Origin
Dracut, MA
Late night in Dracut on Sunday
Local time
3:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dracut, MA to Waltham, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
24.5 mi
39 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dracut, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Waltham, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 24.5-mile drive from Dracut to Waltham, Massachusetts, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 36 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You'll primarily be on US 3 and the Yankee Division Highway, with a portion of the Lowell Connector. The estimated fuel cost is around $4, making it an economical journey. This route offers a mixed driving experience, suitable for a quick commute or a short excursion within the Northeast region.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 3 | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| Yankee Division Highway | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| Lowell Connector | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Bridge Street | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| Totten Pond Road | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Lexington Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Gorham Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Central Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 3
— 9.1 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dracut, MA and Waltham, MA.
1
Start on this road
221 ft
·
17 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto MA 113
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Arlington Street
3
Turn left onto MA 38
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Bridge Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Turn right onto Merrimack Street
258 ft
·
12 sec
·
Merrimack Street
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto Central Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Central Street
6
Continue on Gorham Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Gorham Street
7
Take the ramp onto Lowell Connector
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Lowell Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on Lowell Connector
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Lowell Connector
Exit 1A
Toward US 3 South: Boston
9
Merge onto US 3
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
US 3
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 72B
Toward I 95 South: Providence Rhode Island
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 95; MA 128
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 43A
Toward Totten Pond Road, Third Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto Winter Street
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Winter Street
14
Continue on Totten Pond Road
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Totten Pond Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn slight right onto Lexington Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Street
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 20
41 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
US 20
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 24.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MA 113 / Arlington Street
At end of road, turn right onto MA 113 / Arlington Street
Navigation decision point
6
1.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Merrimack Street
Turn right onto Merrimack Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
15 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South: Providence Rhode Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 72B
Toward I 95 South: Providence Rhode Island
8
22 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward Totten Pond Road, Third Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 43A
Toward Totten Pond Road, Third Avenue
7
24.5 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
US 20 / Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 20 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.92 one way
$7.84 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.28 | $8.55 |
| premium | $4.82 | $4.65 | $9.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.41 | $10.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.57 | $1.18 |
| Efficient EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.43 | $1.57 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Waltham, MA
Late night in Waltham on Sunday
Local time
3:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
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
36m 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 drive on this route, with about 37% of it being on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9.1 miles on US 3, offering a chance for steady progress. As you travel, the road will transition between faster highway segments and potentially more varied local road conditions. This blend means you won't be stuck in a monotonous interstate loop but will experience different driving environments on your way to Waltham.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.1 mi on US 3.
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 early in the drive near MA 113 / Arlington Street.
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 10 decision points packed into just 24.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MA 113 / Arlington Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (Merrimack Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Waltham, MA
Full guide →Waltham is a city in the American state of Massachusetts. It is 10 miles (16 km) west of central Boston on the Charles River, and 3 miles from the city limits to the east. Waltham is part of the Greater Boston conurbation; even so, it has a unique character compared to Boston's other suburbs, and is one of the most significant regional centers for employment, culture, education and food in the entire metro area. It is sometimes called "Watch City" because it was home to Waltham Watch Company. Many high-tech companies have made Waltham their home. It is also home to Bentley College and Brandeis University.
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 36m. Total distance: 24.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.1 miles on US 3. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Waltham, 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: near the start (MA 113 / Arlington Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (Merrimack Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waltham, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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