Drive Time
28m
Distance
16.8 mi
27 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Photo: Filip Wouters
The drive from Northwood, NH to Dover, NH covers 16.8 miles and takes about 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Old Turnpike Road, Knox Marsh Road, Concord Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 5.1 miles on Old Turnpike Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.69 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
8.4 miles from Northwood, NH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
The drive from Northwood, NH to Dover, NH covers 16.8 miles and takes about 28m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 4; US 202; NH 9 / First New Hampshire Turnpike.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 16.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 (US 4; US 202; NH 9 / First New Hampshire Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles (US 4 / Concord Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Depart onto US 4; US 202; NH 9 / First New Hampshire Turnpike
Lane positioning matters here
Enter roundabout onto US 4 / Concord Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Take the exit toward NH 155: Lee, Madbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn sharp right onto NH 4; NH 9; NH 108 / Central Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Northwood, NH to Dover, NH, road signs begin pointing toward Madbury along the way.
Madbury
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Old Turnpike Road | 5.1 mi | 7m |
| Knox Marsh Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Concord Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Old Concord Turnpike | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Lee Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Turtle Pond Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| First New Hampshire Turnpike | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Silver Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Northwood, NH and Dover, NH.
Start on US 4; US 202; NH 9
Continue on US 4
Continue on US 4
Continue on US 4
Enter roundabout onto US 4
Continue on US 4
Take the exit
Turn left onto NH 155
Continue on NH 155
Continue on NH 155
Continue on NH 155
Enter roundabout onto NH 9
Continue on NH 9
Turn left onto Locust Street
Turn straight onto Chestnut Street
Turn right onto Third Street
Turn sharp right onto NH 4; 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 16.8 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.4 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dover, NH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Northwood, 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 Northwood, NH
This is one driving day of about 16.8 miles and 28m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.4 mi from Northwood, NH · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 16.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 8.4 miles from Northwood, 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
$2.69 one way
$5.38 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $2.95 | $5.90 |
| premium | $4.83 | $3.19 | $6.39 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.73 | $7.46 |
Estimated Tolls: $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
$3
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5 | 0 | $1.76 | $0.81 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.47 | $0.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.35 | $1.08 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Northwood on Saturday
Local time
5:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Dover on Saturday
Local time
5:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
57°F
Brunswick, NY
8 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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