Gardner, MA Road Trips
Gardner, MA serves as a quiet starting point in the Northeast, connecting drivers to 4 outbound routes across the area. Most drives stay under 43 miles, making this area well-suited for day trips and weekend getaways. Routes from Gardner, MA spread mainly south and east, covering a wide geographic range.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
5
Longest Drive
75 mi
Brockton, MA
Quickest Drive
44m
Worcester, MA
Plan Around Gardner, MA
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Gardner, MA is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Gardner, MA
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Gardner, MA
Driving from Gardner, MA
Expect an average of 43 miles and about 1h 6m behind the wheel when leaving Gardner, MA. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 57 miles (1h 27m), while the shortest is just 29 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from Gardner, MA include Boston, MA (56.8 mi, 1h 27m), Hopedale, MA (50.2 mi, 1h 13m), Grafton, MA (36.4 mi, 59m), and Worcester, MA (28.8 mi, 44m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
For the average 43-mile drive from Gardner, MA, expect to burn about 1.7 gallons of fuel one way at 25 MPG. Check local pump prices before you go to lock in your budget.
With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you. The majority of destinations are to the south. Morning starts help you avoid the midday heat on longer drives.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 4 mapped routes leaving Gardner, MA and 1 routes heading into Gardner, MA, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 29 to 57 miles.
The longest mapped route from Gardner, MA covers 57 miles and takes approximately 1h 27m. Shorter options start at just 29 miles.
The average route from Gardner, MA runs about 43 miles with a drive time of roughly 1h 6m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
The most popular road trip destinations from Gardner, MA include Boston, MA, Hopedale, MA, Grafton, MA and Worcester, MA. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Gardner, MA by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
21,075
Median Income
$62,948
Median Home Value
$271,300
Median Age
43.5
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Gardner, MA at a Glance
Founded
1764
Elevation
1,063 ft
Area
23 mi²
Notable People from Gardner, MA
A sampling of people born in Gardner, MA.
Jesse Paine Wolcott
1893–1969
American politician (1893-1969)
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Gardner, MA.
Miss Toy Town Diner
Elm Street Fire Station
historic fire station at 58 Elm Street in Gardner, Massachusetts, United States
Heywood-Wakefield Company Complex
West Gardner Square Historic District
historic district in Gardner, Massachusetts
City data from Wikidata (Q1829193), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Gardner, MA
Gardner is a city of 21,000 people (2019) in Massachusetts. Gardner is known as the "Chair City" and "The Furniture Capital of New England", due to its long history in furniture production.
Named in honor of Col. Thomas Gardner, the community was settled by Europeans in 1764 and incorporated as a town in 1785 after receiving land grants from the surrounding towns of Ashburnham, Westminster, Templeton and Winchendon. Dating from about 1805, it became a center for lumber and furniture industries. By 1910 it had 20 chair factories which produced 4 million chairs per year. It was also noted for silversmithing. The Gardner State Colony for the Insane pioneered the use of cottage residences. Gardner was incorporated as a city in 1923.
1 Dunn State Park, 289 Pearl St, ☏ +1 978 632-7897. Sunrise-sunset. Parking $15/day, MA residents $8. (updated Oct 2019) 2 Lake Wampanoag Wildlife Sanctuary. Dawn-dusk. (updated Oct 2019) 3 West Gardner Square Historic District. Downtown Gardner was developed as an industrial site beginning in the early 19th century. The area now boasts a concentration of late 19th and early 20th century commercial, civic, and industrial architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. 4 The Gardner Museum, 28 Pearl Street. Historic library building. It was given in honor of Levi Heywood, a prominent figure in the city's economically important chair manufacturing industry.It now houses The Gardner Museum which is dedicated to the city's history.
Smith's Country Cheese, 20 Otter River Rd, Winchendon, ☏ +1 978 939-5738. Award-winning Gouda, Cheddar, and Havarti. (updated Apr 2015) Red Apple Farm, 455 Highland Ave, Phillipston, ☏ +1 978 249-6763. Enjoy apple picking, cider, donuts, and local products at this orchard in the fall. Red Apple Farm is a big operation and gets very busy in the peak fall tourist season. So busy that they need parking attendants to direct the traffic. You can pick apples, take a hay ride, or feed some farm animals. The farm store sells a dizzying array of locally made products, most made right at the farm (jams, baked goods, syrup, cider, popcorn). They provide lots of free samples to entice you to buy. A cider doughnut is an essential fall experience. Outside, they have a grill and fire pit where you can order burgers, hot dogs, and a few BBQ options which you can eat in the covered picnic area. 1 Mount Watatic. At 1,831 ft, is the second highest mountain in Massachusetts east of the Berkshires. Trailhead is off of MA 119 in Ashburnham
Blue Moon Diner, 102 Main St, Gardner, ☏ +1 978 632-4333. Worcester Lunch Car Company diner #815, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Classic diner food. (updated Apr 2015)
Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St, Gardner, ☏ +1 978 669-0122. Bustling brewpub with eclectic comfort fare, microbrews & live music in a rustic, all-brick room. Blueprint American Bar & Grill, 9 Village Sq, Westminster, ☏ +1 978 668-5580. A bit off the beaten path, this bar in a strip mall has one of the best beer selections in the region. (updated May 2015) Wachusett Brewing Company, 175 State Road East, Westminster, ☏ +1 978-874-9965. The region's largest brewery. Samples are offered in the tasting room and they give free tours on Saturday.
1 Colonial Hotel, 625 Betty Spring Rd, ☏ +1 978-630-2500.
Route 2 West From Alewife station in Cambridge will take you right to Gardner. If you're coming from the south, I-190 North to Route 2 West will bring you to Gardner. From the West Route 2 East goes from the New York border in Williamstown to Gardner. The closest commuter rail station to Gardner is the Wachusett Commuter Rail Station. From the station State Route 2 West will take you to Gardner.
The best way to get around Gardner and the surrounding region is by car. There is some bus service in and around the area provided by The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority it's rather limited though.
Travel tips adapted from Gardner (Massachusetts) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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