Origin
Ayer, MA
Late night in Ayer on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ayer, MA to Boston, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
35.7 mi
57 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ayer, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Boston, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Ayer to Boston, expect a journey covering 47.2 miles. This drive typically takes about 54 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a quick day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via West Main Street, Harvard Road, and Littleton Road rather than relying on major interstates. With a fuel budget of just $8, this trip is highly economical for those looking to reach the city without significant expenses. Since both locations are located within the Northeast, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the transit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Concord Turnpike | 7.2 mi | 9m |
| Captain Isaac Davis Highway | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2 | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| Concord Highway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| I 93 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Littleton Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Ayer Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Mystic Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Concord Turnpike
— 7.2 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ayer, MA and Boston, MA.
1
Start on MA 2A; MA 111
398 ft
·
11 sec
·
Park Street
2
Turn left onto MA 2A; MA 111
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on MA 2A; MA 111
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Harvard Road
4
Enter roundabout onto MA 2A; MA 110
425 ft
·
7 sec
·
Littleton Road
5
Continue on MA 2A; MA 110
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Littleton Road
6
Continue on MA 2A; MA 110
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Ayer Road
7
Turn right onto King Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
King Street
8
Turn left onto Taylor Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Taylor Street
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward MA 2 East: Concord, Boston
10
Merge onto MA 2
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
George W Stanton Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on MA 2
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on MA 2; MA 111
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Union Turnpike
13
Enter roundabout onto MA 2; MA 2A
328 ft
·
4 sec
·
Elm Street
14
Continue on MA 2; MA 2A
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Elm Street
15
Continue on MA 2; MA 2A
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Concord Turnpike
16
Continue on MA 2
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2
17
Continue on MA 2
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Concord Highway
18
Continue on MA 2
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Concord Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
473 ft
·
13 sec
Toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Merge onto US 3; MA 16
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Alewife Brook Parkway
Toward US 3 North, MA 16 East: Arlington, Medford
21
Turn right onto Powder House Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Powder House Boulevard
Use the right lane.
22
Enter roundabout
234 ft
·
4 sec
23
Continue
28 ft
·
0 sec
24
Continue on Warner Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Warner Street
25
Continue on Harvard Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Harvard Street
26
Turn right onto MA 38
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Mystic Avenue
Use the straight lane.
27
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 93 South: Boston
28
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 93 South: Boston
29
Merge onto I 93
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 93
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 17B-A
Toward MA 1A Toll: Airport, Government Center
Use the slight right lane.
31
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 17A
Toward Government Center
Use the slight right lane.
32
Turn straight onto John F. Fitzgerald Surface Road
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
John F. Fitzgerald Surface Road
33
Turn right onto State Street
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
State Street
34
Continue on Court Street
473 ft
·
20 sec
·
Court Street
35
Turn left onto Tremont Street
333 ft
·
11 sec
·
Tremont Street
36
Arrive at destination
Tremont Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.9 miles from Ayer, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 28.2 and 35 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
28.2 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn
6
29.2 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
Powder House Boulevard
Turn right onto Powder House Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
32.5 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 93 South: Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 93 South: Boston
8
34.8 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward MA 1A Toll: Airport, Government Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17B-A
Toward MA 1A Toll: Airport, Government Center
9
35 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Government Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17A
Toward Government Center
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.71 one way
$11.43 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.23 | $12.46 |
| premium | $4.82 | $6.78 | $13.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.88 | $15.76 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.79
Concord Turnpike
(3.7 mi)
$0.26
Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2
(3.5 mi)
$0.25
Concord Turnpike
(3.5 mi)
$0.24
Union Turnpike
(0.6 mi)
$0.04
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.71 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.12 | $1.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
Boston, MA
Late night in Boston on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Lexington, MA
18 mi in
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
22 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
58m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This 47.2-mile journey is defined by a turn-heavy local profile that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will spend the entire time navigating local roads. You should prepare for a technical driving experience where your focus stays on the road as you transition between the smaller streets of Ayer and the approaches to Boston. Because there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches, the drive maintains a steady, active pace from start to finish.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.2 mi on Concord Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 28.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 19 decision points packed into just 35.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 28.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.2 miles (Powder House Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ayer, MA and Boston, MA, road signs point toward Woburn and Medford.
Woburn
28.2 mi in
|
~43m
Medford
28.3 mi in
|
~43m
|
via US 3; MA 16
About the Cities
Arriving in Boston, MA
Full guide →A city of history and tradition, Boston offers a proud legacy of culture, education, and numerous sporting championships. The "shining city on a hill"s independent spirit has been displayed to the world ever since colonists were angry over a British tax on their beloved tea and dumped shiploads of it into the harbor in protest. In the early 1600s, the peninsula in Massachusetts that would become known as Boston was controlled by Native Americans until John Smith (English soldier, explorer, colonial governor, Admiral of New England, and author) named the area New England to attract European settlers. Boston was founded in 1630 by John Winthrop, making it one of the oldest cities in the U.S. No other American city has made more of an effort to preserve its history, and you'll find buildings that pre-date the republic dotted throughout the region.
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 58m. Total distance: 35.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.2 miles on Concord Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.79 in tolls one way, starting with Concord 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 Boston, MA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 28.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.2 miles (Powder House Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (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 Boston, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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