Origin
Framingham, MA
Late night in Framingham on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Framingham, MA to Cambridge, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
33m
Distance
19.7 mi
32 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Framingham, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning just 19.7 miles, this quick trip from Framingham to Cambridge is a straightforward journey through the Northeast. You can expect to spend approximately 33 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting around $3 for fuel should be plenty for the entire trek. Since the route relies entirely on local roads like Frederick Street, Concord Street, and Cochituate Road, you avoid the highway system entirely. It is a practical, no-fuss drive that connects two distinct Massachusetts hubs without the need for extensive travel planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 13.6 mi | 17m |
| Concord Street | 1.6 mi | 4m |
| Cochituate Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| River Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Prospect Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Line Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cambridge Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Hampshire Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 13.6 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Framingham, MA and Cambridge, MA.
1
Start on this road
5 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
122 ft
·
14 sec
3
Turn left
180 ft
·
18 sec
4
At end of road, turn left onto Frederick Street
328 ft
·
18 sec
·
Frederick Street
5
Turn right onto MA 126
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Concord Street
6
Continue on MA 126
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Concord Street
7
Turn slight right onto MA 30
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cochituate Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 East, I 90 West: Masspike, Springfield, Boston
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 90 East: Boston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 90
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 131
Toward Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway Park
Use the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Cambridge, Somerville, Fenway Park
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Turn slight right onto Cambridge Street
180 ft
·
6 sec
·
Cambridge Street
14
Continue on River Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
River Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Continue on Prospect Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Prospect Street
16
Turn left onto Hampshire Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Hampshire Street
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on Cambridge Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Cambridge Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto Line Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Line Street
19
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
460 ft
·
19 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Leonard Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 17.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Frederick Street
At end of road, turn left onto Frederick Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
3.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 East: Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 East: Boston
5
3.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
17.2 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 131
Toward Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway Park
8
17.7 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Cambridge, Somerville, Fenway Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Cambridge, Somerville, Fenway Park
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.15 one way
$6.31 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $3.44 | $6.88 |
| premium | $4.82 | $3.74 | $7.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.35 | $8.70 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.82
Massachusetts Turnpike
(13.6 mi)
$0.82
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$1
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.95 |
| Efficient EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.72 | $0.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.76 | $1.26 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Cambridge, MA
Late night in Cambridge on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
11 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
33m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged from start to finish. Because this route features a 0% highway share, you will spend the entire 33 minutes navigating neighborhood streets and local intersections rather than cruising at high speeds. There is no single long, uninterrupted stretch, so be prepared for frequent adjustments as you transition between Frederick, Concord, and Cochituate. The character of the road is purely functional and urban, requiring your full attention as you move through the local corridor. It lacks the monotony of an interstate, offering instead a constant flow of turns that define the short 19.7-mile distance.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.6 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Concord Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Frederick Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 19.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 33m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Frederick Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles (I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Framingham, MA and Cambridge, MA, road signs point toward Springfield, Boston, Allston-Brighton, Fenway Park and Somerville.
Springfield
2.6 mi in
|
~6m
Boston
2.6 mi in
|
~6m
Allston-Brighton
17.2 mi in
|
~25m
Fenway Park
17.2 mi in
|
~25m
Somerville
17.7 mi in
|
~26m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 33m. Total distance: 19.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.6 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.82 in tolls one way, starting with Massachusetts 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 Cambridge, 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 0.1 miles (Frederick Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles (I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Minute Man 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 Cambridge, 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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