Origin
Needham, MA
Late night in Needham on Sunday
Local time
1:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Needham, MA to Fall River, 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 2m
Distance
48.5 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
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Needham, MA
Мария Кашина
Trip Overview
Needham, MA to Fall River, MA is 48.5 miles and takes about 1h 2m via Amvets Highway, Yankee Division Highway, and Western Fall River Expressway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day drive primarily within Massachusetts, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a local feel for much of the journey, with a moderate amount of highway driving mixed in. It's a relatively short trip, making it easy to fit into a weekend or even a weekday afternoon.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Amvets Highway | 32.7 mi | 37m |
| Yankee Division Highway | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Western Fall River Expressway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| US 1 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Dedham Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Durfee Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Highland Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Amvets Highway
— 32.7 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Needham, MA and Fall River, MA.
1
Start on Warren Street
200 ft
·
10 sec
·
Warren Street
2
Turn right onto May Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
May Street
3
Turn left onto Highland Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Highland Avenue
4
Turn slight left onto MA 135
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Dedham Avenue
5
Continue on MA 135
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 95 South, MA 128 South: Canton, Providence
7
Merge onto I 95; MA 128
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 1
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 1
Exit 26
Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 4
Toward MA 24 South: Fall River
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on MA 24
33 mi
·
37 min
·
Amvets Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 79
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Western Fall River Expressway
Exit 7
Toward MA 79 South: North Fall River, Somerset
12
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
13
Turn right onto Durfee Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Durfee Street
14
Turn left onto Bank Street
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Bank Street
15
Turn right onto Purchase Street
361 ft
·
15 sec
·
Purchase Street
16
Continue on Purchase Street
269 ft
·
19 sec
·
Purchase Street
17
Arrive at destination
Purchase Street
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 24.3 miles from Needham, 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 0 and 44.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
May Street
Turn right onto May Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 South, MA 128 South: Canton, Providence
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 South, MA 128 South: Canton, Provid...
8
7.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
US 1
Take the exit onto US 1 toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
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.
Exit 26
Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
7
10.9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward MA 24 South: Fall River
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4
Toward MA 24 South: Fall River
7
44.2 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
MA 79 / Western Fall River Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 79 / Western Fall River Expressway toward MA 79 South: North Fall River, Somerset
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 7
Toward MA 79 South: North Fall River, Somerset
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.76 one way
$15.52 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.46 | $16.93 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.21 | $18.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.71 | $21.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17 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 | $5.09 | $2.33 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.24 | $1.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.79 | $3.10 |
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
Fall River, MA
Late night in Fall River on Sunday
Local time
1:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
1h 2m 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?
This route presents a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll navigate a fair number of intersections and local roads. While it features some highway segments, totaling 13% of the drive, the overall character leans towards more frequent adjustments. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 32.7 miles on Amvets Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before returning to the local road network. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience rather than a steady cruise.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.7 mi on Amvets Highway.
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 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near May Street.
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 48.5 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: near the start (May Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.8 miles (US 1): 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 Needham, MA to Fall River, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Somerset along the way.
Somerset
44.2 mi in
|
~55m
|
via MA 79
About the Cities
Arriving in Fall River, MA
Full guide →In the SouthCoast region of Massachusetts, where the Taunton River empties into Mount Hope Bay, stands Fall River- the "Spindle City". Not to be overshadowed by nearby Boston and Providence, Fall River offers visitors unique attractions that are absent from its two larger neighbors. Fall River is famous for Battleship Cove, the largest museum of its kind in the world; a rich Portuguese-American culture, featuring authentic food; and the accused axe murderess Lizzie Borden.
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 2m. Total distance: 48.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m 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 32.7 miles on Amvets Highway. 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 Fall River, 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: near the start (May Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.8 miles (US 1): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Adams National Historical Park, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area and Boston 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 Fall River, 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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