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Trip from New Bedford, MA to Ludlow, MA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 15m

Distance

107.5 mi

173 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

13 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 6m ★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 23m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 23m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 10m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States

New Bedford, MA

Wikimedia Commons

town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States

Ludlow, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from New Bedford, MA to Ludlow, MA covers 107.5 miles and takes about 2h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Massachusetts Turnpike, I 195, Providence Pike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.6 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.20 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

53.8 miles from New Bedford, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Massachusetts Turnpike 38.6 mi 44m
I 195 28.1 mi 35m
Providence Pike 7.7 mi 8m
Eddie Dowling Highway 7.5 mi 8m
Worcester Providence Road 7 mi 9m
North Smithfield Expressway 5.7 mi 6m
Old Louisquisset Pike 3 mi 3m
Worcester-Providence Turnpike 1.8 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Massachusetts Turnpike — 38.6 mi, about 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between New Bedford, MA and Ludlow, MA.

1

Start on Pleasant Street

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Pleasant Street
2

Continue on Purchase Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Purchase Street
3

Turn left onto Linden Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Linden Street
4

Turn right onto County Street

0.3 mi · 35 sec · County Street
5

Turn left onto Cedar Grove Street

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Cedar Grove Street
6

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 14 sec
Toward I 195 West: Fall River
7

Merge onto I 195

11 mi · 13 min · I 195
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 195

17 mi · 22 min · I 195
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6

0.1 mi · 16 sec · US 6
Toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston Massachusetts Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto US 6

1.0 mi · 1 min · US 6
Toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston Massachusetts
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95

0.1 mi · 12 sec · I 95
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 45 sec
Exit 38A-B Toward RI 146 North: State Offices Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on RI 146

3.0 mi · 3 min · Old Louisquisset Pike
Exit 38A Toward RI 146 North: Woonsocket Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on RI 146

4.7 mi · 5 min · Eddie Dowling Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto RI 146

2.8 mi · 2 min · Eddie Dowling Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on RI 146

5.7 mi · 6 min · North Smithfield Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on MA 146

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Purple Heart Highway
18

Continue on MA 146

7.7 mi · 8 min · Providence Pike
19

Continue on MA 146

0.3 mi · 18 sec · Purple Heart Highway
20

Continue on MA 146

7.0 mi · 9 min · Worcester Providence Road
21

Continue on MA 146

0.9 mi · 1 min · Purple Heart Highway
22

Continue on MA 146

1.8 mi · 2 min · Worcester-Providence Turnpike
23

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 90, US 20: Boston, Springfield
24

Turn left

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward I 90
25

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 90 West
26

Merge onto I 90

15 mi · 17 min · Massachusetts Turnpike
27

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

24 mi · 27 min · Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
28

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 54 Toward MA 21: Ludlow, Belchertown
29

Turn left onto MA 21

0.3 mi · 50 sec · Center Street
Use the straight lane.
30

Turn left onto Sewall Street

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Sewall Street
Use the left lane.
31

Turn left onto Howard Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Howard Street
32

Turn right onto Oak Street

0.1 mi · 38 sec · Oak Street
33

Turn left onto Walnut Street

219 ft · 12 sec · Walnut Street
34

Turn right

115 ft · 10 sec
35

Turn left

303 ft · 22 sec
36

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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 53.8 miles from New Bedford, MA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.6 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 24 miles or 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 53.8 miles or 1h 6m 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 50m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ludlow, 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.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from New Bedford, MA

This is one driving day of about 107.5 miles and 2h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from New Bedford, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Massachusetts Turnpike for about 38.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in Massachusetts, US

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Grafton, MA

54 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

East Providence, RI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Grafton, MA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 53.8 miles from New Bedford, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Primavera Cafe Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ludlow, Massachusetts

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $20 to $30 mile 107.5

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14135890562

Visit website

Tia Maria's European Café

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

New Bedford, Massachusetts

0.2 mi

Cafe Arpeggio NB

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

New Bedford, Massachusetts

0.1 mi

Primavera Cafe Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $20 to $30 mile 107.5

Ludlow, Massachusetts

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14135890562

Visit website

Tia Maria's European Café

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

New Bedford, Massachusetts

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+15089938900

Visit website

Cafe Arpeggio NB

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

New Bedford, Massachusetts

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+15089992233

Visit website

Cassarino's Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately mile 30.7

Providence, Rhode Island

Hours: 11:30 am–11 pm

+14017513333

Visit website

Tony & Penny's Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30 mile 107.5

Ludlow, Massachusetts

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+14135836351

Visit website

Circe Restaurant & Bar - Providence

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $40 to $50 mile 30.7

Providence, Rhode Island

Hours: 11:30 am–2 pm

+14014378991

Visit website

Hemenway's Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour Very expen mile 30.7

