This 66.3-mile drive from Haverhill, MA to Bellingham, MA takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, making it a convenient day trip within the Northeast region. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 90% of the journey on major roads. You can expect a fuel cost of around $11 for this trip. The direct nature of this drive means you won't need an overnight stay, offering a straightforward commute or short excursion. It's a practical option for a quick journey without extensive planning.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 495
59.5 mi
1h 9m
River Street
2.1 mi
3m
North Main Street
1.9 mi
3m
Merrimack Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Washington Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Hartford Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 59.5 mi, about 1h 9m
Traffic on I-495
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 193 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,239 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,914
Quietest
2 AM
~275 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Haverhill, MA and Bellingham, MA.
1
Start on MA 125
442 ft·14 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto MA 113
0.3 mi·33 sec·Merrimack Street
3
Continue on MA 110; MA 113
0.2 mi·19 sec·Washington Street
4
Continue on MA 110; MA 113
218 ft·5 sec·Washington Street
5
Continue on MA 110; MA 113
2.1 mi·3 min·River Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 495 South: Lawrence
7
Merge onto I 495
17 mi·19 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Exit 89C-B-AToward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New HampshireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·17 sec
Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·25 sec
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·33 sec
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
12
Merge onto I 495
43 mi·49 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·53 sec
Exit 46Toward MA 126: Medway, Bellingham
14
Turn left onto MA 126
0.2 mi·43 sec·Hartford Avenue
15
Turn left onto MA 126
1.9 mi·3 min·North Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
MA 126; MA 140
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 33.1 miles from Haverhill, 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 63.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.1 mi into trip|~5m in|I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
19.8 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the exit toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 89C-B-A
Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
7
20 mi into trip|~25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
5
20.6 mi into trip|~25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 South: Marlboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
6
63.8 mi into trip|~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward MA 126: Medway, Bellingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 46
Toward MA 126: Medway, Bellingham
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.38 one way
$20.76 round trip
$3.98/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$11.57
$23.14
premium
$4.79
$12.50
$25.00
diesel
$4.80
$12.52
$25.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.9
0
$6.96
$3.18
Efficient EV
16.6
0
$5.80
$2.65
EV Truck/SUV
26.5
0
$9.28
$4.24
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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.
Forecast as of Jul 6, 2026
Origin
Haverhill, MA
Afternoon
in Haverhill on Sunday
Local time
1:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
E 7 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 6 at 12:30AM EDT until July 7 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 6 at 12:30AM EDT until July 7 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Destination
Bellingham, MA
Afternoon
in Bellingham on Sunday
Local time
1:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
E 7 mph73% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 6 at 12:30AM EDT until July 7 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 6 at 12:30AM EDT until July 7 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
82°F
Harvard, MA
33 mi in
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
8 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 20m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 66.3-mile trip, with 90% of your travel on major roadways like I-495. This means you'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including a continuous segment of 59.5 miles on I-495. While the majority of the drive is on the highway, the route does incorporate local roads like River Street and North Main Street as you approach your destination. This transition from faster highway speeds to more localized travel is a key characteristic of the drive's progression.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.5 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and River Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near I 495.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 3.1 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
457 ft49 ft
Total Climb
623 ft
Total Descent
376 ft
Highest Point
457 ft
~56.8 mi in
Elevation Range
409 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Haverhill, MA to Bellingham, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Nashua New Hampshire along the way.
Franklin is a city of 37,000 in Massachusetts.
Bellingham is a town with a population of 17,000 (2020). Birthplace of noted author William Taylor Adams, also known as Oliver Optic.
Medway is a town with a population of 13,000 (2020). Birthplace of famed U.S. outdoorsman John "Grizzly" Adams.
Millis is a town with a population of 8,000 (2020). Home to the Sikh Temple, Guru Ram Das Ashram and Gurdwara.
Norfolk is a town with a population of 12,000 (2020).
Wrentham is a town with a population of 12,000 (2020). Famous for its premium outlet mall shopping and the home of Hellen Keller.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 66.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.5 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Bellingham, 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 3.1 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Lowell National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Blackstone River Valley 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 Bellingham, MA before heading back.
