Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
46.8 mi
75 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Photo: Filip Wouters
The drive from Laconia, NH to Dover, NH covers 46.8 miles and takes about 1h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NH 11, Spaulding Turnpike, Cherry Valley Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.6 miles on NH 11. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.49 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
23.4 miles from Laconia, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 41m into the drive .
The drive from Laconia, NH to Dover, NH covers 46.8 miles and takes about 1h 17m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
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 0.1 miles in near Church Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 46.8 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 0.1 miles (Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles (NH 11A / Gilford Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.8 miles (NH 28 / State Route 28): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Church Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto NH 11A / Gilford Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto NH 28 / State Route 28
Lane positioning matters here
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
Turn left onto Sixth Street
Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Laconia, NH to Dover, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Somersworth along the way.
Somersworth
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NH 11 | 14.6 mi | 22m |
| Spaulding Turnpike | 8.7 mi | 10m |
| Cherry Valley Road | 7.7 mi | 14m |
| Mount Major Highway | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Gilford Avenue | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Mt. Major Highway | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| State Route 28 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Sixth Street | 1.6 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Laconia, NH and Dover, NH.
Start on Pleasant Street
Turn slight left onto NH 106
Turn right onto Church Street
Turn slight left onto NH 11A; NH 107; US 3 Business
Turn right onto NH 11A
Continue on NH 11A
Keep slight right at fork onto NH 11A
Continue on NH 11A
Continue on NH 11A
Turn right onto NH 11
Continue on NH 11
Continue on NH 11
Turn left onto NH 28A
Turn slight right onto Bay Hill Road
Turn right onto NH 28
Enter roundabout onto NH 11
Continue on NH 11
Take the exit
Continue on NH 16 On-Ramp South
Merge onto NH 16; US 202
Take the exit
At end of road, turn left onto Indian Brook Drive
Turn left onto Sixth Street
Turn right onto NH 9; NH 108
Turn left
Arrive at destination
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.
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 46.8 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 23.4 miles or 41m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dover, NH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Laconia, 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 Laconia, NH
This is one driving day of about 46.8 miles and 1h 17m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.4 mi from Laconia, NH · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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.
A short stop after about 46.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23.4 miles from Laconia, NH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Dover, 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 Dover, NH.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$7.49 one way
$14.98 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $8.21 | $16.42 |
| premium | $4.83 | $8.90 | $17.79 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.40 | $20.79 |
Estimated Tolls: $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
$7
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.25 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.55 | $3.00 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Laconia on Saturday
Local time
5:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Dover on Saturday
Local time
5:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
48°F
Albany, NY
23 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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