Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
32.2 mi
52 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New Bedford, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Plympton, MA
Italo Melo
New Bedford to Plympton is 32.2 miles and takes about 45 minutes via Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway and US 44, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically Massachusetts, making it an easy local excursion. Expect a drive characterized by frequent turns and local road navigation, rather than long stretches of highway. It’s a straightforward journey perfect for a quick getaway or an errand run, offering a taste of Massachusetts' local byways.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway | 12.5 mi | 14m |
| US 44 | 7.9 mi | 8m |
| Bedford Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| Rhode Island Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Purchase Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Myricks Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Mount Pleasant Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between New Bedford, MA and Plympton, MA.
Start on Pleasant Street
Continue on Purchase Street
Continue on Nauset Street
At end of road, turn right onto Hathaway Road
Continue on Mount Pleasant Street
Turn right onto Kings Highway
Take the ramp
Merge onto MA 140
Take the exit
Turn right
Turn right onto MA 79
Continue on MA 79
Turn slight left onto MA 79
Turn left onto MA 18
Enter roundabout onto US 44
Continue on US 44
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto MA 58
Turn left onto Parsonage Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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.
A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 16.1 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 16.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right onto Hathaway Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Take the ramp toward MA 140 North: Taunton, Boston
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto MA 140 / Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MA 79: Lakeville, Myricks
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right toward MA 79 North: Lakeville, Middleboro
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$5.15 one way
$10.31 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $5.62 | $11.24 |
| premium | $4.82 | $6.11 | $12.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.11 | $14.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.38 | $1.55 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.82 | $1.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.51 | $2.06 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in New Bedford on Sunday
Local time
5:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Areas Of Fog
Destination
Late night in Plympton on Sunday
Local time
5:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
49°F
Lakeville, MA
16 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is a turn-heavy local drive, with only 24% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate through familiar city streets and local roads for much of the trip, punctuated by stretches on the Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway and US 44. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12.5 miles on the Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent speed before you transition back to local navigation. Be prepared for frequent adjustments in direction as you make your way to Plympton.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near Hathaway Road.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 32.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 3.8 miles (MA 140 / Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between New Bedford, MA and Plympton, MA, road signs point toward Boston, Myricks and Middleboro.
Boston
Myricks
Middleboro
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 32.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from New Bedford, MA or browse trips ending in Plympton, MA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MA road trips.
