Origin
Grafton, MA
Late night in Grafton on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Grafton, MA to Waltham, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
35.2 mi
57 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grafton, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Waltham, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Grafton, MA to Waltham, MA is 35.2 miles and takes about 50 minutes via Massachusetts Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip primarily within Massachusetts, connecting two points in the Northeast. Given its short duration and minimal stops, it's ideal for a quick transit or a day trip. You'll find the drive efficient, making it a practical choice for moving between locations without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 26.1 mi | 30m |
| Worcester Street | 3.2 mi | 7m |
| Moody Street | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Lexington Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Commonwealth Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Grafton Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 26.1 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grafton, MA and Waltham, MA.
1
Start on MA 140
84 ft
·
9 sec
·
Worcester Street
2
Continue on MA 140
2.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Worcester Street
3
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 122
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Worcester Street
4
Continue on MA 122
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Grafton Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
7
Merge onto I 90
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 123
Toward I 95: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Providence Rhode Island
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
this road
10
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
this road
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 North: Waltham, Portsmouth New Hampshire
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 39A
Toward MA 30: Newton, Weston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
132 ft
·
4 sec
Toward MA 30 East: Newton
Use the left / right lanes.
14
Turn slight right onto MA 30
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Commonwealth Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto Lexington Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lexington Street
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on Moody Street
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Moody Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto US 20
411 ft
·
8 sec
·
Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 20
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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.6 miles from Grafton, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 30.8 and 33 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
30.8 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward I 95: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Providence Rhode Island
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 123
Toward I 95: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Providen...
6
31.5 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Waltham, Portsmouth New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North: Waltham, Portsmouth New Hamp...
9
32 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 30: Newton, Weston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 39A
Toward MA 30: Newton, Weston
8
32.2 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 30 East: Newton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward MA 30 East: Newton
6
33 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
Lexington Street
Turn left onto Lexington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.63 one way
$11.27 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.14 | $12.29 |
| premium | $4.82 | $6.68 | $13.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.77 | $15.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.57
Massachusetts Turnpike
(26.1 mi)
$1.57
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.08 | $1.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.93 | $2.25 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
Waltham, MA
Late night in Waltham on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
24 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
50m 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 route leans heavily into highway driving, with 74% of it on expressways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 26.1 miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. Expect a primarily high-speed experience, especially on the Turnpike, before transitioning to other main roads like Worcester Street and Moody Street as you approach your destination. The character is largely one of efficient travel, minimizing slower local road navigation for the bulk of the journey.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.1 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Worcester Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 30.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 35.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 30.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Grafton, MA and Waltham, MA, road signs point toward Providence Rhode Island, Portsmouth New Hampshire and Weston.
Providence Rhode Island
30.8 mi in
|
~41m
Portsmouth New Hampshire
31.5 mi in
|
~42m
Weston
32 mi in
|
~44m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 35.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.1 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.57 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 Waltham, 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 30.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Waltham, 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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