Origin
Monson, MA
Morning in Monson on Tuesday
Local time
8:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monson, MA to Worcester, 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
50m
Distance
33.9 mi
55 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monson, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 33.9-mile drive from Monson, MA to Worcester, MA is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 50 minutes. It's designed as a single-day excursion, so no overnight stays are necessary. The primary roads you'll navigate include the Massachusetts Turnpike and I-290, offering a blend of highway and local road driving. With a projected fuel cost of around $5, this route is budget-friendly. The drive stays within the Northeast region, connecting two points in Massachusetts. Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition from local roads to faster highways.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 11.2 mi | 12m |
| I 290 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| Sturbridge Road | 4 mi | 5m |
| Brimfield Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| Palmer Road | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Wilbur Cross Highway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Monson Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 11.2 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monson, MA and Worcester, MA.
1
Start on Harrison Avenue
233 ft
·
14 sec
·
Harrison Avenue
2
Turn left onto MA 32
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto Chestnut Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Chestnut Street
4
Continue on Bethany Road
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Bethany Road
5
Continue on Brimfield Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Brimfield Road
6
Continue on Monson Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Monson Road
7
Continue on Main Palmer Road
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Main Palmer Road
8
Turn slight right onto US 20
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Palmer Road
9
Continue on US 20
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Main Street
10
Continue on US 20
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Sturbridge Road
11
Continue on US 20
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Brimfield Road
12
Continue on US 20
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
13
Continue on US 20
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Charlton Road
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
15
Merge onto I 84
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Wilbur Cross Highway
16
Merge onto I 90
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 90
Toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 395, MA 12 North, I 290
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 395, I 290
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 290
21
Continue on I 290
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
I 290
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 17
Toward MA 122A: Kelly Square
23
Turn left onto MA 122A
423 ft
·
10 sec
·
Vernon Street
Use the straight lane.
24
Enter roundabout onto Green Street
205 ft
·
3 sec
·
Green Street
25
Continue on Green Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Green Street
26
Continue on Franklin Street
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Franklin Street
27
At end of road, turn right onto Main Street
135 ft
·
2 sec
·
Main Street
28
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17 miles from Monson, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 26.8 and 33.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
26.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 90
Toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester
6
27.2 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 395, MA 12 North, I 290
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 395, MA 12 North, I 290
7
27.3 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 395, I 290
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 395, I 290
5
27.5 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 290
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 290
6
33.2 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
MA 122A / Vernon Street
Turn left onto MA 122A / Vernon Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.43 one way
$10.85 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $5.92 | $11.83 |
| premium | $4.82 | $6.44 | $12.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.48 | $14.97 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.67
Massachusetts Turnpike
(11.2 mi)
$0.67
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.56 | $1.63 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.75 | $2.17 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Worcester, MA
Morning in Worcester on Tuesday
Local time
8:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Cloudy
NE 5 to 8 mph
2% 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
5 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
50m 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 route presents a mixed driving profile, with 48% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches that are more akin to local roads, interspersed with segments on the Massachusetts Turnpike and I-290. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 11.2 miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike, allowing for a period of steady cruising. As you progress, the road character will shift from potentially more winding local paths to the more direct and faster-paced feel of the interstate.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.2 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 33.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 26.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Monson, MA
Full guide →Monson is a small town in Maine, with a population of 609 according to the 2020 census. It was incorporated in 1822, and named after Monson, Massachusetts. Monson is primarily known for its slate quarries and it being the last town before the 100 mile wilderness on the Appalachian Trail. Today it has become something of an artist's town featuring galleries and several restaurants while still catering to thru hikers of the AT.
Arriving in Worcester, MA
Full guide →Founded 1848
Explore fine arts, history, and take in a show in Worcester, a medium sized city in Central Massachusetts about an hour's drive west of Boston. Worcester's seven hills and their valleys contain top notch museums, nine colleges and universities, beautiful parks, and food from all over the globe.
Top landmarks
- • Clark University — American private university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts
- • Cathedral of Saint Paul — church in Massachusetts, United States
- • Worcester Academy — private high school in Worcester, 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 50m. Total distance: 33.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). 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 11.2 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.67 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 Worcester, 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 26.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — New England National Scenic Trail and Minute Man National Historical Park. 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 Worcester, 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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