Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 39m
Distance
77.8 mi
125 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Harvard, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Springfield, MA
Wikimedia Commons
This 77.8-mile drive from Harvard, MA to Springfield, MA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 39 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, it's an economical option for a day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You'll primarily be on major arteries like the Massachusetts Turnpike, I-290, and I-495, making for a predictable and efficient travel experience. Given its relatively short duration and highway nature, this route is ideal for those looking to get from point A to point B with minimal fuss within the Northeast region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.9 miles from Harvard, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 38.7 mi | 44m |
| I 290 | 19.6 mi | 24m |
| I 495 | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| Springfield Expressway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Massachusetts Avenue | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Saint James Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| State Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Harvard, MA and Springfield, MA.
Start on MA 111
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 111
Continue on MA 111
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Merge onto I 290
Take the exit
Turn left onto Oxford Street
At end of road, turn right onto MA 12
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 291
Take the exit
Turn left onto Page Boulevard
Turn slight left onto Saint James Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Saint James Avenue
Continue on Saint James Avenue
Continue on this road
Continue on Saint James Avenue
Turn right onto State Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Turn left onto Court Street
Turn right onto City Hall Place
Arrive at destination
For this 77.8-mile trip, departing mid-morning on a weekday can help you avoid peak commuter traffic, especially around the I-495 and I-290 interchanges. Since it's a short, 1-day drive, you have the flexibility to leave when it's most convenient. With no planned stops in the data, consider a brief fuel and stretch break around the halfway point, perhaps before or after the 38.7-mile stretch on the Massachusetts Turnpike. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $12 estimated cost suggests a relatively efficient journey, but it’s always wise to be prepared.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 17 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.9 miles or 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Springfield, MA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Harvard, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Harvard, MA
This is one driving day of about 77.8 miles and 1h 39m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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.
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 38.9 miles from Harvard, 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.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Near the start, right off the route
Harvard, Massachusetts
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Ayer, MA
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
Littleton, Massachusetts
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
Littleton, Massachusetts
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18889982546
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Devens, Massachusetts
Hours: 6 am–5 pm
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Devens, Massachusetts
Hours: 6 am–5 pm
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Devens, Massachusetts
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Littleton, Massachusetts
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Worcester, Massachusetts
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+15089292700
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Indian Orchard, Massachusetts
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+14135434770
Visit websiteNear the end, ~10 min detour
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Hours: Closed
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.9 and 72 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 290 West: Worcester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Merge onto I 290
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MA 12 South: Webster
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 291: Springfield, Hartford Connecticut
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$12.45 one way
$24.90 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $13.58 | $27.16 |
| premium | $4.82 | $14.77 | $29.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.18 | $34.35 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.32
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.3 | 0 | $8.17 | $3.73 |
| Efficient EV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.81 | $3.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.1 | 0 | $10.89 | $4.98 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Harvard on Sunday
Local time
3:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Springfield on Sunday
Local time
3:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Scenic Trail
From the Sound to the summits: the New England Trail covers 235 miles from Long Island Sound across long ridges to scenic mountain summits in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail offers panoramic...
National Historical Park
At Minute Man National Historical Park the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and structures associated with April 19, 1775, and witness the Ameri...
National Historical Park
Lowell’s water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation – including immigrant families and early female factory workers – into an uncertain new industrial era. Nearly 200 years later, the changes t...
National Historical Park
Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a drive that is 90% highway, meaning you'll spend the vast majority of your 1 hour and 39 minutes on high-speed, limited-access roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 38.7 miles, likely on the Massachusetts Turnpike, so settle in for a significant period of consistent driving. This highway-focused profile suggests a route designed for efficient travel rather than scenic exploration, with fewer opportunities for spontaneous stops. The road character will likely remain consistent for most of the journey.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and I 290. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.9 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.8 miles you will encounter 22 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 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 12.3 miles (I 290): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 32 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Harvard, MA to Springfield, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Hartford Connecticut along the way.
Hartford Connecticut
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 77.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Harvard, MA or browse trips ending in Springfield, MA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MA road trips.
