Origin
Fitchburg, MA
Late night in Fitchburg on Tuesday
Local time
4:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fitchburg, MA to Framingham, MA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
36.7 mi
59 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fitchburg, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Framingham, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward trip within the Northeast, the 36.7-mile drive from Fitchburg to Framingham is a highly manageable journey. Expect to spend about one hour behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a one-day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate a combination of I-495, the Concord Turnpike, and Main Street to reach your destination. With a modest fuel cost of approximately $6, this route is as budget-friendly as it is convenient. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick visit, the simplicity of this trip makes it a reliable choice for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| Concord Turnpike | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Main Street | 4 mi | 7m |
| Turnpike Road | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Lunenburg Road | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Worcester Road | 3 mi | 5m |
| Water Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| Seven Bridge Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 10.3 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fitchburg, MA and Framingham, 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
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Concord Turnpike
11
Take the exit
480 ft
·
11 sec
Exit 103
Toward MA 70: Lancaster, Lunenburg
12
Keep slight right at fork
99 ft
·
2 sec
13
Turn right onto Old Turnpike Road
370 ft
·
12 sec
·
Old Turnpike Road
14
Enter roundabout onto Lunenburg Road
184 ft
·
8 sec
·
Lunenburg Road
15
Continue on Lunenburg Road
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Lunenburg Road
16
At end of road, turn left onto MA 70; MA 117
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
North Main Street
17
Continue on MA 117
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Seven Bridge Road
18
Continue on MA 117
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Main Street
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 495 South: Marlborough
20
Merge onto I 495
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 59A
Toward MA 9 East: Framingham
Use the right lane.
22
Merge onto MA 9
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Turnpike Road
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on MA 9
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Worcester Road
24
Take the exit
459 ft
·
12 sec
25
Turn slight left onto High Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
High Street
26
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Main Street
27
Enter roundabout onto Union Avenue
138 ft
·
2 sec
·
Union Avenue
28
Continue on Union Avenue
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Union Avenue
29
At end of road, turn left onto MA 126
344 ft
·
14 sec
·
Concord Street
30
Turn right onto Frederick Street
328 ft
·
16 sec
·
Frederick Street
31
Turn right
180 ft
·
15 sec
32
Turn right
122 ft
·
10 sec
33
Turn right
5 ft
·
0 sec
34
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 36.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.3 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 235 decision points cluster between mile 7.8 and 27.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
7.8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward MA 70: Lancaster, Lunenburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 103
Toward MA 70: Lancaster, Lunenburg
5
7.9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
Lunenburg Road
Enter roundabout onto Lunenburg Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
11.5 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
MA 70; MA 117 / North Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto MA 70; MA 117 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
7
27.3 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward MA 9 East: Framingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 59A
Toward MA 9 East: Framingham
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.87 one way
$11.75 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.41 | $12.81 |
| premium | $4.82 | $6.97 | $13.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.10 | $16.21 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.56
Concord Turnpike
(4.1 mi)
$0.29
Turnpike Road
(3.9 mi)
$0.27
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.85 | $1.76 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.21 | $1.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.14 | $2.35 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Framingham, MA
Late night in Framingham on Tuesday
Local time
4:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Bolton, MA
18 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
2 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 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 36.7-mile route offers a mixed driving profile, balancing high-speed transit with local navigation. You will spend roughly 50% of your time on highways, providing a steady flow of traffic before transitioning into local road segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-495, which covers 10.3 miles of the trip. As you progress from the highway onto the Concord Turnpike and Main Street, the pace shifts, requiring you to adjust to the changing road environment. It is a functional drive that blends the efficiency of interstate travel with the necessary local connections to reach your final stop in Framingham.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.3 mi on I 495.
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 7.8 miles in.
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 36.7 miles you will encounter 23 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 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8 miles (Lunenburg Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Fitchburg, MA to Framingham, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Lunenburg along the way.
Lunenburg
7.8 mi in
|
~14m
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
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. Total distance: 36.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). 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 10.3 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.56 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 Framingham, 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 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8 miles (Lunenburg Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes — Minute Man National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park and Adams 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 Framingham, 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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