Origin
Rochester, NH
Morning in Rochester on Saturday
Local time
9:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rochester, NH to Atkinson, NH
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
38 mi
61 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rochester, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Atkinson, NH
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Rochester, NH to Atkinson, NH is 38 miles and takes about 1 hour 7 minutes via Calef Highway and NH 125, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays entirely within New Hampshire, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a local driving experience with frequent turns, making it feel more like navigating through towns than a pure highway cruise. It's a manageable journey, perfect for a quick relocation or a visit to a nearby area without a significant time commitment.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 38 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (21%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 21% of the journey on highways. You'll spend most of your time on roads like Calef Highway and NH 125, which likely means navigating through more populated areas with traffic lights and intersections. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.8 miles on Calef Highway, so be prepared for frequent adjustments to your speed and direction. The drive progresses by weaving through local New Hampshire landscapes, offering a more grounded experience than a typical interstate trip.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Calef Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 17.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Museum Way.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 38 miles you will encounter 10 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 (Museum Way): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (NH 125 / Columbus Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.3 miles (NH 125 / Calef Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Museum Way
Turn right onto Museum Way
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NH 125 / Columbus Avenue
Turn right onto NH 125 / Columbus Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
11.3 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
NH 125 / Calef Highway
Enter roundabout onto NH 125 / Calef Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
35.4 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
Danville Road
Turn right onto Danville Road
Navigation decision point
5
36.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
East Road
At end of road, turn right onto East Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Calef Highway | 17.8 mi | 28m |
| NH 125 | 8 mi | 14m |
| Officer Stephen Arkell Memorial Highway | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| Gonic Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Columbus Avenue | 1.6 mi | 4m |
| Academy Avenue | 1 mi | 3m |
| Greenough Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Calef Highway
— 17.8 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rochester, NH and Atkinson, NH.
1
Start on this road
55 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Museum Way
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Museum Way
3
Turn right onto NH 125
1.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Columbus Avenue
4
Continue on NH 125
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Gonic Road
5
Continue on NH 125
7.7 mi
·
12 min
·
Calef Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Enter roundabout onto NH 125
165 ft
·
4 sec
·
Calef Highway
7
Continue on NH 125
10 mi
·
15 min
·
Calef Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on NH 125
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Officer Stephen Arkell Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on NH 125; NH 111; NH 107
8.0 mi
·
14 min
·
NH 125; NH 111; NH 107
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn right onto Jesse George Road
337 ft
·
11 sec
·
Jesse George Road
11
Turn right onto Danville Road
493 ft
·
15 sec
·
Danville Road
12
Turn left onto Greenough Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Greenough Road
13
Continue on Linebrook Road
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Linebrook Road
14
At end of road, turn right onto East Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Road
15
Turn left onto Academy Avenue
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Academy Avenue
16
Turn left onto Leroy Avenue
126 ft
·
5 sec
·
Leroy Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Leroy Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19 mi from Rochester, NH · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19 miles from Rochester, NH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Atkinson, NH
The final approach into Atkinson, NH usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.12 one way
$12.23 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.73 | $13.46 |
| premium | $4.86 | $7.28 | $14.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.39 | $16.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Atkinson, NH
Morning in Atkinson on Saturday
Local time
9:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
13 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 7m 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 Rochester, NH to Atkinson, NH covers 38 miles and takes about 1h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Calef Highway, NH 125, Officer Stephen Arkell Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19 miles from Rochester, NH. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.12 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 38 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (Museum Way): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (NH 125 / Columbus Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.3 miles (NH 125 / Calef Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Rochester, NH to Atkinson, NH does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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