Origin
Cambridge, MA
Late night in Cambridge on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cambridge, MA to Petersham, 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 41m
Distance
64.8 mi
104 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 34m
★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Petersham, MA
Noland Live
Trip Overview
Cambridge, MA to Petersham, MA is 64.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 41 minutes via Concord Turnpike and Captain Isaac Davis Highway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Massachusetts, making it a straightforward journey. You'll experience a mixed drive, meaning it's not entirely highway but incorporates significant stretches of faster roads. Given its short duration, this is an ideal same-day excursion, offering a manageable escape without requiring an overnight stay. Plan for a simple, efficient drive that gets you to your destination without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.4 miles from Cambridge, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Concord Turnpike | 26.6 mi | 38m |
| 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 |
| Queen Lake Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Popple Camp Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Dudley Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Concord Turnpike
— 26.6 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cambridge, MA and Petersham, 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
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Concord Turnpike
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 83
Toward MA 2A, MA 101: East Templeton, Ashburnham
22
Keep slight right at fork
418 ft
·
11 sec
23
Turn straight onto MA 2A; MA 101
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Patriots Road
24
Turn left onto MA 101
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Dudley Road
25
Continue on MA 101
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Queen Lake Road
26
Continue on MA 101
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Petersham Road
27
Continue on MA 101
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Popple Camp Road
28
At end of road, turn left onto MA 32
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
29
Turn sharp right onto Common Street
185 ft
·
8 sec
·
Common Street
30
Arrive at destination
Common Street
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 41-minute drive, leaving in the morning or early afternoon offers plenty of flexibility. Since it's a relatively short trip covering 64.8 miles, you don't need to rush, and the estimated $10 fuel cost is quite economical. Consider making your departure timed to avoid peak local traffic if you're leaving from a busy area. While there are no specified stops, the drive is short enough that you can easily power through if needed, or pull over spontaneously if something catches your eye. A practical tip: keep an eye on your navigation as you transition off the Concord Turnpike onto Captain Isaac Davis Highway, as this is where the road character shifts.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 32.4 miles from Cambridge, MA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.6 miles.
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 14 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.4 miles or 51m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Petersham, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cambridge, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cambridge, MA
This is one driving day of about 64.8 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Cambridge, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Concord Turnpike for about 26.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.4 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 54.4 — 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.
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
6
54.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward MA 2A, MA 101: East Templeton, Ashburnham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 83
Toward MA 2A, MA 101: East Templeton, Ashburnha...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.37 one way
$20.74 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $11.31 | $22.62 |
| premium | $4.82 | $12.30 | $24.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.31 | $28.61 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.13
Concord Turnpike
(22.7 mi)
$1.59
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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.80 | $3.11 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.07 | $4.15 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Petersham, MA
Late night in Petersham on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
23 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 41m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Minute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
At Minute Man National Historical Park the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and structures associated with April 19, 1775, and witness the Ameri...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 13.4
View on nps.gov
Boston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Adams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penn’s Hill to the gentleman’s country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of “heroes, statesmen, philosophers…and learned wome...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
$15
View on nps.gov
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach o...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Lowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Lowell’s water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation – including immigrant families and early female factory workers – into an uncertain new industrial era. Nearly 200 years later, the changes t...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 22.4
View on nps.gov
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a balanced experience, with 48% of the route being highway. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 26.6 miles on Concord Turnpike, providing a good opportunity to settle into a steady pace. The journey transitions between different road types, so expect to shift from faster highway sections to more localized roads as you progress. This mixed profile means you won't be stuck in a monotonous highway grind, but rather a varied drive that keeps things interesting behind the wheel. The character of the road changes subtly, reflecting a move from more urban-influenced areas to a potentially more rural setting.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.6 mi on Concord Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 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; at 2.4 miles (US 3; MA 2; MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
On the drive from Cambridge, MA to Petersham, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Ashburnham along the way.
Ashburnham
54.4 mi in
|
~1h 22m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 64.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). 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 26.6 miles on Concord Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.13 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 Petersham, 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 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; at 2.4 miles (US 3; MA 2; MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Petersham, 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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