Fall River, MA to Needham, MA is 48.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 2 minutes via Amvets Highway and I-95, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Massachusetts, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a drive that's mostly on surface roads, offering a more grounded feel than a pure interstate cruise. Given its short duration, it’s a straightforward route perfect for a single-day excursion or a quick commute.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Amvets Highway
32.8 mi
37m
I 95
5.3 mi
7m
Davol Street
4 mi
5m
Yankee Division Highway
2.1 mi
2m
Dedham Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
West Street
0.8 mi
1m
US 1
0.6 mi
<1m
Central Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Amvets Highway
— 32.8 mi, about 37m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 92 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~5,368 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,735
Quietest
2 AM
~405 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.3×
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 Needham, 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 left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 41BToward I 93 South, US 1 SouthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 93; US 1
2.1 mi·2 min·Yankee Division Highway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
0.6 mi·50 sec·US 1
Exit 1BToward I 95 North, US 1 South: Dedham, Portsmouth New HampshireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 95
5.3 mi·7 min·I 95
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·25 sec
Exit 32Toward MA 135: Needham, NatickUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto MA 135
0.8 mi·1 min·West Street
13
Continue on MA 135
1.3 mi·2 min·Dedham Avenue
14
Turn right onto Highland Avenue
0.2 mi·19 sec·Highland Avenue
15
Turn right onto May Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·May Street
16
Turn left onto Warren Street
200 ft·8 sec·Warren Street
17
Arrive at destination
Warren Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 24.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 46.2 — 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 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
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 41B
Toward I 93 South, US 1 South
9
40.3 mi into trip|~48m in|US 1
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward I 95 North, US 1 South: Dedham, Portsmou...
8
46.2 mi into trip|~57m in
Take the exit toward MA 135: Needham, Natick
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 32
Toward MA 135: Needham, Natick
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.66 one way
$17.31 round trip
$4.51/gal25.4 MPG avg17 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$9.41
$18.82
premium
$5.29
$10.17
$20.33
diesel
$5.35
$10.28
$20.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
14.6
0
$5.12
$2.34
Efficient EV
12.2
0
$4.27
$1.95
EV Truck/SUV
19.5
0
$6.83
$3.12
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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 May 30, 2026
Origin
Fall River, MA
Afternoon
in Fall River on Wednesday
Local time
4:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Light Rain
SW 8 to 13 mph78% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued May 29 at 2:02PM EDT until May 30 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued May 29 at 2:02PM EDT until May 30 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Destination
Needham, MA
Afternoon
in Needham on Wednesday
Local time
4:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Light Rain
SW 5 to 9 mph83% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued May 29 at 2:02PM EDT until May 30 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued May 29 at 2:02PM EDT until May 30 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
5 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 2m 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 drive is primarily on surface roads, with only 12% of the route on highways. You'll spend most of your time navigating local streets, with the longest continuous stretch on Amvets Highway measuring 32.8 miles. Expect to encounter more frequent intersections and traffic signals as you transition away from highway driving. The shift from I-95 to surface roads will likely involve navigating a few exits and merging into city traffic.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 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?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.8 miles you will encounter 12 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
245 ft31 ft
Total Climb
452 ft
Total Descent
405 ft
Highest Point
245 ft
~45.3 mi in
Elevation Range
215 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fall River, MA and Needham, MA, road signs point toward Portsmouth New Hampshire and Natick.
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
Needham is a town in Massachusetts, near Boston with a population of 32,000 (2020). Home to Olin College, it features a number of upscale and ethnic restaurants have turned it into a rather unlikely culinary destination.
Top landmarks
•Echo Bridge — bridge in Massachusetts, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 48.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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 4 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 Needham, 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 Harbor Islands National Recreation Area and Boston 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 Needham, MA before heading back.
