Origin
Hanover, MA
Late night in Hanover on Tuesday
Local time
5:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hanover, MA to Cambridge, 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
44m
Distance
28.3 mi
46 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hanover, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Hanover to Cambridge covers a concise 28.3-mile distance, making this a straightforward trip that fits easily into a single day. You can expect to spend about 44 minutes behind the wheel, depending on traffic conditions. Budget roughly $5 for fuel, which keeps this excursion very affordable. Since both locations are situated within the Northeast region of Massachusetts, you won't experience major environmental shifts, but you will transition from a suburban setting into the urban landscape of Cambridge. This route is ideal for those who prefer quick, direct travel without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pilgrims Highway | 10.7 mi | 13m |
| MA 3 | 8.9 mi | 12m |
| Washington Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Cambridge Street | 1.4 mi | 4m |
| Columbia Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Charles River Dam Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Rockland Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pilgrims Highway
— 10.7 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hanover, MA and Cambridge, MA.
1
Start on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
2
Turn left onto Rockland Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Rockland Street
3
Turn right onto MA 53
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Columbia Road
4
Continue on MA 53
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Washington Street
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward MA 3 North: Braintree, Boston
6
Merge onto MA 3
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Pilgrims Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on MA 3
8.4 mi
·
11 min
·
MA 3
Exit 43B
Toward I 93 North: Boston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto MA 3
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
MA 3
Exit 18
Toward Storrow Drive
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Station
11
Keep slight left at fork
213 ft
·
9 sec
Toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on MA 28
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Charles River Dam Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on MA 28
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Monsignor O'Brien Highway
Toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway, Somerville
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
1.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Cambridge Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn right onto Line Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Line Street
16
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
460 ft
·
19 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Leonard Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 26.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
MA 3 / Pilgrims Highway
Merge onto MA 3 / Pilgrims Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
25.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
MA 3
Take the exit onto MA 3 toward Storrow Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 18
Toward Storrow Drive
6
25.9 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Stat...
8
26 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway
6
26.6 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
Cambridge Street
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.53 one way
$9.06 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.94 | $9.88 |
| premium | $4.82 | $5.37 | $10.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.25 | $12.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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 Tuesday
Local time
5:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
2 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
44m 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?
Your journey features a mixed drive profile, balancing fast-paced highway segments with more localized navigation. About 40% of the trip takes place on highways, primarily utilizing Pilgrims Highway and MA 3. You will experience your longest uninterrupted stretch of 10.7 miles while on Pilgrims Highway, allowing for a steady rhythm before the transition to Washington Street. As you approach Cambridge, the character of the road shifts from open highway lanes to the more dense traffic patterns typical of the metropolitan area. The experience is best described as a functional commute that moves you efficiently through the region.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.7 mi on Pilgrims Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 3.9 miles in near MA 3 / Pilgrims Highway.
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 11 decision points packed into just 28.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 44m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles (MA 3 / Pilgrims Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.4 miles (MA 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 25.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Hanover, MA and Cambridge, MA, road signs point toward Boston, Station and Somerville.
Boston
3.5 mi in
|
~5m
Station
25.9 mi in
|
~36m
Somerville
26.4 mi in
|
~38m
|
via MA 28
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 44m. Total distance: 28.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.7 miles on Pilgrims Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 3.9 miles (MA 3 / Pilgrims Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.4 miles (MA 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 25.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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