Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 50m
Distance
85.1 mi
137 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fall River, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Dunstable, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Fall River to Dunstable is 85.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 50 minutes via Amvets Highway and US 3, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Massachusetts, transitioning from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a manageable trip that offers a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving, making it a straightforward option for a single day. Given the relatively short duration and moderate cost, it's a practical choice for a quick hop between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.5 miles from Fall River, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Amvets Highway | 32.8 mi | 37m |
| I 95 | 22.5 mi | 30m |
| US 3 | 16.9 mi | 19m |
| Davol Street | 4 mi | 5m |
| Yankee Division Highway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Dunstable Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Lowell Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| US 1 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 591 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~5,729 veh/hr typical · worst 6,622
Quietest
2 AM
~263 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Fall River, MA and Dunstable, MA.
Start on Purchase Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Turn left onto Bedford Street
Continue on Central Street
Turn right onto MA 79; MA 138
Merge onto MA 24; MA 79
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 93; US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on this road
Continue on US 3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto Westford Road
Turn right onto Dunstable Road
Continue on Lowell Street
Turn straight onto MA 113
Continue on Main Street
Arrive at destination
For this 1 hour 50 minute drive, departing in the morning will help you avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you get closer to Dunstable. Since the total distance is only 85.1 miles, you don't need to plan for any major stops for rest or refueling; the estimated fuel cost is around $14. You'll have plenty of flexibility to make quick stops if needed. Keep an eye out for the transition from highway to surface roads, as this is where you'll want to adjust your speed and be more aware of local traffic patterns.
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.
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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.5 miles or 52m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dunstable, MA than in the middle of the route.
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 85.1 miles and 1h 50m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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.
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 42.5 miles from Fall River, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 37.2 and 81.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
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
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
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
Take the exit toward Westford Road, Tyngsboro, Westford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$14.20 one way
$28.39 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $15.63 | $31.26 |
| premium | $5.06 | $16.94 | $33.89 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $18.76 | $37.52 |
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: 29.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.5 | 0 | $8.94 | $4.08 |
| Efficient EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.45 | $3.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34 | 0 | $11.91 | $5.45 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Fall River on Friday
Local time
5:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Evening in Dunstable on Friday
Local time
5:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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About half of this 85.1-mile drive, 47%, is on highways, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time at higher speeds. The longest uninterrupted stretch on surface roads is 32.8 miles on Amvets Highway. Expect to transition from highway speeds to more typical surface road conditions as you progress, with more frequent intersections and potential for traffic. The latter part of the drive will feel more like navigating local roads.
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.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.1 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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
391 ft
Total Descent
310 ft
Highest Point
235 ft
~30.4 mi in
Elevation Range
157 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fall River, MA and Dunstable, MA, road signs point toward Portsmouth New Hampshire, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington and Nashua New Hampshire.
Portsmouth New Hampshire
Middlesex Turnpike
Burlington
Nashua New Hampshire
Founded 1670
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
Founded 1656
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 85.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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