Origin
Charlton, MA
Night in Charlton on Wednesday
Local time
10:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charlton, MA to Framingham Center, MA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
32.1 mi
52 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlton, MA
Italo Melo
Framingham Center, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Charlton to Framingham Center is 32.1 miles and takes about 46 minutes via Massachusetts Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays within Massachusetts, making it a convenient option for local travelers. The route primarily uses highway, offering a straightforward connection between these two points in the Northeast region. Given its short duration, it's ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing plenty of time for activities at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 20.7 mi | 23m |
| Worcester Road | 4.8 mi | 7m |
| Southbridge Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Southbridge Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| L Stevens Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| State Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| High Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 20.7 mi, about 23m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,652 veh/hr typical · worst 4,592
Quietest
2 AM
~303 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlton, MA and Framingham Center, MA.
1
Start on this road
65 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto MA 31
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto L Stevens Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
L Stevens Road
4
Turn right onto US 20
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Worcester Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 20
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
Southbridge Road
6
Enter roundabout onto US 20
111 ft
·
3 sec
·
Southbridge Road
7
Continue on US 20
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Southbridge Road
8
Continue on US 20; MA 12
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Southbridge Street
9
Continue on MA 12
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Southbridge Street
Use the left lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 East
12
Merge onto I 90
21 mi
·
23 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 111
Toward MA 9: Framingham, Southboro
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward MA 9 East: Framingham
15
Merge onto MA 9
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Worcester Road
16
Take the exit
459 ft
·
12 sec
17
Turn slight left onto High Street
113 ft
·
4 sec
·
High Street
18
Turn right onto State Street
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
State Street
19
Turn left
55 ft
·
4 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.1 miles from Charlton, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 32.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 20 / Worcester Road
Turn right onto US 20 / Worcester Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 East
8
29.1 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward MA 9: Framingham, Southboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 111
Toward MA 9: Framingham, Southboro
5
29.6 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 9 East: Framingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MA 9 East: Framingham
5
32.1 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.35 one way
$10.71 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $5.90 | $11.79 |
| premium | $5.06 | $6.39 | $12.78 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $7.08 | $14.15 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.24
Massachusetts Turnpike
(20.7 mi)
$1.24
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.37 | $1.54 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.81 | $1.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.49 | $2.05 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Framingham Center, MA
Night in Framingham Center on Wednesday
Local time
10:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Auburn, MA
16 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
22 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
46m 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 drive is mostly highway, with 65% of the 32.1 miles on high-speed roads like the Massachusetts Turnpike. You'll experience a longest stretch of 20.7 miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a more urban feel with frequent exits as you approach Framingham Center.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.7 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Worcester Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near US 20 / Worcester Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 32.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (US 20 / Worcester Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 29.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
886 ft
206 ft
Total Climb
266 ft
Total Descent
897 ft
Highest Point
886 ft
Elevation Range
680 ft
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 Charlton, MA to Framingham Center, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Southboro along the way.
Southboro
29.1 mi in
|
~39m
About the Cities
Starting in Charlton, MA
Full guide →Founded 1735
Charlton is a small town in Central Massachusetts located outside of Worcester. Charlton is primarily a bedroom community, though there are a number of businesses in the center of town and especially along the Route 20 corridor.
Top landmarks
- • Northside Village Historic District — Charlton, MA, listed on the NRHP in Massachusetts
- • Rider Tavern — historic tavern in Charlton, Massachusetts
- • Charlton Center Historic District — historic district in Massachusetts, United States
Arriving in Framingham Center, MA
Full guide →Founded 1650
Top landmarks
- • Framingham Centre Common Historic District — historic district in Massachusetts, United States
- • First Baptist Church — historic church in Framingham, Massachusetts, United States
- • Framingham Reservoir No. 2 Dam and Gatehouse — embankment dam in Massachusetts, United States of America
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 46m. Total distance: 32.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.7 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.24 in tolls one way, starting with Massachusetts 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 Framingham Center, 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 0.8 miles (US 20 / Worcester Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 29.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Framingham Center, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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