Origin
Boston, MA
Night in Boston on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Boston, MA to Sterling, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
50.1 mi
81 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boston, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Sterling, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 50.1-mile drive from Boston, MA to Sterling, MA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 13 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $8, it's an economical journey. The route is primarily focused on highway travel, making it a quick connection within the Northeast region of Massachusetts. Given its short distance and highway-centric profile, this trip is ideal for a quick excursion without the need for an overnight stay. You'll spend most of your time on major arteries, making for a predictable and efficient commute.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 22.2 mi | 27m |
| I 495 | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| Turnpike Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Wattaquadock Hill Road | 3 mi | 5m |
| Clinton Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Sterling Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Water Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 22.2 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boston, MA and Sterling, MA.
1
Start on Tremont Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Tremont Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on Tremont Street
301 ft
·
14 sec
·
Tremont Street
3
Continue on Tremont Street
482 ft
·
20 sec
·
Tremont Street
4
Turn right onto Marginal Road
316 ft
·
12 sec
·
Marginal Road
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
Toward I 90 West, Massachusetts Turnpike Toll West
6
Merge onto I 90
22 mi
·
27 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
2 min
Exit 111
Toward MA 9: Framingham, Southboro
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward MA 9 West: Southboro, Worcester
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto MA 9
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Worcester Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Continue on MA 9
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Turnpike Road
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto I 495
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 70
Toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
14
Keep slight right at fork
377 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 70
Toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
15
Turn straight onto MA 117
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
16
Turn left onto Wattaquadock Hill Road
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Wattaquadock Hill Road
17
Continue on Bolton Road
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Bolton Road
18
Continue on Water Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Water Street
19
Continue on MA 62
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Sterling Street
20
Continue on MA 62
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Clinton Road
21
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 62
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Clinton Road
22
Turn straight onto MA 12; MA 62
392 ft
·
13 sec
·
Leominster Road
23
Turn straight onto MA 12; MA 62
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Main Street
24
Turn sharp right onto Meetinghouse Hill Road
55 ft
·
1 sec
·
Meetinghouse Hill Road
25
Arrive at destination
Meetinghouse Hill Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.1 miles from Boston, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 23.3 and 39.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
23.3 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward MA 9: Framingham, Southboro
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 111
Toward MA 9: Framingham, Southboro
8
24.1 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MA 9 West: Southboro, Worcester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward MA 9 West: Southboro, Worcester
6
29 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
6
39.7 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 70
Toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
8
39.8 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 70
Toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.02 one way
$16.04 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.74 | $17.49 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.51 | $19.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.06 | $22.12 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.58
Massachusetts Turnpike
(22.2 mi)
$1.33
Turnpike Road
(3.6 mi)
$0.25
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15 | 0 | $5.26 | $2.40 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20 | 0 | $7.01 | $3.21 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Sterling, MA
Night in Sterling on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
7 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 13m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for about 72% of this 50.1-mile route. You'll navigate segments of the Massachusetts Turnpike and I-495, offering a consistent pace for much of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.2 miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike, allowing for a good period of steady driving. While the majority is highway, occasional transitions onto roads like Turnpike Road will mark the progression toward your destination. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes efficiency over winding scenic byways.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.2 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and I 495. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 23.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Boston, MA and Sterling, MA, road signs point toward Southboro, Worcester and Stow.
Southboro
23.3 mi in
|
~31m
Worcester
24.1 mi in
|
~33m
Stow
39.7 mi in
|
~54m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 50.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.2 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.58 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 Sterling, 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 23.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Adams 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 Sterling, 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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