Highway. As you progress, the road will transition from more highway-like conditions to navigating through local New Hampshire roads. This variety means you'll experience different driving dynamics, from maintaining speed on faster sections to adjusting for local traffic and turns. The landscape will change subtly as you move across the state.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Styles Bridges Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 51.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 59.7 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 108.4 miles you will encounter 15 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 59.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.4 miles (NH 140 / Tilton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 105.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
59.7 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward US 3, NH 11: Laconia, Tilton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 20
Toward US 3, NH 11: Laconia, Tilton
5
60.4 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|NH 140 / Tilton Road
Turn right onto NH 140 / Tilton Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
105.8 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Take the exit toward NH 9, NH 108: Dover, Somersworth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 9
Toward NH 9, NH 108: Dover, Somersworth
5
106.1 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|Indian Brook Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Indian Brook Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
106.6 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|Sixth Street
Turn left onto Sixth Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 Franconia, NH to Dover, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Tilton along the way.
Tilton
59.7 mi in|~1h 8m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Styles Bridges Highway
51.7 mi
55m
NH 11
14.6 mi
22m
New Hampshire Route 140
10 mi
17m
Spaulding Turnpike
8.7 mi
10m
Franconia Notch Parkway
7.6 mi
11m
Frank C. Gilman Highway
3.7 mi
6m
Depot Street
2.9 mi
5m
Gilmanton Road
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Styles Bridges Highway
— 51.7 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franconia, NH and Dover, NH.
1
Start on NH 116
425 ft·12 sec·Easton Road
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
3
Merge onto I 93
4.1 mi·4 min·Styles Bridges Highway
4
Continue on I 93; US 3
7.6 mi·11 min·Franconia Notch Parkway
5
Continue on I 93
48 mi·51 min·Styles Bridges Highway
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 20Toward US 3, NH 11: Laconia, Tilton
7
At end of road, turn left onto US 3; NH 11; NH 132
0.3 mi·46 sec·Laconia Road
8
Turn right onto NH 140
1.8 mi·2 min·Tilton Road
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on NH 140
2.9 mi·5 min·Depot Street
10
Continue on NH 140
0.2 mi·31 sec·Main Street
11
Continue on NH 140
0.2 mi·34 sec·State Route 140
12
Continue on NH 140
1.9 mi·3 min·Gilmanton Road
13
Continue on NH 140
10 mi·17 min·New Hampshire Route 140
14
Continue on NH 140
3.7 mi·6 min·Frank C. Gilman Highway
15
Continue on NH 140
0.5 mi·1 min·Factory Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto NH 11; NH 28A
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
17
Enter roundabout onto NH 11
0.1 mi·17 sec·NH 11
18
Continue on NH 11
14 mi·22 min·NH 11
Use the left lane.
19
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 15
20
Continue on NH 16 On-Ramp South
0.3 mi·25 sec·NH 16 On-Ramp South
Exit 15
21
Merge onto NH 16; US 202
8.7 mi·10 min·Spaulding Turnpike
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 9Toward NH 9, NH 108: Dover, Somersworth
23
At end of road, turn left onto Indian Brook Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·Indian Brook Drive
Use the left lane.
24
Turn left onto Sixth Street
1.6 mi·4 min·Sixth Street
Use the left lane.
25
Turn right onto NH 9; NH 108
0.2 mi·29 sec·Central Avenue
26
Turn left
114 ft·5 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the drive's duration of just under 2.5 hours, you have significant flexibility with departure times. Leaving in the morning allows you to arrive with plenty of daylight. With only 108.4 miles, you won't need to plan for extensive stopovers, but it’s always wise to take short breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before embarking on the 51.7-mile stretch on Styles Bridges Highway, as services might be less frequent in certain sections. Budgeting around $17 for fuel should cover this trip comfortably.
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 54.2 miles from Franconia, NH, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.7 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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.2 miles or 1h 2m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dover, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Franconia, 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 Franconia, NH
This is one driving day of about 108.4 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Franconia, 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 51.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 54.2 mi from Franconia, NH
· 1h 2m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.45 one way
$34.90 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$19.20
$38.40
premium
$4.86
$20.76
$41.52
diesel
$5.61
$23.93
$47.87
Estimated Tolls: $0.61
Spaulding Turnpike
(8.7 mi)$0.61
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: 37.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
4 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Tesla Destination Charger
Sugar Hill, New Hampshire
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Tilton, New Hampshire
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Dover, New Hampshire
Tesla
1 DCFC
InCharge Energy Charging Station
Rochester, New Hampshire
InCharge
1 DCFC
Tesla: 2
Tesla Destination: 1
InCharge: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.5
0
$11.38
$5.20
Efficient EV
27.1
0
$9.49
$4.34
EV Truck/SUV
43.4
0
$15.18
$6.94
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Franconia, NH
Afternoon
in Franconia on Saturday
Local time
12:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dover, NH
Afternoon
in Dover on Saturday
Local time
12:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°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 warmer 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Franconia, NH to Dover, NH covers 108.4 miles and takes about 2h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Styles Bridges Highway, NH 11, New Hampshire Route 140. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54.2 miles from Franconia, NH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.45 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 108.4 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 59.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.4 miles (NH 140 / Tilton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 105.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Franconia, NH to Dover, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Tilton along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
