New Bedford to North Andover is 84.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 49 minutes via I-93 and Amvets Highway, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Massachusetts, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a mixed drive that balances highway speeds with more local road conditions. With a duration under two hours and a low fuel cost, this is a straightforward, single-day journey. It’s a practical option for moving between these two areas without a significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.3 miles from New Bedford, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 93
33.2 mi
41m
Amvets Highway
23.3 mi
26m
Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway
15.8 mi
18m
I 495
3.5 mi
4m
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
3.2 mi
5m
Purchase Street
1.8 mi
3m
Mount Pleasant Street
0.9 mi
1m
Waverley Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 93
— 33.2 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Bedford, MA and North Andover, 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 right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 41AToward I 93 North, US 1 North: BostonUse 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 right at fork onto I 93
22 mi·25 min·I 93
Toward I 93 North: Concord NHUse the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 40AToward I 495 North: LawrenceUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 495
3.5 mi·4 min·I 495
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 101Toward North AndoverUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
205 ft·4 sec
Toward Massachusetts Avenue, North Andover
19
Turn straight onto Massachusetts Avenue
0.3 mi·48 sec·Massachusetts Avenue
20
Turn sharp left onto Waverley Road
0.3 mi·50 sec·Waverley Road
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto Middlesex Street
142 ft·8 sec·Middlesex Street
22
Turn right
61 ft·4 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 49 minutes, this trip is easily completed in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave mid-morning to avoid the worst of potential rush hour traffic in the Boston metropolitan area. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, you'll likely only need to stop for gas once, if at all, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Consider breaking up the drive with a brief stop for a stretch and to refuel around the halfway point, perhaps near the longest stretch on I-93, to ensure you remain comfortable behind the wheel.
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 42.3 miles from New Bedford, MA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.2 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 42.3 miles or 52m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Andover, 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 84.6 miles and 1h 49m.
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 I 93 for about 33.2 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 43 and 84 — 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
7
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|I 93
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 North: Concord NH
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 93 North: Concord NH
7
79.8 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40A
Toward I 495 North: Lawrence
7
83.8 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward North Andover
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 101
Toward North Andover
7
84 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Massachusetts Avenue, North Andover
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Massachusetts Avenue, North Andover
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.54 one way
$27.08 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$14.77
$29.53
premium
$4.82
$16.06
$32.13
diesel
$5.61
$18.68
$37.36
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: 29.6 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
25.4
0
$8.88
$4.06
Efficient EV
21.2
0
$7.40
$3.38
EV Truck/SUV
33.8
0
$11.84
$5.41
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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
New Bedford, MA
Late night
in New Bedford on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North Andover, MA
Late night
in North Andover on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Rain Showers
NE 1 to 6 mph21% chanceLive 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
14 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 49m 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.
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...
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.
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...
. . . 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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 52.5
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 78.8
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 67.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with 47% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on I-93, the Amvets Highway, and the Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway, providing opportunities for faster travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 33.2 miles on I-93, allowing for sustained cruising. As you progress, the drive transitions between these primary roadways and potentially more local, slower-speed segments. This blend means you'll experience both efficient highway miles and a taste of more community-oriented roads.
47% 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: 33.2 mi on I 93.
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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.6 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 (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Andover is a town in Massachusetts with a population of 37,000 (2020). It is situated at the crossroads of I-495 and I-93 in the heart of the Merrimack Valley.
North Andover is a small town on the banks of the Merrimack River. It has a population of about 31,000 (2020) and is 25 miles north of Boston.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 84.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). 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 33.2 miles on I 93. 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 North Andover, 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 (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Bedford Whaling 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 North Andover, MA before heading back.
