Origin
Boxborough, MA
Late night in Boxborough on Sunday
Local time
3:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Boxborough, MA to Worcester, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
32m
Distance
25.1 mi
40 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boxborough, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 25.1-mile drive from Boxborough to Worcester, Massachusetts, takes approximately 32 minutes and is perfect for a single-day trip. With 87% of the journey on highways, it's a quick connection within the Northeast region. The estimated fuel cost is a budget-friendly $4, making it an economical choice for a short excursion. You'll primarily navigate on I-290 and I-495, with a brief section on Hill Road. This route is designed for efficiency, getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 | 12.7 mi | 15m |
| I 495 | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| Hill Road | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Massachusetts Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Lincoln Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Lincoln Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 290
— 12.7 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boxborough, MA and Worcester, MA.
1
Start on Hill Road
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Hill Road
2
Turn right onto MA 111
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Massachusetts Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 495 South
4
Merge onto I 495
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
I 495
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 65B
Toward I 290 West: Worcester
6
Merge onto I 290
13 mi
·
15 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 21
Toward Ware, Framingham
8
Turn right onto MA 70
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Lincoln Street
9
Turn right onto MA 9
158 ft
·
2 sec
·
Lincoln Square
10
Turn left onto Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
11
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 23.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
MA 111 / Massachusetts Avenue
Turn right onto MA 111 / Massachusetts Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 South
Navigation decision point
Toward I 495 South
5
10.9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward I 290 West: Worcester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 65B
Toward I 290 West: Worcester
5
11.3 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 290
Merge onto I 290
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
23.9 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward Ware, Framingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 21
Toward Ware, Framingham
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.02 one way
$8.03 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.38 | $8.76 |
| premium | $4.82 | $4.77 | $9.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.54 | $11.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.64 | $1.20 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.20 | $1.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10 | 0 | $3.51 | $1.61 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Worcester, MA
Late night in Worcester on Sunday
Local time
3:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
24 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
32m 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 experience for the majority of this 25.1-mile trip, with 87% of your travel occurring on major interstates like I-290 and I-495. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12.7 miles on I-290, allowing for a consistent pace. While the bulk of the drive is on fast-paced highways, a short segment on Hill Road offers a slight change of scenery before you rejoin the interstate network. This route prioritizes directness over scenic detours.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.7 mi on I 290.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 290 and I 495. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near MA 111 / Massachusetts Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 25.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.7 miles (MA 111 / Massachusetts Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 10.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Starting in Boxborough, MA
Full guide →Acton is a town in Massachusetts with a population of 24,000 in the 2020 census. Boxborough is a town with a population of about 6,000 (2020). Maynard is a town with a population of 11,000 (2020). Stow is a town with a population of 7,000 (2020).
Arriving in Worcester, MA
Full guide →Explore fine arts, history, and take in a show in Worcester, a medium sized city in Central Massachusetts about an hour's drive west of Boston. Worcester's seven hills and their valleys contain top notch museums, nine colleges and universities, beautiful parks, and food from all over the globe.
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 32m. Total distance: 25.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.7 miles on I 290. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.7 miles (MA 111 / Massachusetts Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 10.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Minute Man National Historical Park, Lowell National Historical Park and Boston National Historical Park. 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 Worcester, 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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