This 70.7-mile journey from New Bedford, MA to Bedford, MA is a straightforward, one-day drive taking approximately 1 hour and 34 minutes. With a modest fuel cost estimate of $11, it's an economical option for a quick trip within the Northeast region. The route is primarily a mixed drive, meaning you'll experience a blend of highway and local road travel. Given its short duration and manageable distance, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. You won't need to worry about overnight stays, making it a convenient option for a day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.4 miles from New Bedford, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Amvets Highway
23.3 mi
26m
I 95
21.5 mi
29m
Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway
15.8 mi
18m
Yankee Division Highway
2.1 mi
2m
Purchase Street
1.8 mi
3m
The Great Road
1.3 mi
3m
Mount Pleasant Street
0.9 mi
1m
Bedford Street
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Amvets Highway
— 23.3 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Bedford, MA and Bedford, MA.
1
Start on Pleasant Street
0.3 mi·32 sec·Pleasant Street
2
Continue on Purchase Street
1.8 mi·3 min·Purchase Street
3
Continue on Nauset Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·Nauset Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto Hathaway Road
302 ft·6 sec·Hathaway Road
5
Continue on Mount Pleasant Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Mount Pleasant Street
6
Turn right onto Kings Highway
0.2 mi·38 sec·Kings Highway
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward MA 140 North: Taunton, Boston
8
Merge onto MA 140
16 mi·18 min·Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·54 sec
Exit 20AToward MA 24 North: Boston
10
Merge onto MA 24
23 mi·26 min·Amvets Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 41BToward I 93 South, US 1 SouthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 93; US 1
2.1 mi·2 min·Yankee Division Highway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
0.6 mi·50 sec·US 1
Exit 1BToward I 95 North, US 1 South: Dedham, Portsmouth New HampshireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 95
22 mi·29 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 49BToward MA 4 North, MA 225 West: BedfordUse the right lane.
16
Turn straight onto MA 4; MA 225
0.9 mi·1 min·Bedford Street
17
Continue on MA 4; MA 225
1.3 mi·3 min·The Great Road
Use the right lane.
18
Arrive at destination
MA 4; MA 62; MA 225
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 70.7-mile drive, you have plenty of flexibility. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid the peak rush hour, especially as you'll be on I-95. With no designated stops, you can easily pull over if needed. The estimated fuel cost is $11, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge, though it's unlikely you'll need to refuel unless your tank is very low. A specific tip for this route: be mindful of the transition points between Amvets Highway and I-95, as these can sometimes present minor traffic fluctuations.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.4 miles from New Bedford, MA, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.4 miles or 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bedford, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving New Bedford, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from New Bedford, MA
This is one driving day of about 70.7 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from New Bedford, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Amvets Highway for about 23.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 68.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in|Hathaway Road
At end of road, turn right onto Hathaway Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
3.5 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward MA 140 North: Taunton, Boston
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MA 140 North: Taunton, Boston
9
43 mi into trip|~53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 93 South, US 1 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 41B
Toward I 93 South, US 1 South
9
46.1 mi into trip|~58m in|US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 toward I 95 North, US 1 South: Dedham, Portsmouth New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward I 95 North, US 1 South: Dedham, Portsmou...
8
68.2 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward MA 4 North, MA 225 West: Bedford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 49B
Toward MA 4 North, MA 225 West: Bedford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.31 one way
$22.63 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$12.34
$24.68
premium
$4.82
$13.42
$26.85
diesel
$5.61
$15.61
$31.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.2
0
$7.42
$3.39
Efficient EV
17.7
0
$6.19
$2.83
EV Truck/SUV
28.3
0
$9.90
$4.52
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Jun 21, 2022
Origin
New Bedford, MA
Late night
in New Bedford on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bedford, MA
Late night
in Bedford on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Canton, MA
35 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
19 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
1h 34m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
National Historical Park
"The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in, in all New England..nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses, parks and gardens more opulent, than in New Bedford…all t...
At Minute Man National Historical Park the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and structures associated with April 19, 1775, and witness the Ameri...
From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penn’s Hill to the gentleman’s country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of “heroes, statesmen, philosophers…and learned wome...
Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 53.6
. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach o...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 43.9
Lowell’s water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation – including immigrant families and early female factory workers – into an uncertain new industrial era. Nearly 200 years later, the changes t...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 70.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 31% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on Amvets Highway, I-95, and Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 23.3 miles on Amvets Highway, providing a solid period of consistent travel. As you progress, expect the road character to shift between faster-paced highway segments and potentially slower local road sections, keeping your driving experience varied without being overly demanding.
31% 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: 23.3 mi on Amvets Highway.
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 2.3 miles in near Hathaway Road.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.7 miles you will encounter 10 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 2.3 miles (Hathaway Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
205 ft30 ft
Total Climb
359 ft
Total Descent
285 ft
Highest Point
205 ft
~35.4 mi in
Elevation Range
176 ft
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 New Bedford, MA to Bedford, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Portsmouth New Hampshire along the way.
New Bedford is in Massachusetts on the southern coast. New Bedford's excellent harbor made it a natural fishing and whaling center. It was the world's premier whaling port in the 19th century, and, for a time, "the richest city in the world" and "the city that lit the world" because of whale oil production.
New Bedford neighbor Acushnet is the birthplace of the Titleist golf ball.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 70.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). 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 23.3 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 Bedford, 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 2.3 miles (Hathaway Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — New Bedford Whaling 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 Bedford, MA before heading back.
