Origin
Cambridge, MA
Morning in Cambridge on Tuesday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cambridge, MA to Newbury, MA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
36.1 mi
58 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Newbury, MA
Banx Photography
Trip Overview
Cambridge, MA to Newbury, MA is 36.1 miles and takes about 57 minutes via US 1, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive within the Northeast region, entirely within Massachusetts. Expect a fairly direct journey with a significant portion on highway-style roads. It’s a quick trip, perfect for when you want to get from point A to point B without a lot of fuss. Consider this for a quick errand run or a short hop to a nearby destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 12.2 mi | 16m |
| Newburyport Turnpike | 7.8 mi | 11m |
| Boston Street | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| I 95 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Newbury Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Cambridge Street | 1.6 mi | 5m |
| Newman Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Hay Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 12.2 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cambridge, MA and Newbury, MA.
1
Start on Leonard Avenue
267 ft
·
16 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
2
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Cambridge Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on Cambridge Street
1.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Cambridge Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Merge onto MA 28
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Monsignor O'Brien Highway
5
Turn left onto Charlestown Avenue
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Charlestown Avenue
6
Continue on Austin Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Austin Street
7
Turn right
137 ft
·
5 sec
8
Turn right onto New Rutherford Avenue
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
New Rutherford Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward US 1 North: Tobin Bridge
10
Merge onto US 1
12 mi
·
16 min
·
US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 1
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Newbury Street
12
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 North: Portsmouth New Hampshire
13
Merge onto I 95
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 70
Toward US 1: Topsfield
15
Turn straight onto US 1
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Newbury Street
16
Continue on US 1
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Boston Street
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on US 1
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Boston Road
18
Continue on US 1
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Boston Street
19
Continue on US 1
7.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Newburyport Turnpike
20
Turn right onto Boston Road
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Boston Road
21
Keep slight right at fork onto Hay Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Hay Street
22
Turn right onto Newman Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Newman Road
23
Turn left onto MA 1A
213 ft
·
5 sec
·
High Road
24
Continue on High Road
83 ft
·
5 sec
·
High Road
25
Arrive at destination
High Road
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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.1 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 20.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Cambridge Street
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
1.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Charlestown Avenue
Turn left onto Charlestown Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 1
Merge onto US 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
17 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
20.3 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Topsfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 70
Toward US 1: Topsfield
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.78 one way
$11.55 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.30 | $12.60 |
| premium | $4.82 | $6.85 | $13.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.97 | $15.94 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.54
Newburyport Turnpike
(7.8 mi)
$0.54
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
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Newbury, MA
Morning in Newbury on Tuesday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°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
17 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
57m 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 route is predominantly highway-focused, with 64% of the drive on faster roads. You'll experience stretches that feel like a proper highway, including one continuous section of 12.2 miles on US 1. The Newburyport Turnpike and Boston Street will also feature prominently. While not a winding scenic byway, the highway share means you can make good time. The character leans towards efficiency rather than leisurely exploration, so be prepared for a more direct driving experience.
64% 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: 12.2 mi on US 1.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and Newburyport Turnpike. 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
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 36.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Cambridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (Charlestown Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 36.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.2 miles on US 1. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.54 in tolls one way, starting with Newburyport 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 Newbury, 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 1.8 miles (Charlestown Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Salem Maritime 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 Newbury, 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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