Origin
Amherst, MA
Night in Amherst on Saturday
Local time
10:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Amherst, MA to Lynn, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 25m
Distance
104.7 mi
168 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 15m
★
6 AM
2h 25m
8 AM
2h 45m
10 AM
2h 32m
12 PM
2h 30m
3 PM
2h 33m
5 PM
2h 44m
8 PM
2h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Amherst, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Lynn, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Amherst to Lynn covers 104.7 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 25 minutes. Because this is a straightforward, highway-focused journey across Massachusetts, it is easily manageable as a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $17 for fuel to complete the transit between these two Northeast locations. Navigating the route involves taking the Massachusetts Turnpike, Federal Street, and North Liberty Street. Since the drive is relatively short, you won't need to plan for overnight stays or complex logistics. It is an efficient way to transition from the Pioneer Valley toward the coast.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.3 miles from Amherst, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 73.6 mi | 1h 28m |
| Federal Street | 5.6 mi | 10m |
| North Liberty Street | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| North Shore Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| North Main Street | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| North Washington Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Belchertown Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Lynnway | 1.7 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 73.6 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Amherst, MA and Lynn, MA.
1
Start on Depot Road
449 ft
·
20 sec
·
Depot Road
2
Turn right onto MA 116
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Pleasant Street
3
Turn right onto MA 9
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
College Street
4
Continue on MA 9
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Belchertown Road
5
Continue on MA 9
391 ft
·
6 sec
·
USMC League Highway
6
Continue on MA 9
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Federal Street
7
Continue on Federal Street
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Federal Street
8
At end of road, turn right onto MA 9
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Federal Street
9
Turn right onto US 202
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto North Washington Street
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Washington Street
11
Continue on North Liberty Street
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
North Liberty Street
12
Continue on Belchertown Street
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Belchertown Street
13
Continue on Bridge Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Bridge Street
14
Turn left onto Palmer Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Palmer Road
15
Turn right onto MA 181
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Sykes Street
16
Continue on MA 181
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
17
Continue on US 20
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
18
Turn left onto US 20
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Thorndike Street
Use the left lane.
19
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Use the left lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
308 ft
·
7 sec
21
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
this road
22
Merge onto I 90
73 mi
·
1 hr 26 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on I 90
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Ted Williams Tunnel
24
Continue on I 90
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto MA 1A
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Boston Expressway
26
Continue on MA 1A
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
McClellan Highway
27
Continue on MA 1A
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Lee Burbank Highway
28
Take the exit onto MA 1A
366 ft
·
11 sec
·
MA 1A
29
Enter roundabout onto MA 1A
7 ft
·
0 sec
·
Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
30
Continue on MA 1A
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
31
Enter roundabout onto MA 1A
375 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Shore Road
32
Continue on MA 1A
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Shore Road
33
Continue on MA 1A
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Lynnway
34
Turn left onto MA 1A
504 ft
·
12 sec
·
MA 1A
Use the left lane.
35
Continue on Market Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Market Street
36
Turn right onto Liberty Street
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Liberty Street
37
Turn left onto Essex Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Essex Street
38
Turn right onto Rogers Avenue
66 ft
·
2 sec
·
Rogers Avenue
39
Arrive at destination
Rogers Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 25-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns. Since there are no mandatory stops required for this 104.7-mile distance, you can complete the drive in one go if you prefer. Keep your $17 fuel budget in mind as you prepare, and consider filling up before hitting the turnpike to avoid potential price fluctuations at highway service plazas. Because the route relies heavily on the Massachusetts Turnpike, checking for active construction or congestion reports before you leave Amherst is a smart way to ensure a smooth arrival in Lynn. The lack of required stop-overs gives you the advantage of total control over your schedule.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.3 miles from Amherst, MA, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 23 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.3 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lynn, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Amherst, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Amherst, MA
This is one driving day of about 104.7 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Amherst, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Massachusetts Turnpike for about 73.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.3 miles from Amherst, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Massachusetts Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 19.9 and 99 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
19.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
US 20 / Thorndike Street
Turn left onto US 20 / Thorndike Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
20.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
21 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
21.4 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
99 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
|
MA 1A / Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
Enter roundabout onto MA 1A / Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.76 one way
$33.51 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $18.27 | $36.55 |
| premium | $4.82 | $19.88 | $39.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.12 | $46.23 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.41
Massachusetts Turnpike
(73.6 mi)
$4.41
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.4 | 0 | $10.99 | $5.03 |
| Efficient EV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.16 | $4.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.9 | 0 | $14.66 | $6.70 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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
Lynn, MA
Night in Lynn on Saturday
Local time
10:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
14 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 25m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Boston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 93.8
Park Closure: Dorchester Heights Temporary Public Access Restrictions
New England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
From the Sound to the summits: the New England Trail covers 235 miles from Long Island Sound across long ridges to scenic mountain summits in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail offers panoramic...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 3.6
View on nps.gov
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 104.7
View on nps.gov
Adams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penn’s Hill to the gentleman’s country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of “heroes, statesmen, philosophers…and learned wome...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
$15
near mile 93.8
View on nps.gov
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach o...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 93.8
View on nps.gov
Minute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
At Minute Man National Historical Park the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and structures associated with April 19, 1775, and witness the Ameri...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 83
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by its efficiency, with 71% of the distance spent on major highways. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Massachusetts Turnpike, which accounts for a 73.6-mile uninterrupted stretch of your travel. The experience is primarily a highway-focused drive, favoring speed and directness over winding backroads. As you move away from the Amherst area, the road character shifts from local thoroughfares to the consistent pace of the turnpike. Expect a steady, predictable rhythm behind the wheel as you transition from the interior of the state toward the eastern region.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.6 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Federal Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.9 miles in near US 20 / Thorndike Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 104.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.9 miles (US 20 / Thorndike Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 21 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
916 ft
6 ft
Total Climb
1,155 ft
Total Descent
1,359 ft
Highest Point
916 ft
~30.5 mi in
Elevation Range
910 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Amherst, MA
Full guide →Amherst is a town in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. Amherst is home to about 35,000 residents as well as the campuses of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College, and Hampshire College. A usually pleasant mix of students, academics, and retirees makes it a quintessential New England college town. Amherst is at the center of a vibrant academic consortium comprising UMass, Amherst College, Hampshire College, and two more colleges in neighboring towns: Smith College in Northampton and Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley. Because of this the area is frequently referred to as the "Five College Area."
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 104.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.6 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.41 in tolls one way, starting with Massachusetts Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Lynn, MA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.9 miles (US 20 / Thorndike Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 21 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, New England National Scenic Trail and Salem Maritime National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lynn, MA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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