Origin
Ipswich, MA
Morning in Ipswich on Sunday
Local time
10:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ipswich, MA to Boston, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
29.2 mi
47 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ipswich, MA
Italo Melo
Boston, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Ipswich to Boston, you are in for a quick 29.9-mile trip that typically takes about 42 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough to avoid any need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Depot Square, Topsfield Road, and Ipswich Road, keeping you off the major highways entirely. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is an economical way to move between these two Massachusetts locations. Both the origin and destination sit within the Northeast region, making this a straightforward regional commute. It is a practical, no-fuss drive that gets you where you need to go without requiring extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Broadway | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Topsfield Road | 3.7 mi | 7m |
| I 95 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Northeast Expressway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Boston Street | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Newbury Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Ipswich Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Tobin Bridge | 1.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Broadway
— 3.8 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ipswich, MA and Boston, MA.
1
Start on Washington Street
98 ft
·
5 sec
·
Washington Street
2
Turn right onto Depot Square
359 ft
·
16 sec
·
Depot Square
3
Turn right onto Topsfield Road
3.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Topsfield Road
4
Continue on Ipswich Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Ipswich Road
5
Turn left onto US 1
503 ft
·
10 sec
·
Boston Street
6
Continue on US 1
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Boston Road
7
Continue on US 1
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Boston Street
8
Continue on US 1
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Newbury Street
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 95 South: Boston
10
Merge onto I 95
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 66
Toward US 1 South: Boston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto US 1
195 ft
·
3 sec
·
Newburyport Turnpike
13
Continue on US 1
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Newbury Street
14
Continue on US 1
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
Broadway
15
Continue on US 1; MA 129
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Newburyport Turnpike
16
Continue on US 1; MA 129
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Broadway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on US 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Newburyport Turnpike
18
Continue on US 1
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Bennett Highway
Toward Boston
19
Continue on US 1
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cutler Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on US 1
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Northeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on US 1
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Tobin Bridge
22
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 93 North: Somerville, Charlestown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn right onto MA 99
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
New Rutherford Avenue
24
Continue on MA 99
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
25
Turn right onto New Chardon Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
New Chardon Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Turn left onto Bulfinch Place
492 ft
·
18 sec
·
Bulfinch Place
27
Turn right onto Sudbury Street
121 ft
·
6 sec
·
Sudbury Street
28
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Cambridge Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
29
Continue on Tremont Street
190 ft
·
6 sec
·
Tremont Street
Use the straight lane.
30
Arrive at destination
Tremont Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 10.1 and 28.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
10.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
13.5 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward US 1 South: Boston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 66
Toward US 1 South: Boston
7
27.5 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward I 93 North: Somerville, Charlestown
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.
Toward I 93 North: Somerville, Charlestown
5
28.6 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
New Chardon Street
Turn right onto New Chardon Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
28.9 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
Bulfinch Place
Turn left onto Bulfinch Place
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.67 one way
$9.35 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $5.10 | $10.19 |
| premium | $4.82 | $5.54 | $11.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.45 | $12.89 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.05
Newburyport Turnpike
(0.7 mi)
$0.05
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$0
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.2 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 | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
| Efficient EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.55 | $1.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.09 | $1.87 |
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
Boston, MA
Morning in Boston on Sunday
Local time
10:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 3 to 9 mph
28% chance
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
16 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
47m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this journey consists of 0% highway driving, meaning you will spend the entire 42-minute trip on local roads. The path shifts away from high-speed transit, favoring a more technical experience through residential or local corridors. Because the route relies on local streets rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of asphalt, you will find yourself navigating frequent turns throughout the duration of the trip. Stay alert, as the personality of this drive is defined by its constant transitions rather than long-distance cruising.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 3.8 mi on Broadway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10.1 miles in near I 95.
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 29.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 10.1 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
On the drive from Ipswich, MA to Boston, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Charlestown along the way.
Charlestown
27.5 mi in
|
~41m
About the Cities
Arriving in Boston, MA
Full guide →A city of history and tradition, Boston offers a proud legacy of culture, education, and numerous sporting championships. The "shining city on a hill"s independent spirit has been displayed to the world ever since colonists were angry over a British tax on their beloved tea and dumped shiploads of it into the harbor in protest. In the early 1600s, the peninsula in Massachusetts that would become known as Boston was controlled by Native Americans until John Smith (English soldier, explorer, colonial governor, Admiral of New England, and author) named the area New England to attract European settlers. Boston was founded in 1630 by John Winthrop, making it one of the oldest cities in the U.S. No other American city has made more of an effort to preserve its history, and you'll find buildings that pre-date the republic dotted throughout the region.
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 47m. Total distance: 29.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 3.8 miles on Broadway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.05 in tolls one way, starting with Newburyport 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 Boston, 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 10.1 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Salem Maritime National Historical Park and Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (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 Boston, 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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