Origin
Harvard, MA
Late night in Harvard on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Harvard, MA to Worcester, 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
26.1 mi
42 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
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.
Harvard, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Harvard to Worcester, expect a short 26.2-mile journey that typically takes about 29 minutes. This trip is easily completed as a simple day trip, requiring no overnight stays or complex logistics. You will navigate using a combination of Massachusetts Avenue, I-495 South, and I-290 West to reach your destination in the Northeast. With fuel costs estimated at around $4, it is a very budget-friendly transit. This route serves as a straightforward connection between two Massachusetts hubs, perfect for those who prefer a direct, no-fuss commute.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 | 12.7 mi | 15m |
| I 495 | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| Massachusetts Avenue | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Lincoln Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Lincoln Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 290
— 12.7 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harvard, MA and Worcester, MA.
1
Start on MA 111
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Massachusetts Avenue
2
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 111
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Massachusetts Avenue
3
Continue on MA 111
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Massachusetts Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 495 South
5
Merge onto I 495
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
I 495
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 65B
Toward I 290 West: Worcester
7
Merge onto I 290
13 mi
·
15 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 21
Toward Ware, Framingham
9
Turn right onto MA 70
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Lincoln Street
10
Turn right onto MA 9
158 ft
·
2 sec
·
Lincoln Square
11
Turn left onto Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
12
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 25.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MA 111 / Massachusetts Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 111 / Massachusetts Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
11.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 290 West: Worcester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 65B
Toward I 290 West: Worcester
5
12.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 290
Merge onto I 290
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
25 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward Ware, Framingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 21
Toward Ware, Framingham
4
25.5 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
MA 9 / Lincoln Square
Turn right onto MA 9 / Lincoln Square
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.18 one way
$8.35 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.56 | $9.11 |
| premium | $4.82 | $4.96 | $9.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.76 | $11.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.74 | $1.25 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Worcester, MA
Late night in Worcester on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
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 behind the wheel rather than settling into a monotonous interstate cruise. While the route utilizes segments of I-495 and I-290, it maintains a unique character defined by its transition from local roads to highway connectivity. Because the highway share is effectively minimal, you will find yourself navigating more technical turns than long, straight stretches. The drive stays consistent in its pacing, allowing you to transition smoothly between the quiet atmosphere of Harvard and the more urban environment of Worcester. It is a functional path that requires your attention as you move through these New England settings.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.7 mi on I 290.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 290 and I 495. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near MA 111 / Massachusetts Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.3 miles (MA 111 / Massachusetts Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; 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.
About the Cities
Arriving in Worcester, MA
Full guide →Explore fine arts, history, and take in a show in Worcester, a medium sized city in Central Massachusetts about an hour's drive west of Boston. Worcester's seven hills and their valleys contain top notch museums, nine colleges and universities, beautiful parks, and food from all over the globe.
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 33m. Total distance: 26.1 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 (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.7 miles on I 290. 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 Worcester, 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 0.3 miles (MA 111 / Massachusetts Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Worcester, 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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