New Bedford, MA to Russell, MA is 130.5 miles and takes about 2h 46m via Massachusetts Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Massachusetts, taking you from the southeastern part of the state to the western hills. With a high percentage of highway driving, expect a relatively straightforward trip. This is a solid option for a single-day excursion, especially if you're looking to reach western Massachusetts without a lot of complicated navigation.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65.2 miles from New Bedford, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Massachusetts Turnpike
52.8 mi
1h
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
Westfield Road
3.8 mi
5m
Russell Road
3.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 52.8 mi, about 1h
Traffic on I-195
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 82 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,647 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~170 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Bedford, MA and Russell, 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 MassachusettsUse 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-BToward RI 146 North: State OfficesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on RI 146
3.0 mi·3 min·Old Louisquisset Pike
Exit 38AToward RI 146 North: WoonsocketUse 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
38 mi·43 min·Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
28
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 41Toward US 202, MA 10: Westfield, Northampton
29
Keep slight right at fork
262 ft·6 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Merge onto US 202; MA 10
363 ft·8 sec·Southampton Road
Use the right lane.
31
Continue on US 202; MA 10
1.2 mi·3 min·North Elm Street
32
Turn right onto Orange Street
279 ft·14 sec·Orange Street
33
Turn left onto Maple Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·Maple Street
34
Turn right onto US 20
0.8 mi·1 min·Franklin Street
Use the straight lane.
35
Continue on US 20
3.6 mi·6 min·Russell Road
36
Continue on US 20
3.8 mi·5 min·Westfield Road
37
Arrive at destination
US 20
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 2 hour and 46 minute drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic. Since this trip is easily achievable in one day, you have flexibility with your timing. The $24 fuel cost estimate means you won't need to worry too much about frequent fill-ups, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Keep an eye on your GPS for the transition off the Massachusetts Turnpike, as that's where the driving environment will change the most.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.2 miles from New Bedford, MA, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.8 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 29 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.2 miles or 1h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Russell, 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 130.5 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from New Bedford, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Massachusetts Turnpike for about 52.8 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 23
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
$23.15 one way
$46.29 round trip
$4.51/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$25.16
$50.33
premium
$5.29
$27.18
$54.37
diesel
$5.35
$27.49
$54.97
Estimated Tolls: $3.29
Massachusetts Turnpike
(52.8 mi)$3.16
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
$23
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.2
0
$13.70
$6.26
Efficient EV
32.6
0
$11.42
$5.22
EV Truck/SUV
52.2
0
$18.27
$8.35
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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 1, 2026
Origin
New Bedford, MA
Afternoon
in New Bedford on Wednesday
Local time
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
W 5 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Russell, MA
Afternoon
in Russell on Wednesday
Local time
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
72°F
Sunderland, MA
65 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
3 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 46m 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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on the highway for about 69% of this 130.5-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on the Massachusetts Turnpike is 52.8 miles, so expect a good amount of time cruising at higher speeds. As you move away from the Turnpike, the route transitions to Providence Pike and I-195, offering a different driving experience. Be prepared for a higher density of exits as you approach populated areas.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.8 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 Effort9/10
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 23 significant decision points across 130.5 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
755 ft34 ft
Total Climb
951 ft
Total Descent
690 ft
Highest Point
755 ft
~74.6 mi in
Elevation Range
721 ft
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 Russell, MA, road signs point toward Springfield and Northampton.
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.
Top landmarks
•Effie M. Morrissey — museum ship in Massachusetts
•New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park — national Historical Park of the United States
•Central New Bedford Historic District — historic district in Massachusetts, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 130.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.8 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.29 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.
Yes — we found about 11 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Russell, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 — New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and New England National Scenic Trail. 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 Russell, MA before heading back.
