Fall River, MA to Medford, MA is 56.6 miles and takes about 1h 12m via Amvets Highway and I-93, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, connecting two points in Massachusetts. Expect a mixed drive, meaning you'll experience both highway speeds and potentially some slower local road sections. Given the relatively short duration, this is a straightforward, same-day journey. It’s a practical option if you need to travel between these two areas without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Amvets Highway
32.8 mi
37m
I 93
15.3 mi
20m
Davol Street
4 mi
5m
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
3.2 mi
5m
Salem Street
0.3 mi
1m
Central Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Bedford Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
South Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Amvets Highway
— 32.8 mi, about 37m
Traffic on I-93
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 224 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~5,370 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,387
Quietest
2 AM
~487 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
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 Medford, 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 right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 41AToward I 93 North, US 1 North: BostonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 93; US 1
12 mi·15 min·I 93; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
3.2 mi·5 min·John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93
3.8 mi·5 min·I 93
Toward I 93 North: Concord NHUse the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 23Toward MA 60: Medford, Malden
12
Enter roundabout onto MA 60
0.2 mi·14 sec·Salem Street
13
Continue on MA 60
0.1 mi·49 sec·Salem Street
14
Continue on MA 60
52 ft·0 sec·Salem Street
15
Arrive at destination
MA 60
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 28.3 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 56.1 — 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|South Main Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.4 mi into trip|~6m in|MA 24; MA 79 / Amvets Highway
Merge onto MA 24; MA 79 / Amvets Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
37.2 mi into trip|~43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 41A
Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
7
52.3 mi into trip|~1h 6m in|I 93
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 North: Concord NH
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 93 North: Concord NH
6
56.1 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward MA 60: Medford, Malden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 23
Toward MA 60: Medford, Malden
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.86 one way
$17.72 round trip
$3.98/gal25.4 MPG avg20 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$9.88
$19.75
premium
$4.79
$10.67
$21.34
diesel
$4.80
$10.69
$21.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17
0
$5.94
$2.72
Efficient EV
14.2
0
$4.95
$2.26
EV Truck/SUV
22.6
0
$7.92
$3.62
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 Jul 4, 2026
Origin
Fall River, MA
Afternoon
in Fall River on Sunday
Local time
12:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
W 6 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 4 at 2:22AM EDT until July 4 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 4 at 2:22AM EDT until July 4 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Destination
Medford, MA
Afternoon
in Medford on Sunday
Local time
12:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
W 6 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 4 at 2:22AM EDT until July 4 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 4 at 2:22AM EDT until July 4 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 12m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 56.6-mile route offers a mixed driving experience, with about 33% of it on highways like I-93. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 32.8 miles on Amvets Highway, which will likely feel like a more open road compared to other segments. As you progress, the drive transitions, incorporating Davol Street and other main roads that might involve more turns and varying speed limits. The overall feel is a blend of efficient highway travel and more localized driving as you approach your destination.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 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?
7/10
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 South Main Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.6 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (MA 24; MA 79 / Amvets Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 56.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). 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 3 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 Medford, 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 (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (MA 24; MA 79 / Amvets Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Adams National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park and Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (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 Medford, MA before heading back.
