Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
87.7 mi
141 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
Photo: Mohan Nannapaneni
The drive from Madison, NH to Manchester, NH covers 87.7 miles and takes about 2h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Everett Turnpike, Styles Bridges Highway, Senator Styles Bridges Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15.8 miles on Everett Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.04 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
43.9 miles from Madison, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 6m drive with frequent turns across 87.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29.7 miles in near US 3 / Daniel Webster Highway.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 87.7 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 29.7 miles (US 3 / Daniel Webster Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.3 miles (I 93 / Everett Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto US 3 / Daniel Webster Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 93 South: Tilton, Concord
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93 / Everett Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward Amoskeag Street, Goffstown Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between Madison, NH and Manchester, NH, road signs point toward Concord and Nashua.
Concord
Nashua
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Everett Turnpike | 15.8 mi | 18m |
| Styles Bridges Highway | 15.7 mi | 17m |
| Senator Styles Bridges Highway | 15.4 mi | 17m |
| Whittier Highway | 12.2 mi | 22m |
| NH 104 | 8.5 mi | 13m |
| Plains Road | 5 mi | 9m |
| Ossipee Mountain Highway | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Whittier Street | 3.1 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, NH and Manchester, NH.
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 80 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.9 miles or 1h 14m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manchester, NH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Madison, 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 Madison, NH
This is one driving day of about 87.7 miles and 2h 6m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.9 mi from Madison, NH · 1h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 43.9 miles from Madison, NH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Manchester, 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 Manchester, NH.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$14.04 one way
$28.08 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $15.39 | $30.78 |
| premium | $4.83 | $16.67 | $33.34 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $19.48 | $38.97 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.10
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
$14
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.21 | $4.21 |
| Efficient EV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.67 | $3.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.1 | 0 | $12.28 | $5.61 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Afternoon in Madison on Saturday
Local time
4:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Manchester on Saturday
Local time
4:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
48°F
Albany, NY
44 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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