How far is Chester, NH from Exeter, NH?

The driving distance from Chester, NH to Exeter, NH is about 19.9 miles (32.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 15.7 miles (25.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 53m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
19.93 mi
00h 26m
Flight
15.74 mi
25.33 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chester.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
15.74 mi
Kilometers
25.33 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
19.93 mi
Kilometers
32.07 km
Drive Time
00h 26m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Exeter
Fri, May 15, 6:33 AM EDT
Return by in Chester
Fri, May 15, 7:00 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chester
2026-05-15T06:07
Arrive Exeter
Fri, May 15, 6:33 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:27 AM to 7:27 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:36 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Chester
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Epping
NH

Town in the U.

From Chester
10.4 mi
00h 13m
To Exeter
9.5 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
46°F
Overnight

Light Rain

Starts
Fri, May 15 1:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NE
Destination
58°F
Friday

Light Rain

Starts
Fri, May 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Chester and Exeter.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chester and Exeter.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    100 m · 25 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Chester Street

    47 m · 13 sec · Chester Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Raymond Road

    4.2 mi · 8 min · Raymond Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Chester Road

    2.5 mi · 5 min · Chester Road

  5. 5

    Continue on Freetown Road

    1.3 km · 2 min · Freetown Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward NH 101 East

    2893 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    10.9 mi · 13 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward NH 85: Exeter, Newfields

    1290 ft · 31 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Newfields Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Newfields Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Water Street

    2855 ft · 2 min · Water Street

  11. 11

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Water Street

    839 ft · 29 sec · Water Street

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Water Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Chester and Exeter.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
12 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
60.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
NH 101 East
11.4 mi · 57%
Raymond Road
4.17 mi · 21%
Chester Road
2.54 mi · 13%
Newfields Road
0.91 mi · 5%
Freetown Road
0.8 mi · 4%
Water Street
0.7 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

NH 101 East

Merge slight left

10.9 mi · 00h 13m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 26m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.2 mi
15.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Epping
00h 13m from Chester
Leave By
7:36 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Light Rain leaving Chester and Light Rain near Exeter.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Chester to Exeter?

The road trip is about 19.9 miles (32.1 km) and usually takes 00h 26m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Epping is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10.4 miles from Chester and 9.5 miles from Exeter.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 15.7 miles (25.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:36 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.76 one way or $5.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Light Rain around Chester and Light Rain near Exeter.

Stop Ideas Near Epping

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Epping, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Epping.

RAIL

Exeter station

11 mi away
60 Lincoln Street
RAIL

Durham–UNH station

16 mi away
3 Depot Road
BUS

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

22 mi away
185 Grafton Drive
RAIL

Dover Transportation Center

24 mi away
33 Chestnut St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chester and Exeter. Straight-line distance: 15.74 mi (25.33 km).

Chester

#1 Chester

Human settlement in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States of America

Population5,278
Coordinates42.9567500, -71.2572800
Altitude139
CountryUnited States
Exeter

#2 Exeter

Town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States

Population15,296
Coordinates42.9814800, -70.9478300
Altitude10
CountryUnited States
Start: (-71.257344, 42.956818)
End: Water Street (-70.947764, 42.981595)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 32 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.7 gal
2.66 L · about $2.76
Round trip
$5.52
1.4 gal · 5.32 L
Estimated CO2
6.2 kg one way
Round trip: 12.4 kg / 27 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $2.76 $5.52
Mid-grade $4.46 $3.12 $6.24
Premium $4.86 $3.40 $6.80
Diesel $6.00 $4.20 $8.40

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in New Hampshire · May 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Chester and Exeter. The current time is 06:07:27.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.