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Trip from New Bedford, MA to Manchester-by-the-Sea, 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 57m

Distance

86.8 mi

140 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 49m ★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 14m
10 AM
2h 3m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 4m
5 PM
2h 13m
8 PM
1h 52m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States

New Bedford, MA

Wikimedia Commons

town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States

Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 86.8-mile drive from New Bedford, MA, to Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 57 minutes. You'll navigate primarily via Amvets Highway, Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway, and Yankee Division Highway, with about 32% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $14, making it an economical option for exploring the Northeast region. This route offers a mixed driving experience, suitable for a relaxed day out without needing an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

43.4 miles from New Bedford, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Amvets Highway 23.3 mi 26m
Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway 15.8 mi 18m
Yankee Division Highway 13.9 mi 19m
US 1 12.9 mi 18m
I 93 11.5 mi 15m
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway 3.2 mi 5m
Purchase Street 1.8 mi 3m
Mount Pleasant 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 Manchester-by-the-Sea, 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 20A Toward MA 24 North: Boston
10

Merge onto MA 24

23 mi · 26 min · Amvets Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 41A Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12

Merge onto I 93; US 1

12 mi · 15 min · I 93; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3

3.2 mi · 5 min · John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1

13 mi · 18 min · US 1
Exit 19 Toward US 1 North: Tobin Bridge, Revere Use the slight left / straight lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Toward I 95 South, MA 128 North: Waltham, Gloucester
16

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 95 North, MA 128 North: Gloucester, Portsmouth New Hampshire Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17

Merge onto I 95; MA 128

0.6 mi · 46 sec · Yankee Division Highway
Use the slight right lane.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto MA 128

13 mi · 18 min · Yankee Division Highway
Exit 64 Toward MA 128 North: Gloucester Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 25 sec
Exit 50 Toward Essex, Manchester
20

Keep slight right at fork

187 ft · 6 sec
Toward School Street, Manchester
21

Turn slight right onto School Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · School Street
22

Turn left onto Brook Street

415 ft · 18 sec · Brook Street
23

Arrive at destination

Brook Street

Trip Plan

With a total duration of under two hours, this drive offers great flexibility for departure times. You can easily leave in the morning and be at your destination with plenty of time for activities, or opt for an afternoon departure. Since there are no specific mandatory stops suggested, you can be spontaneous with breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 23.3 miles on Amvets Highway, to ensure a smooth journey with your estimated $14 fuel budget.

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 43.4 miles from New Bedford, MA, or about 54m 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 19 miles or 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 43.4 miles or 54m 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 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manchester-by-the-Sea, 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 86.8 miles and 1h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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.

capital and largest city of Massachusetts, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Boston, MA

43 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

City of Taunton, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Quincy, MA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.4 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

Tia Maria's European Café

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

New Bedford, Massachusetts

Near the start, right off the route

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

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+15089938900

Visit website

Cafe Arpeggio NB

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

New Bedford, Massachusetts

0.1 mi

Delux Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Boston, Massachusetts

0.6 mi

Top Coffee Stop

2nd Street Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 55.8

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+16176611311

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

Delux Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30 mile 55.8

Boston, Massachusetts

Hours: 5 pm–1 am

+16173385258

Visit website

Montien Thai Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30 mile 55.8

Boston, Massachusetts

Hours: 11:30 am–10:30 pm

+16173385600

Visit website

Sorelle Bakery & Cafe

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 55.8

Boston, Massachusetts

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+16174265475

Visit website

Tatte Bakery & Cafe | Pier 4

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 55.8

Boston, Massachusetts

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+16177657600

Visit website

Cafe Landwer

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30 mile 55.8

Boston, Massachusetts

Hours: 8 am–9 pm

+18572502902

Visit website

Kushala Sip Lounge & Cafe Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 62

Chelsea, Massachusetts

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+16174661536

Visit website

2nd Street Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 55.8

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+16176611311

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

Soldiers and Sailors Monument

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 55.8

Boston, Massachusetts

Hours: 6 am–11:30 pm

+16176354505

Visit website

Museum of Science

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 55.8

Boston, Massachusetts

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+16177232500

Visit website

Boston National Historical Park - Charlestown Navy Yard

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 55.8

Boston, MA

Hours: Open 24 hours

+16172425601

Visit website

USS Constitution Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 55.8

Charlestown, Massachusetts

Hours: 9:30 am–5 pm

+16174261812

Visit website

Boda Borg Boston

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 62

Malden, Massachusetts

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+17813211081

Visit website

Dungeon Rock

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 68.2

Lynn, Massachusetts

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 43 and 85.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9
43 mi into trip | ~53m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston

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

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 41A Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
9
58.2 mi into trip | ~1h 15m in | US 1

Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 toward US 1 North: Tobin Bridge, Revere

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

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 19 Toward US 1 North: Tobin Bridge, Revere
8
71.3 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North, MA 128 North: Gloucester, Portsmouth New Hampshire

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

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 North, MA 128 North: Gloucester, Po...
8
72.4 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in | MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway toward MA 128 North: Gloucester

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 64 Toward MA 128 North: Gloucester
7
85.9 mi into trip | ~1h 55m in

Keep slight right at fork toward School Street, Manchester

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

Toward School Street, Manchester

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.89 one way

$27.78 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $15.15 $30.30
premium $4.82 $16.48 $32.96
diesel $5.61 $19.16 $38.33

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 26 0 $9.11 $4.17
Efficient EV 21.7 0 $7.59 $3.47
EV Truck/SUV 34.7 0 $12.15 $5.56

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Forecast as of Jun 21, 2022

Origin

New Bedford, MA

Late night in New Bedford on Sunday

Local time

12:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA

Late night in Manchester-by-the-Sea on Sunday

Local time

12:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

43°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

32 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 57m 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?

Expect a varied driving experience on this route, characterized as a mixed drive. While 32% of your journey will be on highways, providing opportunities for consistent speed, you'll also encounter stretches that feel more local. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 23.3 miles on Amvets Highway. This blend means you'll experience both faster-paced travel and potentially slower sections as you transition between road types. The road's personality shifts, offering a dynamic feel behind the wheel.

32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 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?

10/10

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 43 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 43 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.2 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

Between New Bedford, MA and Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, road signs point toward Revere, Gloucester and Portsmouth New Hampshire.

Revere

58.2 mi in | ~1h 15m | via US 1

Gloucester

71.1 mi in | ~1h 33m

Portsmouth New Hampshire

71.3 mi in | ~1h 34m

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.

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 57m. Total distance: 86.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile.

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 Manchester-by-the-Sea, 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 43 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.2 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Manchester-by-the-Sea, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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