Origin
Lexington, MA
Late night in Lexington on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lexington, MA to Cambridge, MA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18m
Distance
9.2 mi
15 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 17m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 22m
10 AM
0h 20m
12 PM
0h 19m
3 PM
0h 20m
5 PM
0h 22m
8 PM
0h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lexington, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling the 9.2 miles from Lexington to Cambridge is a quick, straightforward journey that typically takes about 18 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it serves more as a local transit connection than a long-haul excursion. You can expect to spend roughly $1 on fuel, making it an incredibly economical way to navigate between these two Northeast locations. Because you remain entirely within Massachusetts, the drive feels familiar and lacks the complexity of crossing regional borders. It is a practical, no-nonsense path for anyone needing to move efficiently between these points without the need for an overnight stop.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Concord Turnpike | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Massachusetts Avenue | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Beacon Street | 1 mi | 3m |
| Watertown Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Pleasant Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Alewife Brook Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Somerville Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Leonard Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Concord Turnpike
— 3.1 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington, MA and Cambridge, MA.
1
Start on this road
309 ft
·
28 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto MA 4; MA 225
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Massachusetts Avenue
3
Turn right onto MA 4; MA 225
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Pleasant Street
4
Enter roundabout onto MA 4; MA 225
86 ft
·
1 sec
·
Watertown Street
5
Continue on MA 4; MA 225
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Watertown Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward MA 2 East: Cambridge, Boston
7
Continue on Concord Turnpike
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Concord Turnpike
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward MA 2 East: Cambridge, Boston
9
Merge onto MA 2
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Concord Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
473 ft
·
13 sec
Toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Merge onto US 3; MA 16
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Alewife Brook Parkway
Toward US 3 North, MA 16 East: Arlington, Medford
12
Turn right onto MA 2A
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Massachusetts Avenue
Toward MA 2A East: Cambridge
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto Somerville Avenue
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
Somerville Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn right onto Beacon Street
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Beacon Street
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto Cooney Street
295 ft
·
12 sec
·
Cooney Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto Line Street
294 ft
·
19 sec
·
Line Street
17
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
460 ft
·
19 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Leonard Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 9.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward MA 2 East: Cambridge, Boston
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MA 2 East: Cambridge, Boston
5
3.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
MA 2 / Concord Turnpike
Merge onto MA 2 / Concord Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
6.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn
6
6.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
MA 2A / Massachusetts Avenue
Turn right onto MA 2A / Massachusetts Avenue toward MA 2A East: Cambridge
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward MA 2A East: Cambridge
6
9.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
Line Street
At end of road, turn right onto Line Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.47 one way
$2.94 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $1.61 | $3.21 |
| premium | $4.82 | $1.75 | $3.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.03 | $4.06 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.19
Concord Turnpike
(2.7 mi)
$0.19
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Tolls
$0
Total
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.97 | $0.44 |
| Efficient EV | 2.3 | 0 | $0.80 | $0.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.29 | $0.59 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
Cambridge, MA
Late night in Cambridge on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
1 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
18m 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 rather than a high-speed interstate experience, as this route features zero highway travel. You will navigate via Massachusetts Avenue, Pleasant Street, and Watertown Street, requiring your full attention as you transition between these local thoroughfares. Since there are no highway stretches to lean on, the pace remains steady and dictated by local traffic patterns. The character of the road is defined by its series of turns and neighborhood intersections, which keep the driving experience engaging. You won't find any long, uninterrupted segments here, so settle in for a hands-on drive that keeps you focused on the immediate road ahead.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 3.1 mi on Concord Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in.
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 9.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 2.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 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.
Between Lexington, MA and Cambridge, MA, road signs point toward Boston, Woburn and Medford.
Boston
2.7 mi in
|
~4m
Woburn
6.2 mi in
|
~9m
Medford
6.3 mi in
|
~9m
|
via US 3; MA 16
About the Cities
Starting in Lexington, MA
Full guide →Founded 1640
Lexington is a northwestern suburb of Boston in Massachusetts. The Lexington Green is where the first shot of the American Revolution was fired and the first blood shed, and is known as "the Birthplace of American Liberty". It has several sites that are important in American history.
Top landmarks
- • Lexington Battle Green — town common and battle site in Massachusetts, USA
- • Buckman Tavern — American Revolutionary War site, Lexington, Massachusetts
- • Minute Man National Historical Park — Historic battlefield in Massachusetts, United States
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 18m. Total distance: 9.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 3.1 miles on Concord Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.19 in tolls one way, starting with Concord 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 2.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 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, 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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