Freedom, NH to Manchester, NH is 75.3 miles and takes about 2h 1m via NH 28, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily within New Hampshire, moving from the Northeast region towards a more urban center. The drive offers a mixed experience, suitable for those looking for a relatively short journey without extensive planning. It’s a practical option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.7 miles from Freedom, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 75.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive features a mixed profile, with 48% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches on NH 28 and Center Street, offering a blend of faster driving and more local road conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 20.1 miles on NH 28. Expect the road to transition from potentially more rural or suburban settings to a more developed, urban environment as you approach Manchester.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NH 28 is the longest continuous segment at about 20.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 1.5 miles in near NH 25 / Porter Road.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 75.3 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 1.5 miles (NH 25 / Porter Road): Navigation decision point; at 22.9 miles (NH 28 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 63 miles (US 3; NH 28 / Allenstown Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in|NH 25 / Porter Road
At end of road, turn right onto NH 25 / Porter Road
Navigation decision point
7
22.9 mi into trip|~36m in|NH 28 / South Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto NH 28 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
63 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|US 3; NH 28 / Allenstown Road
At end of road, turn left onto US 3; NH 28 / Allenstown Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
68.9 mi into trip|~1h 52m 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
73.8 mi into trip|~1h 58m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Freedom, NH and Manchester, NH, road signs point toward Hooksett Village and Nashua.
Hooksett Village
65.4 mi in|~1h 44m
Nashua
68.9 mi in|~1h 52m|via I 293
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NH 28
20.1 mi
31m
Center Street
10.4 mi
15m
State Route 28
9 mi
13m
Ossipee Trail
6.3 mi
9m
Everett Turnpike
5.9 mi
7m
Suncook Valley Highway
4.3 mi
6m
White Mountain Highway
3.9 mi
6m
Pinewood Road
3.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
NH 28
— 20.1 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Freedom, NH and Manchester, NH.
1
Start on Elm Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·Elm Street
2
Continue on Loon Lake Road
1.3 mi·3 min·Loon Lake Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto NH 25
0.5 mi·41 sec·Porter Road
4
Continue on NH 25
6.3 mi·9 min·Ossipee Trail
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
6
Merge onto NH 16
3.9 mi·6 min·White Mountain Highway
7
Turn right onto NH 28
1.3 mi·1 min·Center Street
8
Enter roundabout onto NH 28
109 ft·1 sec·Center Street
9
Continue on NH 28
9.1 mi·13 min·Center Street
10
At end of road, turn left onto NH 28
2.3 mi·5 min·South Main Street
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on NH 28
9.0 mi·13 min·State Route 28
12
Enter roundabout onto NH 28
398 ft·11 sec·NH 28
13
Continue on NH 28
20 mi·31 min·NH 28
Use the straight lane.
14
Enter roundabout onto NH 28
189 ft·4 sec·Suncook Valley Highway
15
Continue on NH 28
4.3 mi·6 min·Suncook Valley Highway
16
Continue on NH 28
1.3 mi·1 min·Route 28
17
Continue on NH 28
3.1 mi·5 min·Pinewood Road
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 3; NH 28
0.3 mi·36 sec·Allenstown Road
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on US 3; NH 28
2.2 mi·4 min·Hooksett Road
20
Turn slight right
253 ft·9 sec
Toward Hooksett Village
21
Turn straight onto College Park Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·College Park Drive
22
Continue on Main Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·Main Street
23
Turn right onto Riverside Street
0.3 mi·59 sec·Riverside Street
24
Turn left onto NH 3A
0.3 mi·44 sec·West River Road
25
Turn right onto Hackett Hill Road
0.3 mi·34 sec·Hackett Hill Road
26
Take the ramp
419 ft·10 sec
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
28
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·29 sec·this road
Toward I 93 South
29
Merge onto I 93
1.0 mi·1 min·Everett Turnpike
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 293
4.9 mi·5 min·Everett Turnpike
Toward I 293 South: Manchester, NashuaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
401 ft·9 sec
Exit 6Toward Amoskeag Street, Goffstown Road
32
Keep slight left at fork
192 ft·11 sec
33
Turn left onto Eddy Road
0.3 mi·34 sec·Eddy Road
34
Continue on McGregor Street
0.2 mi·21 sec·McGregor Street
35
Turn left onto West Bridge Street
0.9 mi·2 min·West Bridge Street
Use the left lane.
36
Arrive at destination
Bridge Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a manageable 2-hour drive, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Aiming to leave in the morning will allow you to arrive in Manchester with ample time to explore or settle in. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan your own breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $12, and it's always wise to top up before embarking on even shorter trips. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid potential commuter traffic into Manchester.
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 37.7 miles from Freedom, NH, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.1 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 17 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.7 miles or 1h 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 41m
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 Freedom, 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 Freedom, NH
This is one driving day of about 75.3 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Freedom, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NH 28 for about 20.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.7 mi from Freedom, NH
· 1h into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.12 one way
$24.24 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$13.34
$26.68
premium
$4.86
$14.42
$28.84
diesel
$5.61
$16.63
$33.25
Estimated Tolls: $0.41
Everett Turnpike
(4.9 mi)$0.34
Everett Turnpike
(1 mi)$0.07
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
$12
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.6
0
$7.91
$3.61
Efficient EV
18.8
0
$6.59
$3.01
EV Truck/SUV
30.1
0
$10.54
$4.82
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Freedom, NH
Morning
in Freedom on Saturday
Local time
8:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Manchester, NH
Morning
in Manchester on Saturday
Local time
8:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Alton, NH
38 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
14 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 1m 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 Freedom, NH to Manchester, NH covers 75.3 miles and takes about 2h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NH 28, Center Street, State Route 28. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.7 miles from Freedom, NH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.12 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 21 significant decision points across 75.3 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: at 1.5 miles (NH 25 / Porter Road): Navigation decision point; at 22.9 miles (NH 28 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 63 miles (US 3; NH 28 / Allenstown Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Freedom, NH and Manchester, NH, road signs point toward Hooksett Village and Nashua.
