Origin
Needham, MA
Late night in Needham on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Needham, MA to Worcester, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
38.1 mi
61 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
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 54m
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.
Needham, MA
Мария Кашина
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are heading from Needham to Worcester, you are looking at a straightforward 40.6-mile journey that typically takes about 47 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting approximately $6 for fuel is a safe bet for this distance. Since both towns are located in the Northeast region of Massachusetts, you will remain within familiar territory throughout the drive. It is a practical commute or day-trip option that offers reliable transit between these two cities without the need for a complex itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 26.1 mi | 30m |
| Grafton Street | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Yankee Division Highway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Highland Avenue | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Grafton Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Foster Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| May Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 26.1 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Needham, MA and Worcester, MA.
1
Start on Warren Street
200 ft
·
10 sec
·
Warren Street
2
Turn right onto May Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
May Street
3
Turn right onto Highland Avenue
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Highland Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 95 North: Waltham
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
6
Merge onto I 95; MA 128
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 39B-A
Toward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, Weston
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
423 ft
·
10 sec
Toward I 95 North, MA 128 North, MA 30, I 90 Toll: Boston, Albany New York, Massachusetts Turnpike Toll
9
Continue on this road
351 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
Exit 39 A-B
Toward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, Weston
10
Continue on this road
411 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
Exit 39 A-B
Toward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, Weston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 39B
Toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Albany New York
13
Merge onto I 90
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 96
Toward MA 122: Millbury, Worcester
15
Keep slight left at fork
173 ft
·
10 sec
16
Turn left onto MA 122
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Grafton Road
17
Continue on MA 122
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grafton Street
18
Enter roundabout onto MA 122
123 ft
·
1 sec
·
Grafton Street
19
Continue on MA 122
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
Grafton Street
20
Continue on MA 122
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Grafton Street
21
Enter roundabout onto Front Street
277 ft
·
4 sec
·
Front Street
22
Continue on Front Street
427 ft
·
11 sec
·
Front Street
23
Turn right onto Foster Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Foster Street
24
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Main Street
25
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 5.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Highland Avenue
Turn right onto Highland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, Weston
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 39B-A
Toward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, Wes...
7
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North, MA 128 North, MA 30, I 90 Toll: Boston, Albany New York, Massachusetts Turnpike Toll
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North, MA 128 North, MA 30, I 90 To...
6
5.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Continue toward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, Weston
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 39 A-B
Toward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, Wes...
9
5.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 39B
Toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.10 one way
$12.20 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.65 | $13.30 |
| premium | $4.82 | $7.23 | $14.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.41 | $16.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.56
Massachusetts Turnpike
(26.1 mi)
$1.56
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.33 | $2.44 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Late night in Worcester on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Partly Cloudy then Areas Of Fog
NE 5 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
15 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway usage. You will navigate a series of local roads, including Highland Avenue and May Street, punctuated by a brief connection via I-95 North. Because the road is composed entirely of local thoroughfares, you should anticipate frequent adjustments and a more hands-on driving experience. There are no long, uninterrupted stretches here, so stay alert for changing speed limits and intersections. This path requires your full attention as you transition between local streets to reach your destination.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.1 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Grafton Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Highland Avenue.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 19 decision points packed into just 38.1 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 0.2 miles (Highland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Needham, MA and Worcester, MA, road signs point toward Albany, Newton, Weston, Albany New York, Massachusetts Turnpike Toll and Mass Pike: Boston - among others.
Albany
5 mi in
|
~7m
Newton
5 mi in
|
~7m
Weston
5 mi in
|
~7m
Albany New York
5.2 mi in
|
~8m
Massachusetts Turnpike Toll
5.2 mi in
|
~8m
Mass Pike: Boston
5.5 mi in
|
~9m
Mass Pike West: Warcester
5.9 mi in
|
~9m
About the Cities
Arriving in Worcester, MA
Full guide →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.
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: 38.1 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 (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.1 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.56 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 0.2 miles (Highland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Minute Man National Historical Park, Boston 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 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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