How far is Dover, NH from Exeter, NH?

The driving distance from Dover, NH to Exeter, NH is about 24.8 miles (39.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 15.4 miles (24.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 15m 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
24.8 mi
00h 37m
Flight
15.41 mi
24.8 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Dover.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
15.41 mi
Kilometers
24.8 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
24.8 mi
Kilometers
39.91 km
Drive Time
00h 37m

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 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Exeter
Thu, Apr 23, 5:50 AM EDT
Return by in Dover
Thu, Apr 23, 6:28 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dover
2026-04-23T05:13
Arrive Exeter
Thu, Apr 23, 5:50 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:38 AM to 7:38 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:14 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Dover
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
Greenland
NH

City in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States of America

From Dover
12.4 mi
00h 18m
To Exeter
12.4 mi
00h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
55°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW
Destination
57°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    7 m · 8 sec

  2. 2

    Turn sharp left onto Main Street

    98 m · 19 sec · Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn sharp left onto Central Avenue

    1876 ft · 57 sec · Central Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Hale Street

    105 m · 18 sec · Hale Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Locust Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Locust Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Central Avenue

    852 ft · 28 sec · Central Avenue

  7. 7

    Take the ramp right

    1064 ft · 36 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Spaulding Turnpike

    10 mi · 14 min · Spaulding Turnpike

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Blue Star Turnpike

    7.1 mi · 9 min · Blue Star Turnpike

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward NH 101: Hampton, Manchester

    3185 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on 101 West: Manchester, Concord, Exeter

    2083 ft · 51 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Exeter-Hampton Expressway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Exeter-Hampton Expressway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward NH 108: Stratham, Exeter

    1619 ft · 46 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on NH 108 South: Exeter, Hampton Falls

    147 m · 15 sec

  15. 15

    Turn slight left onto Portsmouth Avenue

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Portsmouth Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn right onto High Street

    743 ft · 25 sec · High Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Water Street

    962 ft · 33 sec · Water Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Water Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Dover 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
18 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
72.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Spaulding Turnpike
9.97 mi · 40%
Blue Star Turnpike
7.13 mi · 29%
Exeter-Hampton Expressway
3.25 mi · 13%
Portsmouth Avenue
1.11 mi · 4%
Locust Street
0.77 mi · 3%
Central Avenue
0.72 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Spaulding Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Spaulding Turnpike

9.97 mi · 00h 14m

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 37m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.4 mi
15.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Greenland
00h 18m from Dover
Leave By
7:14 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Dover and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny near Exeter.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 24.8 miles (39.9 km) and usually takes 00h 37m 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?

Greenland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 12.4 miles from Dover and 12.4 miles from Exeter.

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

The direct path is about 15.4 miles (24.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.4 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 7:14 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.43 one way or $6.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Dover and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny near Exeter.

Stop Ideas Near Greenland

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Greenland and the surrounding midpoint area.
Old City Hall
Scenic stop 3.2 mi away

Old City Hall

Portsmouth , NH
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews City Hall,Tourist attraction
Dover City Hall
Meeting point 10.2 mi away

Dover City Hall

Dover , NH
288 Central Ave, Dover, NH 03820
Rating 4.2/5 38 reviews City Hall

Transit and Meeting Points

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

BUS

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

4 mi away
185 Grafton Drive
RAIL

Exeter station

12 mi away
60 Lincoln Street
RAIL

Durham–UNH station

14 mi away
3 Depot Road
RAIL

Dover Transportation Center

18 mi away
33 Chestnut St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Dover and Exeter. Straight-line distance: 15.41 mi (24.8 km).

Dover

#1 Dover

County seat city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States

Population32,443
Coordinates43.1978600, -70.8736700
Altitude19
CountryUnited States
Exeter

#2 Exeter

Town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States

Population15,296
Coordinates42.9814800, -70.9478300
Altitude10
CountryUnited States
Start: Dover (-70.87367, 43.19786)
End: Exeter (-70.94783, 42.98148)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 40 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 37m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.87 gal
3.31 L · about $3.43
Round trip
$6.86
1.74 gal · 6.62 L
Estimated CO2
7.7 kg one way
Round trip: 15.5 kg / 34 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $3.43 $6.86
Mid-grade $4.46 $3.88 $7.76
Premium $4.86 $4.23 $8.45
Diesel $6.00 $5.22 $10.43

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Dover and Exeter. The current time is 05:13:20.

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.