Providence, Rhode Island

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+14013518570

Visit website

Cafe Nuovo

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour Expensive mile 30.7

Providence, Rhode Island

Hours: 4–10 pm

+14014212525

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 23

Seekonk, Massachusetts

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 30.7

Cranston, Rhode Island

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18888950027

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

2.0 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 23

Seekonk, Massachusetts

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 30.7

Providence, Rhode Island

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 30.7

Providence, Rhode Island

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Flash Charging Station

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 30.7

Providence, Rhode Island

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 30.7

Providence, Rhode Island

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.3 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 23

Barrington, Rhode Island

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

New Bedford Whaling Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

New Bedford, Massachusetts

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+15089970046

Visit website

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Visitor Center

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

New Bedford, Massachusetts

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+15089964095

Visit website

Lippitt House Museum

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 30.7

Providence, Rhode Island

+14014530688

Visit website

Titanic Historical Society

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 107.5

Indian Orchard, Massachusetts

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+14135434770

Visit website

Mystery Soup Escape Rooms

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 30.7

Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+14012051873

Visit website

Southwick's Zoo

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 53.8

Mendon, Massachusetts

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+15088839182

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 25

5 decision points cluster between mile 12.6 and 39.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
12.6 mi into trip | ~16m in | I 195

Keep slight left at fork onto I 195

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
29.9 mi into trip | ~38m in | US 6

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston Massachusetts

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston Massachuse...
6
30 mi into trip | ~39m in | US 6

Keep slight left at fork onto US 6 toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston Massachusetts

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 95 North, US 6 West: Boston Massachuse...
8
31.1 mi into trip | ~40m in

Keep slight right at fork toward RI 146 North: State Offices

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 38A-B Toward RI 146 North: State Offices
6
39.5 mi into trip | ~49m in | RI 146 / Eddie Dowling Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto RI 146 / Eddie Dowling Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.20 one way

$34.41 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 38 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $18.76 $37.52
premium $4.82 $20.41 $40.82
diesel $5.61 $23.73 $47.47

Estimated Tolls: $2.44

Massachusetts Turnpike (38.6 mi) $2.31
Worcester-Providence Turnpike (1.8 mi) $0.13

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 37.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

13 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Dartmouth Towne Center Shopping Mall - Tesla Supercharger

Dartmouth, MA

Tesla

12 DCFC

Bristol Community College

Fall River, MA

RED_E

12 DCFC

Hampton Inn Westport

Westport, MA

RED_E

6 DCFC

PREIT Dartmouth Mall (Dartmouth, MA)

Dartmouth, MA

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Mechanics Cooperative Bank New Bedford

New Bedford, MA

RED_E

2 DCFC

Mechanics Cooperative Bank Westport

Westport, MA

RED_E

2 DCFC

ALDEN BUICK GMC ALDEN LV3 #1

Fairhaven, MA

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

Department of Public Infrastructure

New Bedford, MA

Non-Networked

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 5 RED_E: 4 Non-Networked: 1 Electrify America: 1 Tesla: 1 AUTEL: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 32.3 0 $11.29 $5.16
Efficient EV 26.9 0 $9.41 $4.30
EV Truck/SUV 43 0 $15.05 $6.88

Gas CO2

38 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (66% 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

Evening in New Bedford on Sunday

Local time

5:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ludlow, MA

Evening in Ludlow on Sunday

Local time

5:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

34 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

2h 15m 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

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...

0 mi from route Free
View on nps.gov
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park

Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The Blackstone River powered America's entry into the Age of Industry. The success of Samuel Slater's cotton spinning mill in Pawtucket, RI touched off a chain reaction that changed how people worked...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Free near mile 33.4
View on nps.gov
New England National Scenic Trail

New England National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

From the Sound to the summits: the New England Trail covers 235 miles from Long Island Sound across long ridges to scenic mountain summits in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail offers panoramic...

9 mi from route ~24 min detour Free near mile 107.5
View on nps.gov
Minute Man National Historical Park

Minute Man National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

30 mi from route ~75 min detour Free near mile 66.7
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

107.5 mi in 2h 15m, mostly highway — 38.6 mi of that is on Massachusetts Turnpike.

70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.6 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and I 195. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.6 miles in near I 195.

Driving Effort 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 107.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 12.6 miles (I 195): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.9 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30 miles (US 6): 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.

On the drive from New Bedford, MA to Ludlow, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Springfield along the way.

Springfield

65.9 mi in | ~1h 22m

About the Cities

Starting in New Bedford, MA

Full guide →

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.

Arriving in Ludlow, MA

Full guide →

Ludlow is a town in central Massachusetts, about a 15- to 20-minute drive to downtown Springfield.

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 2h 15m. Total distance: 107.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 38.6 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.44 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 Ludlow, MA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 12.6 miles (I 195): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.9 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ludlow, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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