This 87.9-mile journey from Fall River, MA, to Nantucket, MA, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 38 minutes. You'll primarily be traveling on roads like I-195 and the Mid Cape Highway, with about 42% of the drive on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $14, making it an economical option. This drive offers a mixed driving experience, perfect for a day trip where you can focus on reaching your destination and enjoying the island once you arrive. Since both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region and the state of Massachusetts, you'll remain in familiar territory throughout.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
43.9 miles from Fall River, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Fall River, MA and Nantucket, MA.
1
Start on Purchase Street
46 ft·5 sec·Purchase Street
2
Turn right onto South Main Street
179 ft·31 sec·South Main Street
3
Continue on South Main Street
333 ft·12 sec·South Main Street
4
Turn left onto Sullivan Drive
0.2 mi·23 sec·Sullivan Drive
5
Turn left onto Borden Street
252 ft·5 sec·Borden Street
6
Turn slight right onto Hartwell Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Hartwell Street
7
Turn left onto Rodman Street
438 ft·9 sec·Rodman Street
8
Turn left onto MA 81
0.1 mi·15 sec·Plymouth Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 195 East: New Bedford, Cape Cod
10
Merge onto I 195
1.5 mi·2 min·I 195
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 195
25 mi·30 min·I 195
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·51 sec
Exit 40AToward MA 25 East: Cape Cod
13
Merge onto MA 25
9.6 mi·11 min·MA 25
14
Continue on MA 28
0.8 mi·1 min·MA 28
15
Enter roundabout onto Sandwich Road Connector
0.1 mi·22 sec·Sandwich Road Connector
16
Continue on Sandwich Road Connector
3.0 mi·5 min·Sandwich Road Connector
17
Turn right onto Mid-Cape Connector
0.3 mi·26 sec·Mid-Cape Connector
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
19
Merge onto US 6
12 mi·16 min·Mid Cape Highway
Use the slight right lane.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 68Toward MA 132: Barnstable, Hyannis
21
Keep slight left at fork
304 ft·8 sec
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
23
Turn straight onto MA 132
2.8 mi·5 min·Iyannough Road
24
Enter roundabout onto Barnstable Road
228 ft·4 sec·Barnstable Road
25
Continue on Barnstable Road
0.8 mi·2 min·Barnstable Road
26
Continue on Ocean Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Ocean Street
27
Turn left onto South Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·South Street
28
Turn right onto South Street Dock
369 ft·28 sec·South Street Dock
29
Turn left onto Slip 1
51 ft·3 sec·Slip 1
30
Continue on Slip 1
197 ft·14 sec·Slip 1
31
Continue on Hyannis - Nantucket
28 mi·2 hr 14 min·Hyannis - Nantucket
32
Continue on Slip 1
143 ft·13 sec·Slip 1
33
Turn left onto Steamboat Wharf
67 ft·7 sec·Steamboat Wharf
34
Continue on Steamboat Wharf
244 ft·8 sec·Steamboat Wharf
35
Continue on Broad Street
397 ft·19 sec·Broad Street
36
Turn left onto South Water Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·South Water Street
Use the right lane.
37
Turn right onto Main Street
513 ft·16 sec·Main Street
Use the right lane.
38
Turn right onto Centre Street
120 ft·3 sec·Centre Street
39
Arrive at destination
Centre Street
Trip Plan
Given that this trip is a manageable 87.9 miles and takes under 4 hours, it's ideal for a single-day excursion with plenty of flexibility. Aim to depart Fall River in the morning to maximize your time on Nantucket. You'll have one main stretch of 28.3 miles without significant breaks, so plan for a quick stop before or after that segment if needed. The total fuel cost is estimated at $14, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before you leave to avoid any unnecessary detours. A practical tip: double-check the ferry schedule for Nantucket as that will be a critical part of your journey's logistics.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 43.9 miles from Fall River, MA, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.3 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.9 miles or 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nantucket, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fall River, MA
This is one driving day of about 87.9 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Fall River, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Hyannis - Nantucket for about 28.3 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 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 87.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.4 mi into trip|~4m in|I 195
Keep slight right at fork onto I 195
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
27.7 mi into trip|~34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 25 East: Cape Cod
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 40A
Toward MA 25 East: Cape Cod
6
54.6 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward MA 132: Barnstable, Hyannis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 68
Toward MA 132: Barnstable, Hyannis
7
87.6 mi into trip|~3h 37m in|South Water Street
Turn left onto South Water Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
87.8 mi into trip|~3h 38m in|Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.07 one way
$28.13 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$15.34
$30.68
premium
$4.82
$16.69
$33.38
diesel
$5.61
$19.41
$38.81
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: 30.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.4
0
$9.23
$4.22
Efficient EV
22
0
$7.69
$3.52
EV Truck/SUV
35.2
0
$12.31
$5.63
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Origin
Fall River, MA
Late night
in Fall River on Sunday
Local time
12:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Destination
Nantucket, MA
Late night
in Nantucket on Sunday
Local time
12:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
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.
Road read
3h 38m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
National Historical Park
"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...
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...
The great Outer Beach described by Thoreau in the 1800s is protected within the national seashore. Forty miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds, and uplands support diverse species. Lighthouses...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
$25
near mile 57.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is best described as a mixed experience, blending highway speeds with more local road travel. With 42% of the route on highways, you'll encounter stretches of faster driving, particularly on I-195 and the Mid Cape Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 28.3 miles on the Hyannis - Nantucket portion, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. As you progress, the road character will likely shift from the broader highway feel to a more coastal or island-oriented approach as you near your final destination. Expect a varied driving experience rather than a monotonous one.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.3 mi on Hyannis - Nantucket.
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 2.4 miles in near I 195.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 87.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (I 195): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 54.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Nantucket, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Hyannis 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 38m. Total distance: 87.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.3 miles on Hyannis - Nantucket. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Nantucket, MA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (I 195): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 54.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and Cape Cod National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Nantucket, MA, but most travelers stay overnight.
