Origin
Dracut, MA
Late night in Dracut on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dracut, MA to Worcester, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
43.1 mi
69 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dracut, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 43.1-mile drive from Dracut, MA to Worcester, MA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in under an hour, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate on I-495 and I-290, with a brief stint on the Lowell Connector. With an estimated fuel cost of just $7, this route is quite budget-friendly for a quick excursion within the Northeast region. The efficient routing means you can spend more time at your destination and less time on the road. This trip is all about getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 23.4 mi | 27m |
| I 290 | 12.7 mi | 15m |
| Lowell Connector | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Bridge Street | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Gorham Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Lincoln Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Central Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 23.4 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dracut, MA and Worcester, 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
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Lowell Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 2B-A
Toward I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nashua New Hampshire
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 2A
Toward I 495 South: Worcester
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
11
Merge onto I 495
23 mi
·
27 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 65B
Toward I 290 West: Worcester
13
Merge onto I 290
13 mi
·
15 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 21
Toward Ware, Framingham
15
Turn right onto MA 70
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Lincoln Street
16
Turn right onto MA 9
158 ft
·
2 sec
·
Lincoln Square
17
Turn left onto Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.6 miles from Dracut, 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 and 42 — 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
4.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nashua New Hampshire
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 2B-A
Toward I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nash...
8
4.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 South: Worcester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2A
Toward I 495 South: Worcester
6
42 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward Ware, Framingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 21
Toward Ware, Framingham
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.90 one way
$13.80 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $7.52 | $15.04 |
| premium | $4.82 | $8.18 | $16.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.52 | $19.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.03 | $2.76 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Worcester, MA
Late night in Worcester on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Bolton, MA
22 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
23 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
56m 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 predominantly highway experience on this route, with 84% of the drive taking place on major interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 23.4 miles on I-495, offering a consistent pace. The drive transitions from I-495 to I-290, both substantial highways that facilitate quick travel. While not characterized by scenic detours, this route is designed for efficiency, allowing you to cover ground smoothly and directly between Dracut and Worcester.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.4 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and I 290. 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
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 43.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
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 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Dracut, MA to Worcester, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Nashua New Hampshire along the way.
Nashua New Hampshire
4.5 mi in
|
~9m
About the Cities
Arriving in Worcester, MA
Full guide →Explore fine arts, history, and take in a show in Worcester, a medium sized city in Central Massachusetts about an hour's drive west of Boston. Worcester's seven hills and their valleys contain top notch museums, nine colleges and universities, beautiful parks, and food from all over the globe.
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 56m. Total distance: 43.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.4 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Worcester, 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 4.5 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 Worcester, 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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