The drive from Keene, NH to Chester, NH covers 75.6 miles and takes about 1h 50m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Franklin Pierce Highway, Route 9, I 89 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.5 miles on Franklin Pierce Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.17 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
37.8 miles from Keene, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 75.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Keene, NH to Chester, NH covers 75.6 miles and takes about 1h 50m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Franklin Pierce Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 19.5 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 early in the drive near Central Square.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 (Central Square): Lane positioning matters here; at 56.4 miles (I 93 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.3 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Central Square
Turn right onto Central Square
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
56.4 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|I 93 / Everett Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93 / Everett Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
58.3 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|I 93
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 South: Salem, Boston
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 93 South: Salem, Boston
6
64.1 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward NH 101 East: Seacoast, Portsmouth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 7
Toward NH 101 East: Seacoast, Portsmouth
6
67.4 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward Auburn, Chester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 2
Toward Auburn, Chester
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Keene, NH and Chester, NH, road signs point toward Boston, Portsmouth and Auburn.
Boston
50.1 mi in|~1h 11m
Portsmouth
64.1 mi in|~1h 28m
Auburn
67.4 mi in|~1h 32m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Franklin Pierce Highway
19.5 mi
26m
Route 9
11.8 mi
16m
I 89
7.9 mi
9m
Everett Turnpike
7.6 mi
8m
Keene Road
5.7 mi
8m
I 93
5.7 mi
6m
Chester Road
3.9 mi
7m
NH 101
2.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Franklin Pierce Highway
— 19.5 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Keene, NH and Chester, NH.
1
Start on Roxbury Street
33 ft·3 sec·Roxbury Street
2
Turn right onto Central Square
147 ft·3 sec·Central Square
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Keep slight right at fork onto Washington Street
1.6 mi·4 min·Washington Street
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·12 sec
5
Merge onto NH 9; NH 10
3.3 mi·4 min·Route 9
6
Continue on NH 9
1.5 mi·2 min·NH Route 9
7
Continue on NH 9
1.8 mi·2 min·Route 9
8
Continue on NH 9
3.3 mi·4 min·Franklin Pierce Highway
9
Continue on NH 9
6.7 mi·9 min·Route 9
10
Continue on NH 9
5.7 mi·8 min·Keene Road
11
Continue on NH 9; NH 31
1.9 mi·2 min·West Main Street
12
Turn straight onto NH 9
16 mi·22 min·Franklin Pierce Highway
Use the straight lane.
13
Merge onto I 89
7.9 mi·9 min·I 89
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 93 South Toll: Manchester, Boston
15
Merge onto I 93
5.7 mi·6 min·Everett Turnpike
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
2.0 mi·2 min·Everett Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93
5.7 mi·6 min·I 93
Toward I 93 South: Salem, BostonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 7Toward NH 101 East: Seacoast, Portsmouth
19
Merge onto NH 101
2.5 mi·3 min·NH 101
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·59 sec
Exit 2Toward Auburn, Chester
21
Turn right onto Hooksett Road
1.7 mi·3 min·Hooksett Road
22
Continue on NH 121
3.9 mi·7 min·Chester Road
23
Continue on NH 121
2.2 mi·4 min·Chester Street
24
Turn right
499 ft·36 sec
25
Arrive at destination
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 37.8 miles from Keene, NH, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.5 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 17 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.8 miles or 55m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chester, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Keene, NH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Keene, NH
This is one driving day of about 75.6 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Keene, NH.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Franklin Pierce Highway for about 19.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.17 one way
$24.34 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$13.39
$26.78
premium
$4.86
$14.48
$28.95
diesel
$5.61
$16.69
$33.38
Estimated Tolls: $0.54
Everett Turnpike
(7.6 mi)$0.54
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
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.5 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
22.7
0
$7.94
$3.63
Efficient EV
18.9
0
$6.61
$3.02
EV Truck/SUV
30.2
0
$10.58
$4.84
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
Keene, NH
Evening
in Keene on Thursday
Local time
7:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chester, NH
Evening
in Chester on Thursday
Local time
7:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°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
13 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
1h 50m 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 Keene, NH to Chester, NH covers 75.6 miles and takes about 1h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Franklin Pierce Highway, Route 9, I 89. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.8 miles from Keene, NH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.17 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 75.6 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (Central Square): Lane positioning matters here; at 56.4 miles (I 93 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.3 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Keene, NH and Chester, NH, road signs point toward Boston, Portsmouth and Auburn.
