Traveling from Bedford to New Bedford covers 70.8 miles of Massachusetts terrain, a journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 33 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily complete the drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Amvets Highway, the Yankee Division Highway, and MA 140. With a fuel budget of approximately $11, this route is an economical way to traverse the Northeast corridor. It is a straightforward transit that connects two distinct parts of the state, making it a manageable excursion for those looking to reach the coast efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.4 miles from Bedford, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Amvets Highway
23.3 mi
26m
Yankee Division Highway
21.6 mi
29m
MA 140
15.9 mi
18m
US 1
3.1 mi
4m
Purchase Street
1.8 mi
3m
The Great Road
1.3 mi
3m
Mount Pleasant Street
1.1 mi
2m
Bedford Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Amvets Highway
— 23.3 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bedford, MA and New Bedford, MA.
1
Start on MA 4; MA 62; MA 225
1.3 mi·3 min·The Great Road
Use the left lane.
2
Continue on MA 4; MA 225
0.7 mi·1 min·Bedford Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward I 995 South: Providence Rhode Island
4
Merge onto I 95; MA 128
22 mi·29 min·Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto US 1
3.1 mi·4 min·US 1
Exit 26Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: BostonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 4Toward MA 24 South: Fall RiverUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on MA 24
23 mi·26 min·Amvets Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Exit 17AToward MA 140 South: New BedfordUse the right lane.
9
Turn straight onto MA 140
16 mi·18 min·MA 140
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 4Toward Mount Pleasant Street, Airport RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Mount Pleasant Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Mount Pleasant Street
12
Turn left onto Nauset Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·Nauset Street
13
Continue on Purchase Street
1.8 mi·3 min·Purchase Street
14
Continue on Pleasant Street
432 ft·10 sec·Pleasant Street
15
Continue on Sixth Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·Sixth Street
16
Turn left onto Market Street
237 ft·15 sec·Market Street
17
Turn left onto Pleasant Street
172 ft·3 sec·Pleasant Street
18
Arrive at destination
Pleasant Street
Trip Plan
Since the trip takes under two hours, you have significant flexibility in your departure time, though you should account for potential local traffic congestion common in Massachusetts. You won't need to plan for formal stops given the short duration, but having your $11 in fuel costs ready ensures you can fill up without delay. Pay close attention to the transition points between the Yankee Division Highway and MA 140, as these areas require more focus than the open highway sections. Staying alert during the turn-heavy portions of the drive is the best way to ensure a smooth arrival in New Bedford. Keep your GPS active to navigate the local road segments effectively.
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 35.4 miles from Bedford, MA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.3 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 16 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.4 miles or 48m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Bedford, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bedford, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bedford, MA
This is one driving day of about 70.8 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Bedford, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Amvets Highway for about 23.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 67 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.4 mi into trip|~5m in|I 95; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway
Merge onto I 95; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
23.9 mi into trip|~34m in|US 1
Take the exit onto US 1 toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26
Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
7
27.1 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward MA 24 South: Fall River
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4
Toward MA 24 South: Fall River
7
50.9 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward MA 140 South: New Bedford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 17A
Toward MA 140 South: New Bedford
8
67 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward Mount Pleasant Street, Airport Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4
Toward Mount Pleasant Street, Airport Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.33 one way
$22.66 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$12.36
$24.71
premium
$4.82
$13.44
$26.89
diesel
$5.61
$15.63
$31.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.2
0
$7.43
$3.40
Efficient EV
17.7
0
$6.19
$2.83
EV Truck/SUV
28.3
0
$9.91
$4.53
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bedford, MA
Afternoon
in Bedford on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New Bedford, MA
Afternoon
in New Bedford on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Canton, MA
35 mi in
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
19 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
1h 33m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You should prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Only 27% of this journey is spent on highways, meaning you will spend the majority of your time navigating local roads and transitions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 23.3-mile segment along the Amvets Highway. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route requires frequent adjustments and careful navigation as you move through different road types. Expect the driving experience to shift from faster highway speeds to more technical local stretches as you progress toward your destination.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.3 mi on Amvets Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near I 95; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.8 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (I 95; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.9 miles (US 1): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
New Bedford is in Massachusetts on the southern coast. New Bedford's excellent harbor made it a natural fishing and whaling center. It was the world's premier whaling port in the 19th century, and, for a time, "the richest city in the world" and "the city that lit the world" because of whale oil production.
New Bedford neighbor Acushnet is the birthplace of the Titleist golf ball.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 70.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.3 miles on Amvets Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 New Bedford, 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 2.4 miles (I 95; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.9 miles (US 1): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at New Bedford, MA before heading back.
