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Trip from Fitchburg, MA to Boston, MA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 14m

Distance

46.8 mi

75 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 9m ★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States

Fitchburg, MA

Wikimedia Commons

capital and largest city of Massachusetts, United States

Boston, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Fitchburg to Boston is 46.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 14 minutes via Concord Turnpike, Captain Isaac Davis Highway, and Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route takes you from the Northeast region of Massachusetts to another part of the same state, offering a straightforward, primarily highway-focused journey. It's a practical drive for a day trip, connecting two points without requiring an overnight stay. You'll likely find it to be a convenient way to travel between these two Massachusetts locations, ideal for those looking for an efficient drive.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Concord Turnpike 21.5 mi 29m
Captain Isaac Davis Highway 6.3 mi 9m
Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2 3.5 mi 5m
Concord Highway 3.4 mi 4m
Water Street 2 mi 3m
I 93 2 mi 2m
Mystic Avenue 1.3 mi 2m
North Main Street 1.1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Concord Turnpike — 21.5 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fitchburg, MA and Boston, MA.

1

Start on this road

118 ft · 10 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto Main Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Main Street
3

Turn slight right

158 ft · 5 sec
4

Turn right onto MA 2A

280 ft · 8 sec · Water Street
5

Continue on MA 12

1.6 mi · 2 min · Water Street
6

Keep slight left at fork onto MA 12

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Water Street
7

Continue on MA 12

1.1 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec
9

Merge onto MA 2

1.7 mi · 2 min · Concord Turnpike
10

Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2

13 mi · 17 min · Concord Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on MA 2

6.3 mi · 9 min · Captain Isaac Davis Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on MA 2; MA 111

0.6 mi · 1 min · Union Turnpike
13

Enter roundabout onto MA 2; MA 2A

328 ft · 4 sec · Elm Street
14

Continue on MA 2; MA 2A

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Elm Street
15

Continue on MA 2; MA 2A

3.7 mi · 5 min · Concord Turnpike
16

Continue on MA 2

3.5 mi · 5 min · Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2
17

Continue on MA 2

3.4 mi · 4 min · Concord Highway
18

Continue on MA 2

3.5 mi · 4 min · Concord Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

473 ft · 13 sec
Toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn Use the straight / left lanes.
20

Merge onto US 3; MA 16

1.0 mi · 2 min · Alewife Brook Parkway
Toward US 3 North, MA 16 East: Arlington, Medford
21

Turn right onto Powder House Boulevard

0.9 mi · 1 min · Powder House Boulevard
Use the right lane.
22

Enter roundabout

234 ft · 4 sec
23

Continue

28 ft · 0 sec
24

Continue on Warner Street

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Warner Street
25

Continue on Harvard Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Harvard Street
26

Turn right onto MA 38

1.3 mi · 2 min · Mystic Avenue
Use the straight lane.
27

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Toward I 93 South: Boston
28

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 93 South: Boston
29

Merge onto I 93

2.0 mi · 2 min · I 93
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 17B-A Toward MA 1A Toll: Airport, Government Center Use the slight right lane.
31

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 17A Toward Government Center Use the slight right lane.
32

Turn straight onto John F. Fitzgerald Surface Road

0.1 mi · 26 sec · John F. Fitzgerald Surface Road
33

Turn right onto State Street

0.3 mi · 54 sec · State Street
34

Continue on Court Street

473 ft · 20 sec · Court Street
35

Turn left onto Tremont Street

333 ft · 11 sec · Tremont Street
36

Arrive at destination

Tremont Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lexington, MA

23 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Ayer, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sudbury, MA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23.4 miles from Fitchburg, 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 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 5.3 and 46 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
5.3 mi into trip | ~10m in | MA 2 / Concord Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2 / Concord Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
39.3 mi into trip | ~59m in

Take the exit toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / left lanes. Toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn
6
40.3 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in | Powder House Boulevard

Turn right onto Powder House Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
8
45.9 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in

Take the exit toward MA 1A Toll: Airport, Government Center

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 17B-A Toward MA 1A Toll: Airport, Government Center
9
46 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Government Center

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 17A Toward Government Center

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.49 one way

$14.98 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $8.17 $16.34
premium $4.82 $8.89 $17.77
diesel $5.61 $10.33 $20.67

Estimated Tolls: $1.79

Concord Turnpike (17.7 mi) $1.24
Concord Turnpike (3.7 mi) $0.26
Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2 (3.5 mi) $0.25
Union Turnpike (0.6 mi) $0.04

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Tolls

$2

Total

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14 0 $4.91 $2.25
Efficient EV 11.7 0 $4.10 $1.87
EV Truck/SUV 18.7 0 $6.55 $3.00

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (69% 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 Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Fitchburg, MA

Late night in Fitchburg on Tuesday

Local time

4:10 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Boston, MA

Late night in Boston on Tuesday

Local time

4:10 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

59°F

Lexington, MA

23 mi in

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 14m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive leans heavily towards highway travel, with 61% of the journey utilizing major roadways. Expect a highway-focused experience for much of the 46.8 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.5 miles along Concord Turnpike, suggesting a period of consistent speed and less frequent turns. As you progress, the route transitions from Captain Isaac Davis Highway onto Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2, indicating a shift in the specific highway you're following but maintaining the overall highway character.

61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.5 mi on Concord Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Concord Turnpike and Captain Isaac Davis Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in near MA 2 / Concord Turnpike.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.8 miles you will encounter 19 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 5.3 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.3 miles (Powder House Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Fitchburg, MA and Boston, MA, road signs point toward Woburn and Medford.

Woburn

39.3 mi in | ~59m

Medford

39.3 mi in | ~59m | via US 3; MA 16

About the Cities

Starting in Fitchburg, MA

Full guide →

Founded 1730

Fitchburg is a small city in central Massachusetts and is home to Fitchburg State University. Fitchburg's main attraction is the Fitchburg Art Museum, while in the Harry Potter universe, the city plays host to the Fitchburg Finches Quidditch Team.

Top landmarks

  • Calvinistic Congregational Church — church building in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, United States
  • Moran Square Historic District — historic district in Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Arriving in Boston, MA

Full guide →

A city of history and tradition, Boston offers a proud legacy of culture, education, and numerous sporting championships. The "shining city on a hill"s independent spirit has been displayed to the world ever since colonists were angry over a British tax on their beloved tea and dumped shiploads of it into the harbor in protest. In the early 1600s, the peninsula in Massachusetts that would become known as Boston was controlled by Native Americans until John Smith (English soldier, explorer, colonial governor, Admiral of New England, and author) named the area New England to attract European settlers. Boston was founded in 1630 by John Winthrop, making it one of the oldest cities in the U.S. No other American city has made more of an effort to preserve its history, and you'll find buildings that pre-date the republic dotted throughout the region.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 46.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 21.5 miles on Concord Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.79 in tolls one way, starting with Concord Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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 Boston, 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 5.3 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.3 miles (Powder House Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Minute Man 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 Boston, MA before heading back.

How this page is built

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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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