Origin
Holden, MA
Late night in Holden on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Holden, MA to Cambridge, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
49.7 mi
80 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Holden, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 49.7-mile drive from Holden, MA to Cambridge, MA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 12 minutes. Given its short duration and manageable distance, it’s perfect for a single-day trip, eliminating the need for an overnight stop. The primary route utilizes the Massachusetts Turnpike for a significant portion, making it a predominantly fast-paced drive. With an estimated fuel cost of around $8, this trip is quite budget-friendly. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, so you won't be crossing any major regional boundaries, keeping the landscape familiar throughout.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 34 mi | 40m |
| Salisbury Street | 6.2 mi | 11m |
| Grafton Street | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| River Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Prospect Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Major Taylor Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Grafton Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 34 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Holden, MA and Cambridge, MA.
1
Start on this road
111 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Maple Street
301 ft
·
18 sec
·
Maple Street
3
Turn left onto MA 122A
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
4
Turn right onto Salisbury Street
6.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Salisbury Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
Continue on Concord Street
371 ft
·
6 sec
·
Concord Street
6
Turn right onto MA 70
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Lincoln Street
7
Continue on Major Taylor Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Major Taylor Boulevard
8
Continue on Foster Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Foster Street
9
Turn left onto Front Street
467 ft
·
10 sec
·
Front Street
10
Enter roundabout onto Grafton Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
Grafton Street
11
Continue on Grafton Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Grafton Street
12
Continue on MA 122
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
Grafton Street
13
Enter roundabout onto MA 122
39 ft
·
0 sec
·
Grafton Street
14
Continue on MA 122
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grafton Street
15
Continue on MA 122
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Grafton Road
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
18
Merge onto I 90
34 mi
·
40 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 131
Toward Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway Park
Use the slight left lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Cambridge, Somerville, Fenway Park
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Turn slight right onto Cambridge Street
180 ft
·
6 sec
·
Cambridge Street
22
Continue on River Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
River Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
23
Continue on Prospect Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Prospect Street
24
Turn left onto Hampshire Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Hampshire Street
Use the left lane.
25
Continue on Cambridge Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Cambridge Street
Use the straight lane.
26
Turn right onto Line Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Line Street
27
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
460 ft
·
19 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
28
Arrive at destination
Leonard Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.8 miles from Holden, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 47.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MA 122A / Main Street
Turn left onto MA 122A / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Salisbury Street
Turn right onto Salisbury Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
8.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
Grafton Street
Enter roundabout onto Grafton Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
47.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 131
Toward Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway Park
8
47.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Cambridge, Somerville, Fenway Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Cambridge, Somerville, Fenway Park
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.95 one way
$15.91 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.67 | $17.35 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.44 | $18.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.97 | $21.95 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.04
Massachusetts Turnpike
(34 mi)
$2.04
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.22 | $2.39 |
| Efficient EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.35 | $1.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.96 | $3.18 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Cambridge, MA
Late night in Cambridge on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 12m 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 highway-focused experience for this drive, with 68% of the route utilizing high-speed roads. You'll spend a considerable amount of time on the Massachusetts Turnpike, including a notable stretch of 34 miles without interruption. This means you'll encounter fewer turns and more consistent speeds for a large part of the journey. The road profile suggests a steady pace, allowing you to cover ground efficiently. While the majority is highway, expect some transitions onto local streets like Salisbury Street and Grafton Street as you approach your destination.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Salisbury Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near MA 122A / Main Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.7 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.1 miles (MA 122A / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (Salisbury Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles (Grafton Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 Holden, MA and Cambridge, MA, road signs point toward Allston-Brighton and Fenway Park.
Allston-Brighton
47.1 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Fenway Park
47.1 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 49.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.04 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 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 0.1 miles (MA 122A / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (Salisbury Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles (Grafton Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Minute Man 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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