Origin
Melrose, MA
Late night in Melrose on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Melrose, MA to Plymouth, 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
1h 8m
Distance
48.3 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Melrose, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Plymouth, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 48.3-mile drive from Melrose to Plymouth, Massachusetts, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 8 minutes. With 84% of the trip on highways, it’s a focused drive primarily utilizing MA 3 and I-93. Considering the short distance and duration, this route is ideal as a single-day trip, not requiring an overnight stop. The estimated fuel cost is around $8, making it an economical option for a quick excursion within the Northeast region. Expect a drive that gets you to your destination efficiently without extensive scenic detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MA 3 | 28.2 mi | 35m |
| I 93 | 12.5 mi | 17m |
| Fellsway East | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Samoset Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Pleasant Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Florence Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Court Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MA 3
— 28.2 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Melrose, MA and Plymouth, MA.
1
Start on Myrtle Street
184 ft
·
9 sec
·
Myrtle Street
2
Turn right onto West Emerson Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
West Emerson Street
3
Turn right onto Main Street
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
4
Turn slight right
132 ft
·
4 sec
5
Turn slight right onto Florence Street
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Florence Street
6
Turn right onto Pleasant Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pleasant Street
7
Turn left onto Fellsway East
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Fellsway East
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn slight left onto Mystic Avenue
342 ft
·
8 sec
·
Mystic Avenue
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 93 South: Boston
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 93 South: Boston
11
Merge onto I 93
12 mi
·
17 min
·
I 93
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 3
28 mi
·
35 min
·
MA 3
Exit 7
Toward MA 3 South: Cape Cod
Use the slight left lane.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 15B
Toward US 44 West: Samoset Street, Carver
14
Turn straight onto Samoset Street
254 ft
·
9 sec
·
Samoset Street
15
Continue on Samoset Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Samoset Street
16
Turn right onto MA 3A
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Court Street
Use the right lane.
17
Arrive at destination
MA 3A
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 24.1 miles from Melrose, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 6 and 48.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 93 South: Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 93 South: Boston
5
6.3 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 93
Merge onto I 93
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
18.7 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
MA 3
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 3 toward MA 3 South: Cape Cod
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 7
Toward MA 3 South: Cape Cod
6
46.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward US 44 West: Samoset Street, Carver
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 15B
Toward US 44 West: Samoset Street, Carver
5
48.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
MA 3A / Court Street
Turn right onto MA 3A / Court Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.73 one way
$15.46 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.43 | $16.86 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.17 | $18.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.66 | $21.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 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 | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
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
Plymouth, MA
Late night in Plymouth on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph
4% 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
9 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
1h 8m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 84% of the route composed of faster roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on MA 3, including one uninterrupted stretch of 28.2 miles. While primarily on major arteries like I-93, the inclusion of Fellsway East suggests a transition into more local or arterial roads as you approach your destination. The character is largely one of steady progress, designed for efficient travel rather than leisurely exploration.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.2 mi on MA 3.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MA 3 and I 93. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.3 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 6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.3 miles (I 93): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.7 miles (MA 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Plymouth, MA
Full guide →Founded 1620
Plymouth is on the South Shore of Massachusetts. Known as "America's Hometown," Plymouth is most famous for being the final landing place of the Pilgrims who arrived on board the Mayflower in 1620, after storms lead them away from their desired settlement, the Hudson River. The settlement they established, Plimoth Colony, was one of the earliest successful settlements of Europeans in North America. In addition to its obvious historical draws, modern-day Plymouth is a picturesque seaside town with a bustling summer resident population who come back year after year to enjoy its beaches, ponds, and forests. Although summer is Plymouth's peak tourist season, spring (before Memorial Day) and fall (after Labor Day) can be excellent times to visit. These bumper seasons are less crowded and certainly more comfortable temperature-wise.
Top landmarks
- • Plymouth Rock — Historical important rock in Ply-mouth, Massachusetts, USA
- • Plimoth Patuxet — museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
- • Mayflower II — replica of the 17th-century ship Mayflower
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 1h 8m. Total distance: 48.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.2 miles on MA 3. 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 Plymouth, 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 6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.3 miles (I 93): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.7 miles (MA 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Adams 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 Plymouth, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Plymouth, MA
More from Melrose, MA
More trips to Plymouth, MA
Explore more options from Melrose, MA or browse trips ending in Plymouth, MA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MA road trips.