Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
48.8 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fall River, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Needham, MA
Мария Кашина
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.
| 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 |
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
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Fall River, MA and Needham, MA.
Start on Purchase Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Turn left onto Bedford Street
Continue on Central Street
Turn right onto MA 79; MA 138
Merge onto MA 24; MA 79
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 93; US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn right onto MA 135
Continue on MA 135
Turn right onto Highland Avenue
Turn right onto May Street
Turn left onto Warren Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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.
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.
Turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Merge onto MA 24; MA 79 / Amvets Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
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
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
Regular Gas
$7.64 one way
$15.28 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.52 | $17.03 |
| premium | $4.79 | $9.20 | $18.40 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $9.21 | $18.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Fall River on Sunday
Local time
1:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Sunny
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 13 at 2:13PM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Destination
Afternoon in Needham on Sunday
Local time
1:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 13 at 2:13PM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
452 ft
Total Descent
405 ft
Highest Point
245 ft
~45.3 mi in
Elevation Range
215 ft
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.
Portsmouth New Hampshire
Natick
Founded 1670
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
Founded 1680
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
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.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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