Fall River to Chelmsford is 76.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 41 minutes via Amvets Highway and I-95, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Massachusetts, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. You'll encounter a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making for a varied experience over the 76.9 miles. It's a manageable distance for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.4 miles from Fall River, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Amvets Highway
32.8 mi
37m
I 95
22.5 mi
30m
US 3
8.9 mi
10m
Davol Street
4 mi
5m
Billerica Road
2.4 mi
4m
Yankee Division Highway
2.1 mi
2m
Westford Street
0.7 mi
2m
US 1
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Amvets Highway
— 32.8 mi, about 37m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 295 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~5,831 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,726
Quietest
2 AM
~254 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
23×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Fall River, MA and Chelmsford, MA.
1
Start on Purchase Street
46 ft·5 sec·Purchase Street
2
Turn right onto South Main Street
179 ft·6 sec·South Main Street
3
Turn left onto Bedford Street
519 ft·17 sec·Bedford Street
4
Continue on Central Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·Central Street
5
Turn right onto MA 79; MA 138
4.0 mi·5 min·Davol Street
6
Merge onto MA 24; MA 79
33 mi·37 min·Amvets Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 41BToward I 93 South, US 1 SouthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 93; US 1
2.1 mi·2 min·Yankee Division Highway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
0.6 mi·50 sec·US 1
Exit 1BToward I 95 North, US 1 South: Dedham, Portsmouth New HampshireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 95
23 mi·30 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 50A-BToward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New HampshireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 50AToward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New HampshireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·35 sec·this road
Exit 50AToward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
14
Continue on US 3
8.9 mi·10 min·US 3
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 79Toward MA 129: Billerica, ChelmsfordUse the right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
303 ft·7 sec
Toward MA 129 West: ChelmsfordUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto MA 129
2.4 mi·4 min·Billerica Road
18
Turn right onto MA 4
500 ft·22 sec·North Road
19
Turn left onto Academy Street
365 ft·8 sec·Academy Street
20
Turn right onto Westford Street
0.7 mi·2 min·Westford Street
21
Turn left onto Clover Hill Drive
0.2 mi·42 sec·Clover Hill Drive
22
Arrive at destination
Clover Hill Drive
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of about 1 hour 41 minutes, this trip is best suited for a single day. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the worst of rush hour traffic in either direction. The 76.9-mile drive has a fuel cost estimate of $14, so plan accordingly. Because it's a shorter route, you can be flexible with departure and arrival times, and you won't need to plan for extensive overnight stays. Keep an eye out for the transition from highway to surface roads around mile 32.8 on Amvets Highway to adjust your driving style.
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 38.4 miles from Fall River, MA, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.8 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 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.4 miles or 46m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chelmsford, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fall River, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fall River, MA
This is one driving day of about 76.9 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Fall River, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Amvets Highway for about 32.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 37.2 and 73.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
37.2 mi into trip|~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 93 South, US 1 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 41B
Toward I 93 South, US 1 South
9
40.3 mi into trip|~48m in|US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 toward I 95 North, US 1 South: Dedham, Portsmouth New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward I 95 North, US 1 South: Dedham, Portsmou...
8
63.4 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 50A-B
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike,...
9
63.5 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 50A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
8
73.1 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward MA 129: Billerica, Chelmsford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 79
Toward MA 129: Billerica, Chelmsford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.64 one way
$27.28 round trip
$4.51/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$14.83
$29.66
premium
$5.29
$16.02
$32.04
diesel
$5.35
$16.20
$32.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.1
0
$8.07
$3.69
Efficient EV
19.2
0
$6.73
$3.08
EV Truck/SUV
30.8
0
$10.77
$4.92
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of May 20, 2026
Origin
Fall River, MA
Evening
in Fall River on Wednesday
Local time
5:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 14 mph34% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued May 20 at 9:33AM EDT until May 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Destination
Chelmsford, MA
Evening
in Chelmsford on Wednesday
Local time
5:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
W 13 mph24% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued May 20 at 9:33AM EDT until May 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
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
9 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
1h 41m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
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...
. . . 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
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 37.1
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.
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 47.7
"The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in, in all New England..nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses, parks and gardens more opulent, than in New Bedford…all t...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 42% of this 76.9-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 32.8 miles on Amvets Highway. After this, expect a shift to mixed highway and surface roads, likely with more frequent exits and varied speed limits as you transition. The route blends efficient highway cruising with more local travel.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.8 mi on Amvets Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 37.2 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.9 miles you will encounter 16 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 37.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.3 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.4 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
235 ft50 ft
Total Climb
418 ft
Total Descent
304 ft
Highest Point
235 ft
~76.9 mi in
Elevation Range
186 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fall River, MA and Chelmsford, MA, road signs point toward Portsmouth New Hampshire, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington and Nashua New Hampshire.
In the SouthCoast region of Massachusetts, where the Taunton River empties into Mount Hope Bay, stands Fall River- the "Spindle City". Not to be overshadowed by nearby Boston and Providence, Fall River offers visitors unique attractions that are absent from its two larger neighbors. Fall River is famous for Battleship Cove, the largest museum of its kind in the world; a rich Portuguese-American culture, featuring authentic food; and the accused axe murderess Lizzie Borden.
Top landmarks
•USS Massachusetts — 1941 South Dakota-class battleship
•USS Lionfish — 1943 Balao-class submarine
•USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. — 1945 Gearing-class destroyer
Westford is a city in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts. With a population of roughly 25,000 (2020), it's a thriving outer suburb of Lowell, with high tech industries. Nashoba Valley ski area is here.
Chelmsford is a town in Massachusetts with a population of about 36,000 (2020). It's about 20 minutes west of Lowell.
Top landmarks
•Middlesex Canal — canal in Massachusetts, United States of America
•Fiske House — building in Massachusetts, United States
•North Town Hall — city hall in Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 76.9 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 (42%). 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 32.8 miles on Amvets Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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 Chelmsford, 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 37.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.3 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Lowell National Historical Park, Minute Man 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 Chelmsford, MA before heading back.
