How far is Rochester, NH from Durham, NH?

The driving distance from Rochester, NH to Durham, NH is about 16 miles (25.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 12.1 miles (19.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 55m 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
15.99 mi
00h 27m
Flight
12.04 mi
19.38 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rochester.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
12.04 mi
Kilometers
19.38 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
15.99 mi
Kilometers
25.73 km
Drive Time
00h 27m

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 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Durham
Wed, Apr 22, 8:53 PM EDT
Return by in Rochester
Wed, Apr 22, 9:21 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rochester
2026-04-22T20:25
Arrive Durham
Wed, Apr 22, 8:53 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:28 AM to 7:28 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:34 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Rochester
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
Dover
NH

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

From Rochester
8 mi
00h 13m
To Durham
8 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
49°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph S
Destination
48°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Rochester and Durham.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rochester and Durham.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    17 m · 6 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Museum Way

    550 ft · 20 sec · Museum Way

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Columbus Avenue

    1.6 mi · 4 min · Columbus Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Gonic Road

    728 ft · 25 sec · Gonic Road

  5. 5

    Take the exit left toward NH 16 Onramp South

    1622 ft · 29 sec · NH 16 Onramp South

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Spaulding Turnpike

    8.3 mi · 11 min · Spaulding Turnpike

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward NH 9 West, NH 155 West: Madbury

    900 ft · 31 sec

  8. 8

    Turn slight right onto Knox Marsh Road

    2.8 mi · 5 min · Knox Marsh Road

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Madbury Road

    1.6 mi · 4 min · Madbury Road

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Edgewood Road

    2849 ft · 1 min · Edgewood Road

  11. 11

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

    2183 ft · 1 min · Main Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Mill Road

    61 m · 14 sec · Mill Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Mill Road

    33 m · 4 sec · Mill Road

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Mill Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Rochester and Durham.

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
14 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
87.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Spaulding Turnpike
8.26 mi · 52%
Knox Marsh Road
2.8 mi · 17%
Columbus Avenue
1.61 mi · 10%
Madbury Road
1.58 mi · 10%
Edgewood Road
0.54 mi · 3%
Main Street
0.41 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Spaulding Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Spaulding Turnpike

8.26 mi · 00h 11m

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 27m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.9 mi
12.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dover
00h 13m from Rochester
Leave By
7:34 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy leaving Rochester and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Durham.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rochester to Durham?

The road trip is about 16 miles (25.7 km) and usually takes 00h 27m 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?

Dover is a useful midpoint, sitting about 8 miles from Rochester and 8 miles from Durham.

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

The direct path is about 12.1 miles (19.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.9 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 7:34 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.25 one way or $4.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy around Rochester and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Durham.

Stop Ideas Near Dover

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 Dover and the surrounding midpoint area.
Old City Hall
Scenic stop 12 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 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 Dover.

RAIL

Dover Transportation Center

33 Chestnut St.
RAIL

Durham–UNH station

8 mi away
3 Depot Road
BUS

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

16 mi away
185 Grafton Drive
RAIL

Exeter station

25 mi away
60 Lincoln Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rochester and Durham. Straight-line distance: 12.04 mi (19.38 km).

Rochester

#1 Rochester

City in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States

Population31,719
Coordinates43.3045300, -70.9756200
Altitude70
CountryUnited States
Durham

#2 Durham

Town in New Hampshire

Population16,441
Coordinates43.1339700, -70.9264500
Altitude15
CountryUnited States
Start: Rochester (-70.97562, 43.30453)
End: Durham (-70.92645, 43.13397)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 26 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.57 gal
2.14 L · about $2.25
Round trip
$4.50
1.14 gal · 4.28 L
Estimated CO2
5.1 kg one way
Round trip: 10.1 kg / 22 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $2.25 $4.50
Mid-grade $4.46 $2.54 $5.08
Premium $4.86 $2.77 $5.54
Diesel $6.00 $3.42 $6.84

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 Rochester and Durham. The current time is 20:25:30.

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.