Origin
Cambridge, MA
Late night in Cambridge on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cambridge, MA to Ashburnham, 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 23m
Distance
50.1 mi
81 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Ashburnham, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Cambridge to Ashburnham covers 50.1 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 23 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough to avoid the need for an overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $8, you can easily manage the trek in one go without worrying about multiple stops. The route transitions from the dense urban surroundings of the Northeast to the more rural landscape of Ashburnham. Whether you are heading out for a weekend change of pace or a quick getaway, the simplicity of this 50-mile journey makes it an accessible choice for any driver.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Concord Turnpike | 11.8 mi | 17m |
| Captain Isaac Davis Highway | 11.2 mi | 15m |
| Massachusetts Avenue | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Cambridge Turnpike | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Concord Highway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Ashburnham State Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Fitchburg Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Water Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Concord Turnpike
— 11.8 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cambridge, MA and Ashburnham, MA.
1
Start on Leonard Avenue
267 ft
·
13 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
2
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Cambridge Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on Cambridge Street
108 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cambridge Street
4
Turn left onto MA 2A
162 ft
·
7 sec
·
Massachusetts Avenue
5
Turn right onto Garden Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Garden Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on Concord Avenue
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Concord Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Enter roundabout onto US 3; MA 2; MA 16
45 ft
·
1 sec
·
Concord Avenue
Toward MA 2 West, US 3 North, MA 16 East
8
Continue on US 3; MA 2; MA 16
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Concord Avenue
Toward MA 2 West, US 3 North, MA 16 East
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 3; MA 2; MA 16
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
Alewife Brook Parkway
Toward MA 2 West, US 3 North, MA 16 East
10
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Concord Turnpike
Toward MA 2 West: Concord
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on MA 2
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Concord Highway
12
Continue on MA 2
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Cambridge Turnpike
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on MA 2; MA 2A
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Concord Turnpike
14
Continue on MA 2; MA 2A
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Elm Street
15
Enter roundabout onto MA 2; MA 111
407 ft
·
5 sec
·
Union Turnpike
16
Continue on MA 2; MA 111
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
Union Turnpike
17
Continue on MA 2; MA 111
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Massachusetts Avenue
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Continue on MA 2
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
George W Stanton Highway
19
Continue on MA 2
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
20
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Concord Turnpike
21
Turn right onto Abbott Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Abbott Avenue
22
At end of road, turn left onto MA 12
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Water Street
23
Turn left onto MA 2A; MA 12
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Laurel Street
24
Turn slight right onto MA 2A; MA 12
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Kimball Street
25
Enter roundabout onto MA 2A; MA 12; MA 31
71 ft
·
3 sec
·
River Street
26
Continue on MA 2A; MA 12; MA 31
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
River Street
27
Turn right onto Mayland Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Mayland Street
28
Continue on Fairview Street
508 ft
·
28 sec
·
Fairview Street
29
Turn left onto Westminster Hill Road
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Westminster Hill Road
30
Turn right onto MA 12
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Ashburnham Street
31
Continue on MA 12
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Ashburnham State Road
32
Continue on MA 12
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Fitchburg Road
33
Continue on MA 12
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Main Street North
34
Turn right onto MA 101
136 ft
·
2 sec
·
Water Street
35
Arrive at destination
MA 101
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 Cambridge, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Cambridge Street
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Garden Street
Turn right onto Garden Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
2.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 3; MA 2; MA 16 / Concord Avenue
Enter roundabout onto US 3; MA 2; MA 16 / Concord Avenue toward MA 2 West, US 3 North, MA 16 East
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MA 2 West, US 3 North, MA 16 East
6
2.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 3; MA 2; MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 3; MA 2; MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway toward MA 2 West, US 3 North, MA 16 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MA 2 West, US 3 North, MA 16 East
7
3 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
MA 2 / Concord Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2 / Concord Turnpike toward MA 2 West: Concord
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward MA 2 West: Concord
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: $1.09
Concord Turnpike
(7.9 mi)
$0.55
Concord Turnpike
(3.9 mi)
$0.27
Cambridge Turnpike
(3.3 mi)
$0.23
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
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
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
Ashburnham, MA
Late night in Ashburnham on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Stow, MA
25 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
24 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 23m 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 mixed driving experience that balances highway efficiency with local road navigation. You will spend about 33% of your journey on highways, including a notable 11.8-mile stretch on the Concord Turnpike. While the route begins with faster highway segments, it eventually shifts into more localized transit via the Captain Isaac Davis Highway and Massachusetts Avenue. This combination ensures you aren't stuck on a monotonous interstate for the entire duration, offering a varied pace behind the wheel. You’ll feel the character of the road change as you move away from the metropolitan density of Cambridge toward the quieter environment of your destination.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.8 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 0.1 miles in near Cambridge Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 16 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 0.1 miles (Cambridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (Garden Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (US 3; MA 2; MA 16 / Concord Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 50.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). 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 11.8 miles on Concord Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.09 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 Ashburnham, 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 0.1 miles (Cambridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (Garden Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (US 3; MA 2; MA 16 / Concord Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Minute Man National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park and Adams 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 Ashburnham, 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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