Lempster, NH to Bedford, NH is 59.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 32 minutes via Franklin Pierce Highway, Everett Turnpike, and I 89, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New Hampshire, offering a straightforward journey through the Northeast region. Expect a mixed driving experience that's manageable for a single day. It's a practical route for getting from point A to point B without requiring extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
29.6 miles from Lempster, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 59.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This drive presents a mixed profile, with 46% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on Franklin Pierce Highway, including the longest uninterrupted segment of 16.3 miles, before transitioning to the faster pace of the Everett Turnpike and I 89. The road's character shifts as you progress, moving from potentially more local roads to a more direct, higher-speed travel experience. Be prepared for a blend of varied road types as you make your way south.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 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 16.3 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 41.3 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.3 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 41.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.6 miles (I 93 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.6 miles (I 293 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
5
41.3 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 93 South Toll: Manchester, Boston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 93 South Toll: Manchester, Boston
6
47.6 mi into trip|~1h 13m 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
49.6 mi into trip|~1h 15m 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
54.5 mi into trip|~1h 21m 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
5
54.5 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lempster, NH and Bedford, NH, road signs point toward Boston and Nashua.
Boston
41.3 mi in|~1h 5m
Nashua
49.6 mi in|~1h 15m|via I 293
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Franklin Pierce Highway
16.3 mi
22m
Everett Turnpike
12.5 mi
14m
I 89
7.9 mi
9m
2nd New Hampshire Turnpike
5.4 mi
10m
North Main Street
4.5 mi
8m
Mountain Road
3.5 mi
7m
Lempster Mountain Road
2 mi
4m
Boynton Street
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Franklin Pierce Highway
— 16.3 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lempster, NH and Bedford, NH.
1
Start on North Pitkin Road
142 ft·10 sec·North Pitkin Road
2
Turn right onto Lempster Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Lempster Street
3
Continue on 2nd New Hampshire Turnpike
1.5 mi·3 min·2nd New Hampshire Turnpike
4
Continue on Mountain Road
3.5 mi·7 min·Mountain Road
5
Continue on Lempster Mountain Road
2.0 mi·4 min·Lempster Mountain Road
6
Turn right onto NH 31
4.5 mi·8 min·North Main Street
7
Continue on NH 31
0.9 mi·1 min·State Road
8
Continue on NH 31
3.9 mi·6 min·2nd New Hampshire Turnpike
9
Turn left onto NH 9
0.2 mi·23 sec·West Main Street
10
Turn straight onto NH 9
16 mi·22 min·Franklin Pierce Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Merge onto I 89
7.9 mi·9 min·I 89
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 93 South Toll: Manchester, Boston
13
Merge onto I 93
5.7 mi·6 min·Everett Turnpike
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
2.0 mi·2 min·Everett Turnpike
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
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.
16
Take the exit
401 ft·9 sec
Exit 6Toward Amoskeag Street, Goffstown Road
17
Keep slight left at fork
192 ft·11 sec
18
Turn left onto Eddy Road
0.3 mi·34 sec·Eddy Road
19
Continue on McGregor Street
0.4 mi·49 sec·McGregor Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Continue on Main Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Main Street
21
Turn right onto Boynton Street
1.6 mi·3 min·Boynton Street
22
Continue on NH 101
0.4 mi·43 sec·NH 101
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on NH 101
0.7 mi·1 min·NH 101
24
Turn right onto Meetinghouse Road
0.1 mi·23 sec·Meetinghouse Road
25
Turn right onto Bedford Center Road
20 ft·0 sec·Bedford Center Road
26
Arrive at destination
Bedford Center Road
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just over 1.5 hours, this is an easy same-day trip. You can depart at your convenience, but leaving in the morning or early afternoon will give you plenty of daylight. With a fuel cost estimated around $10, you likely won't need to worry about frequent stops for gas. Plan for a single, brief stop if needed, perhaps midway, as the longest stretch is manageable. Keep an eye on traffic, especially as you approach the Bedford area, as it can pick up.
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 29.6 miles from Lempster, NH, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.3 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 13 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29.6 miles or 50m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bedford, NH than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lempster, NH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lempster, NH
This is one driving day of about 59.3 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Lempster, 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 16.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29.6 mi from Lempster, NH
· 50m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Your National Park for the Arts preserves the home and studio of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907). Here stories flow through a landscape of inspiration. Discover the history behind the capt...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17.8
0
$6.23
$2.85
Efficient EV
14.8
0
$5.19
$2.37
EV Truck/SUV
23.7
0
$8.30
$3.80
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% 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
Lempster, NH
Morning
in Lempster on Saturday
Local time
6:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bedford, NH
Morning
in Bedford on Saturday
Local time
6:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°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
18 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 32m 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 Lempster, NH to Bedford, NH covers 59.3 miles and takes about 1h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Franklin Pierce Highway, Everett Turnpike, I 89. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.6 miles from Lempster, NH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.55 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 59.3 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 41.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.6 miles (I 93 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.6 miles (I 293 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Lempster, NH and Bedford, NH, road signs point toward Boston and Nashua.
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.
