Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 12m
Distance
93.7 mi
151 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
4 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
North Amherst, MA
Phil Evenden
The drive from Cambridge, MA to North Amherst, MA covers 93.7 miles and takes about 2h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Massachusetts Turnpike, Federal Street, South Liberty Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 67.9 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.00 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.9 miles from Cambridge, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 67.9 mi | 1h 19m |
| Federal Street | 5.6 mi | 10m |
| South Liberty Street | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| North Washington Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Belchertown Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| North Pleasant Street | 2 mi | 5m |
| North Main Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cambridge, MA and North Amherst, MA.
Start on Leonard Avenue
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
Turn left onto Ellery Street
Turn right onto Harvard Street
Turn left onto Bow Street
Continue on DeWolfe Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 3; MA 2
Turn right onto Western Avenue
Turn left onto Soldiers Field Road
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
Take the exit
Turn right onto MA 32
At end of road, turn right onto US 20
Continue on MA 181
Continue on MA 181
Turn left onto Palmer Street
Continue on Palmer Road
Turn right onto Bridge Street
Continue on Belchertown Street
Continue on South Liberty Street
Continue on North Washington Street
Turn straight onto MA 181
Turn left onto MA 9
Continue on Federal Street
Continue on MA 9
Continue on MA 9
Continue on MA 9
Continue on MA 9
Turn right onto South Whitney Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Turn right onto Triangle Street
Enter roundabout onto Triangle Street
Continue on Triangle Street
Continue on North Pleasant Street
Continue on North Pleasant Street
Enter roundabout onto North Pleasant Street
Continue on North Pleasant Street
Continue on MA 63
Turn right
Arrive at destination
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.
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 21 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.9 miles or 59m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Amherst, MA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Cambridge, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cambridge, MA
This is one driving day of about 93.7 miles and 2h 12m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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.
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 46.9 miles from Cambridge, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Massachusetts Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 70.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto US 3; MA 2 / Memorial Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 West: Worcester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MA 32: Palmer, Ware
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$15.00 one way
$29.99 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $16.35 | $32.71 |
| premium | $4.82 | $17.79 | $35.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.69 | $41.38 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.07
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
4 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
ChargePoint Charging Station
Amherst, Massachusetts
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Amherst, MA
1 DCFC
EVgo Charging Station
Hadley, Massachusetts
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Amherst, Massachusetts
1 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.84 | $4.50 |
| Efficient EV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.20 | $3.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.5 | 0 | $13.12 | $6.00 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Cambridge on Sunday
Local time
10:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Patchy Fog
Destination
Morning in North Amherst on Sunday
Local time
10:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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93.7 mi in 2h 12m, mostly highway — 67.9 mi of that is on Massachusetts Turnpike.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Federal Street. 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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 93.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Cambridge Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 3; MA 2 / Memorial Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Cambridge, MA to North Amherst, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Ware along the way.
Ware
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 12m. Total distance: 93.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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