If you are planning a trip from Fall River to Harvard, expect a journey covering 71.9 miles through the heart of Massachusetts. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 34 minutes to complete, making it a manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via local roads like South Main Street, Bedford Street, and Milliken Boulevard rather than high-speed interstates. Budgeting around $11 for fuel should cover your transit costs comfortably. Since the entire route stays within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent local atmosphere from start to finish.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.9 miles from Fall River, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 495
28.8 mi
33m
Charles M. Braga Jr. Memorial Bridge
14.6 mi
18m
Eddie Dowling Highway
4.7 mi
5m
South Main Street
4.6 mi
8m
Old Louisquisset Pike
3 mi
3m
Woonsocket Industrial Highway
2.8 mi
3m
Massachusetts Avenue
2.8 mi
4m
Mendon Road
2.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 28.8 mi, about 33m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 74 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~4,668 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,410
Quietest
2 AM
~406 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 44 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 Harvard, 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·21 sec·Bedford Street
4
Turn left onto Milliken Boulevard
0.2 mi·38 sec·Milliken Boulevard
5
Turn right onto Milken Boulevard Connector
211 ft·4 sec·Milken Boulevard Connector
Toward I 195: New Bedford, Providence RI
6
Take the ramp
388 ft·11 sec
Toward I 195: New Bedford, Providence RI
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 195 West: Providence RI
8
Merge onto I 195
15 mi·18 min·Charles M. Braga Jr. Memorial Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 195; US 1A; US 6; US 44
0.9 mi·1 min·Iway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.1 mi·16 sec·US 6
Toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston MassachusettsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6
1.0 mi·1 min·US 6
Toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston Massachusetts
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
0.1 mi·12 sec·I 95
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·45 sec
Exit 38A-BToward RI 146 North: State OfficesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on RI 146
3.0 mi·3 min·Old Louisquisset Pike
Exit 38AToward RI 146 North: WoonsocketUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on RI 146
4.7 mi·5 min·Eddie Dowling Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on RI 99
2.8 mi·3 min·Woonsocket Industrial Highway
Exit 8CToward RI 99: Woonsocket, CumberlandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto RI 122
0.4 mi·47 sec·Mendon Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Turn slight right
184 ft·6 sec
20
Continue on Mendon Road
2.0 mi·3 min·Mendon Road
21
Continue on Paine Street
0.6 mi·51 sec·Paine Street
22
Continue on Wrentham Street
379 ft·8 sec·Wrentham Street
23
Continue on MA 126
4.6 mi·8 min·South Main Street
24
Turn left onto MA 126; MA 140
160 ft·2 sec·Mechanic Street
25
Continue on MA 126; MA 140
1.9 mi·3 min·North Main Street
26
Turn right onto MA 126
0.5 mi·1 min·Hartford Avenue
27
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
28
Merge onto I 495
29 mi·33 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi·43 sec
Exit 75Toward MA 111: Boxboro, Harvard
30
Turn right onto MA 111
2.8 mi·4 min·Massachusetts Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
MA 111
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 71.9-mile route, try to depart during off-peak hours to avoid the congestion typical of local thoroughfares. Since the drive is short, you have the flexibility to complete it in one go without needing planned stops for rest. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you move through the city streets, as the lack of highway signage means you will be relying on local road markers. If you are sensitive to stop-and-go traffic, check local road reports before leaving to ensure your chosen path remains the most efficient option. Remember that because this is a non-highway route, your travel time can fluctuate significantly based on local traffic density.
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 35.9 miles from Fall River, MA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.8 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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.9 miles or 48m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harvard, 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 71.9 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Fall River, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 495 for about 28.8 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 17.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Milken Boulevard Connector
Turn right onto Milken Boulevard Connector toward I 195: New Bedford, Providence RI
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 195: New Bedford, Providence RI
6
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 195 West: Providence RI
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 195 West: Providence RI
8
16.3 mi into trip|~21m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston Massachusetts
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston Massachuse...
6
16.4 mi into trip|~22m in|US 6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6 toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston Massachusetts
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston Massachuse...
8
17.5 mi into trip|~23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward RI 146 North: State Offices
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 38A-B
Toward RI 146 North: State Offices
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.75 one way
$25.50 round trip
$4.51/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$13.86
$27.73
premium
$5.29
$14.98
$29.95
diesel
$5.35
$15.14
$30.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.6
0
$7.55
$3.45
Efficient EV
18
0
$6.29
$2.88
EV Truck/SUV
28.8
0
$10.07
$4.60
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 31, 2026
Origin
Fall River, MA
Afternoon
in Fall River on Wednesday
Local time
4:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear
NW 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Harvard, MA
Afternoon
in Harvard on Wednesday
Local time
4:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 34m 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.
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The Blackstone River powered America's entry into the Age of Industry. The success of Samuel Slater's cotton spinning mill in Pawtucket, RI touched off a chain reaction that changed how people worked...
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 69.4
"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...
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 69.4
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$15
near mile 39.7
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.
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 69.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Because this route features a 0% highway share, you will be navigating surface streets rather than cruising along an interstate grind. This setup creates a more technical driving experience where your pace will be dictated by local traffic patterns and intersections. Without any long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, the journey requires constant engagement as you transition between the various local roads. Expect a drive that feels more like a winding regional transit than a quick highway sprint.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.8 mi on I 495.
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 0.4 miles in near Milken Boulevard Connector.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.9 miles you will encounter 19 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 0.4 miles (Milken Boulevard Connector): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 16.3 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
445 ft-2 ft
Total Climb
761 ft
Total Descent
472 ft
Highest Point
445 ft
~46.2 mi in
Elevation Range
446 ft
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 Fall River, MA to Harvard, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Cumberland along the way.
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
Harvard is a town of 6,900 people (2020) in North County (Massachusetts). It has been home to several non-traditional communities, such as Harvard Shaker Village and the utopian transcendentalist center Fruitlands.
Top landmarks
•Harvard Shaker Village Historic District — historic district in Massachusetts, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 71.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m 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 28.8 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 Harvard, 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 0.4 miles (Milken Boulevard Connector): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 16.3 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and New Bedford Whaling 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 Harvard, MA before heading back.
