The drive from Lempster, NH to Dover, NH covers 82.9 miles and takes about 2h 14m 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, Dover Road, I 89 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.3 miles on Franklin Pierce Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.35 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
41.4 miles from Lempster, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 82.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Lempster, NH to Dover, NH covers 82.9 miles and takes about 2h 14m, 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 41 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. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 33.4 miles in near I 89.
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 82.9 miles you will encounter 21 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 33.4 miles (I 89): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.7 miles (NH 3A / Route 3-A): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
33.4 mi into trip|~56m in|I 89
Merge onto I 89
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
41.7 mi into trip|~1h 6m in|NH 3A / Route 3-A
Turn left onto NH 3A / Route 3-A
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
44.8 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 393 East, US 4 East, US 202 East: Loudon, Portsmouth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 15E
Toward I 393 East, US 4 East, US 202 East: Loud...
5
74.2 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|US 4 / Concord Road
Enter roundabout onto US 4 / Concord Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
82.8 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|NH 4; NH 9; NH 108 / Central Avenue
Turn sharp right onto NH 4; NH 9; NH 108 / Central Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
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 Dover, NH, road signs point toward Portsmouth and Madbury.
Portsmouth
44.8 mi in|~1h 11m
Madbury
75.6 mi in|~2h
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Franklin Pierce Highway
16.3 mi
22m
Dover Road
9.2 mi
15m
I 89
8.3 mi
10m
First New Hampshire Turnpike
7.8 mi
12m
2nd New Hampshire Turnpike
5.4 mi
10m
Old Turnpike Road
5.1 mi
7m
North Main Street
4.5 mi
8m
I 393
4.4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Franklin Pierce Highway
— 16.3 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lempster, NH and Dover, 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
8.3 mi·10 min·I 89
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn left onto NH 3A
0.3 mi·41 sec·Route 3-A
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Continue on NH 3A
420 ft·10 sec·South Main Street
14
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·53 sec
Toward I 93 North
15
Merge onto I 93
1.7 mi·2 min·Everett Turnpike
16
Continue on I 93
0.5 mi·42 sec·Styles Bridges Highway
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 15EToward I 393 East, US 4 East, US 202 East: Loudon, Portsmouth
18
Merge onto I 393; US 4; US 202
4.4 mi·6 min·I 393; US 4; US 202
19
Continue on NH 9; US 4; US 202
0.2 mi·17 sec·Loudon Road
20
Continue on US 4; US 202; NH 9
4.9 mi·7 min·Dover Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
21
Enter roundabout onto US 4; US 202; NH 9
251 ft·6 sec·Dover Road
22
Continue on US 4; US 202; NH 9
4.3 mi·7 min·Dover Road
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on US 4; US 202; NH 9; NH 107
7.8 mi·12 min·First New Hampshire Turnpike
24
Continue on US 4
5.1 mi·7 min·Old Turnpike Road
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on US 4
1.8 mi·2 min·Old Concord Turnpike
26
Continue on US 4
0.5 mi·55 sec·Concord Road
27
Enter roundabout onto US 4
164 ft·4 sec·Concord Road
28
Continue on US 4
1.3 mi·2 min·Concord Road
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward NH 155: Lee, Madbury
30
Turn left onto NH 155
1.2 mi·2 min·Turtle Pond Road
31
Continue on NH 155
1.3 mi·2 min·Lee Road
32
Continue on NH 155
347 ft·7 sec·Manchester Road
33
Continue on NH 155
3.2 mi·5 min·Knox Marsh Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
34
Enter roundabout onto NH 9
14 ft·0 sec·Silver Street
35
Continue on NH 9
0.6 mi·1 min·Silver Street
36
Turn left onto Locust Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·Locust Street
37
Turn straight onto Chestnut Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·Chestnut Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
38
Turn right onto Third Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·Third Street
39
Turn sharp right onto NH 4; NH 9; NH 108
212 ft·6 sec·Central Avenue
40
Turn left
114 ft·5 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
41
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 41.4 miles from Lempster, NH, or about 1h 6m 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 18 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.4 miles or 1h 6m 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 52m
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 Lempster, 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 Lempster, NH
This is one driving day of about 82.9 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 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 41.4 mi from Lempster, NH
· 1h 6m into the drive
The midpoint is around 41.5 miles from Lempster, NH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dover, NH
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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.35 one way
$26.69 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$14.68
$29.37
premium
$4.86
$15.88
$31.75
diesel
$5.61
$18.30
$36.61
Estimated Tolls: $1.52
First New Hampshire Turnpike
(7.8 mi)$0.54
Old Turnpike Road
(5.1 mi)$0.35
2nd New Hampshire Turnpike
(3.9 mi)$0.27
Old Concord Turnpike
(1.8 mi)$0.13
Everett Turnpike
(1.7 mi)$0.12
2nd New Hampshire Turnpike
(1.5 mi)$0.11
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
$13
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.9
0
$8.70
$3.98
Efficient EV
20.7
0
$7.25
$3.32
EV Truck/SUV
33.2
0
$11.61
$5.31
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Lempster, NH
Late night
in Lempster on Saturday
Local time
2:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dover, NH
Late night
in Dover on Saturday
Local time
2:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Loudon, NH
41 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
16 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 14m 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 Dover, NH covers 82.9 miles and takes about 2h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Franklin Pierce Highway, Dover Road, I 89. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.4 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 $13.35 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 82.9 miles you will encounter 21 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 33.4 miles (I 89): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.7 miles (NH 3A / Route 3-A): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Lempster, NH and Dover, NH, road signs point toward Portsmouth and Madbury.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
