Fall River, MA to Merrimac, MA is 92.7 miles and takes about 1h 56m via I-93 and I-495, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Massachusetts, traversing the Northeast region. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. It's a practical route for getting between these two points without a significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.4 miles from Fall River, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 93
33.2 mi
41m
Amvets Highway
32.8 mi
37m
I 495
17.5 mi
20m
Davol Street
4 mi
5m
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
3.2 mi
5m
Broad Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Central Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Bartlett Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 93
— 33.2 mi, about 41m
Traffic on I-93
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 848 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~5,644 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,648
Quietest
2 AM
~461 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Merrimac, 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
22 mi·25 min·I 93
Toward I 93 North: Concord NHUse the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 40AToward I 495 North: LawrenceUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 495
17 mi·20 min·I 495
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Exit 115Toward Merrimac, Merrimacport
14
Keep slight left at fork
131 ft·10 sec
Toward Broad St, Merrimac, Merrimacport
15
Turn left onto Broad Street
0.4 mi·46 sec·Broad Street
16
Turn left onto Mill Street
62 ft·2 sec·Mill Street
17
Turn slight right onto Bartlett Street
0.1 mi·34 sec·Bartlett Street
18
Turn right onto School Street
18 ft·6 sec·School Street
19
Turn left onto Pleasant Street
394 ft·17 sec·Pleasant Street
20
Arrive at destination
Pleasant Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 1h 56m drive, aim to depart Fall River in the morning to avoid heavier traffic. With a total distance of 92.7 miles, you likely won't need many stops, but consider a brief break around the halfway point if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated cost is $15, so a full tank before leaving is advisable. The longest stretch on I-93 is over 33 miles, so be prepared for sustained highway conditions before transitioning to surface roads.
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 46.4 miles from Fall River, MA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.2 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 20 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.4 miles or 56m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Merrimac, 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 92.7 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 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 93 for about 33.2 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 37.2 and 92.1 — 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 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
7
74 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40A
Toward I 495 North: Lawrence
6
91.9 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward Merrimac, Merrimacport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 115
Toward Merrimac, Merrimacport
7
92.1 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Broad St, Merrimac, Merrimacport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Broad St, Merrimac, Merrimacport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.20 one way
$32.40 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$17.89
$35.79
premium
$5.31
$19.38
$38.77
diesel
$6.18
$22.55
$45.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.8
0
$9.73
$4.45
Efficient EV
23.2
0
$8.11
$3.71
EV Truck/SUV
37.1
0
$12.98
$5.93
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Fall River, MA
Afternoon
in Fall River on Sunday
Local time
12:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Mostly Clear
N 8 to 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Merrimac, MA
Afternoon
in Merrimac on Sunday
Local time
12:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
30°F
Widespread Frost
NW 2 to 7 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
6 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 56m 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.
Adams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
1 mi from route
~4 min detour
$15
near mile 41.6
Park Closure: Site Closure – Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill
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.
. . . 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...
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 73.5
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 60.7
Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 60.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 92.7-mile drive is 58% highway, offering substantial stretches on major roads. You'll encounter a longest continuous segment of 33.2 miles on I-93. As you transition to Amvets Highway and I-495, expect more surface road driving with increased local traffic and intersections. The highway portion involves merging and passing other vehicles, typical of interstate travel.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.2 mi on I 93.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 52.3 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 56m. Total distance: 92.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). 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 33.2 miles on I 93. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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 Merrimac, 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 52.3 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Merrimac, MA before heading back.
