New Bedford to Shirley is 90.4 miles and takes about 1h 58m via I 495 and Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Massachusetts, connecting two points in the Northeast region. The drive is a mix of highway and surface roads, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. You can expect a moderate drive with a good portion on major highways. Consider this a practical option for getting between these two Massachusetts locations without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.2 miles from New Bedford, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 495
51 mi
58m
Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway
15.8 mi
18m
Amvets Highway
5.4 mi
6m
Main Street
4.1 mi
7m
Lunenburg Road
3.5 mi
6m
Purchase Street
1.8 mi
3m
Seven Bridge Road
1.5 mi
2m
Lancaster Road
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 51 mi, about 58m
Traffic on I-495
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 126 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,750 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,509
Quietest
2 AM
~171 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.9×
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 Shirley, 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
5.4 mi·6 min·Amvets Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 22BToward I 495 North: MarlboroUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 495
51 mi·58 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 70Toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
14
Keep slight right at fork
377 ft·12 sec
Exit 70Toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
15
Turn straight onto MA 117
3.6 mi·6 min·Main Street
16
Continue on MA 117
1.5 mi·2 min·Seven Bridge Road
17
Continue on MA 70; MA 117
0.3 mi·45 sec·Main Street
18
Turn right onto MA 70
3.5 mi·6 min·Lunenburg Road
19
Enter roundabout onto Old Turnpike Road
23 ft·1 sec·Old Turnpike Road
20
Continue on Old Turnpike Road
467 ft·16 sec·Old Turnpike Road
21
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
22
Merge onto MA 2
1.1 mi·1 min·MA 2
23
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Exit 105Toward Shirley
24
Keep slight right at fork
184 ft·4 sec
25
Turn straight onto Shirley Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Shirley Road
26
Continue on Lancaster Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Lancaster Road
27
Continue on Main Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·Main Street
28
Continue on Front Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·Front Street
29
Turn right onto Porter Street
314 ft·19 sec·Porter Street
30
Turn left onto Chapel Street
75 ft·3 sec·Chapel Street
31
Arrive at destination
Chapel Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-two-hour drive, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will help you avoid potential rush hour congestion, especially on I 495. With only 90.4 miles, you might not need formal stops, but it's always wise to take a break if you feel tired. Keep an eye on your fuel level, as the estimated cost is around $14, and it’s best to fill up before hitting any particularly long stretches without services. A good tip is to note where the highway portion ends, around mile 51 from the start of I 495, as this is where traffic patterns will likely change.
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 45.2 miles from New Bedford, MA, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51 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 20 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.2 miles or 57m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shirley, 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 90.4 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 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 495 for about 51 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 77.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in|Hathaway Road
At end of road, turn right onto Hathaway Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
3.5 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward MA 140 North: Taunton, Boston
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MA 140 North: Taunton, Boston
7
25.2 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Marlboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22B
Toward I 495 North: Marlboro
6
77 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 70
Toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
8
77.2 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 70
Toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.03 one way
$32.07 round trip
$4.51/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$17.43
$34.86
premium
$5.29
$18.83
$37.66
diesel
$5.35
$19.04
$38.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.1
0
$9.49
$4.34
Efficient EV
22.6
0
$7.91
$3.62
EV Truck/SUV
36.2
0
$12.66
$5.79
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 May 25, 2026
Origin
New Bedford, MA
Afternoon
in New Bedford on Wednesday
Local time
4:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Rain Showers
SE 5 to 15 mph82% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Shirley, MA
Afternoon
in Shirley on Wednesday
Local time
4:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Rain Showers Likely
NE 2 mph56% chanceLive forecast
70°F
Bellingham, MA
45 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
6 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 58m 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...
11 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 43.6
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...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 77.9
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...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 90.4
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
$15
near mile 34.3
. . . 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 58% of this 90.4-mile drive is on highways like I 495. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 51 miles on I 495, indicating a significant period of higher-speed travel. The remainder of the trip transitions to surface roads, likely with more frequent intersections and lower speed limits. Expect to notice denser exit activity as you approach the highway portion and potentially more varied traffic patterns as you transition off.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 2.3 miles in near Hathaway Road.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 90.4 miles you will encounter 17 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 25.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
404 ft34 ft
Total Climb
594 ft
Total Descent
374 ft
Highest Point
404 ft
~71 mi in
Elevation Range
370 ft
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 Shirley, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Stow along the way.
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
Shirley is a city in Merrimack Valley with a population of 7,000 (2020). The town was named for former Governor William Shirley, and was settled in 1720 and incorporated in 1775.
Ayer is a town with a population of 8,000 (2020).
Littleton is a town in Massachusetts with a population of 10,000 (2020).
Top landmarks
•Shirley Center Historic District — historic district in Massachusetts, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 90.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). 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 51 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 Shirley, 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 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 25.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and Minute Man 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 Shirley, MA before heading back.
