New Bedford to South Lancaster is 83.2 miles and takes about 1h 45m via I 495, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the Northeast region, entirely within Massachusetts. It’s a straightforward, highway-focused journey that’s ideal for a single-day excursion. The primary roads are well-maintained and offer a consistent driving experience. Given the relatively short duration, you can easily fit this into your schedule without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.6 miles from New Bedford, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m 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
3.3 mi
5m
Purchase Street
1.8 mi
3m
Bolton Road
1 mi
2m
Mount Pleasant Street
0.9 mi
1m
Still River Road
0.8 mi
1m
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 South Lancaster, 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
3.3 mi·5 min·Main Street
16
Turn left onto MA 110
0.8 mi·1 min·Still River Road
17
Continue on MA 110
0.7 mi·1 min·Lower Bolton Road
18
Turn right onto Center Bridge Road
502 ft·15 sec·Center Bridge Road
19
Turn left onto Bolton Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Bolton Road
20
Keep slight left at fork onto Bolton Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·Bolton Road
21
Continue on Prescott Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·Prescott Street
22
Turn right onto Orchard Street
292 ft·12 sec·Orchard Street
23
Arrive at destination
Orchard Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1h 45m duration, leaving New Bedford in the morning or early afternoon is ideal, allowing ample time to reach South Lancaster before evening. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, you won't need extensive refueling stops, but it’s always wise to start with a full tank. The longest stretch on I 495 is over 50 miles, so plan your need for a break before you hit that segment. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart when convenient, but be mindful of potential traffic near larger towns during peak commuting hours.
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 41.6 miles from New Bedford, MA, or about 53m 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.6 miles or 53m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Lancaster, 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 83.2 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 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 14
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
$14.76 one way
$29.51 round trip
$4.51/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$16.04
$32.09
premium
$5.29
$17.33
$34.66
diesel
$5.35
$17.52
$35.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.1 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
25
0
$8.74
$3.99
Efficient EV
20.8
0
$7.28
$3.33
EV Truck/SUV
33.3
0
$11.65
$5.32
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
New Bedford, MA
Evening
in New Bedford on Wednesday
Local time
8:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
W 6 mph24% chanceLive forecast
Destination
South Lancaster, MA
Evening
in South Lancaster on Wednesday
Local time
8:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 3 mph9% 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
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 45m 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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 43.1
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
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 77.5
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 34.4
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...
21 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 77.5
. . . 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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 34.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 61% of your journey on major roadways like I 495 and the Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 51 miles on I 495, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While the majority of the drive is on faster routes, expect some transitions as you navigate to and from these main arteries. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, prioritizing getting you to your destination smoothly.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 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?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.2 miles you will encounter 14 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
462 ft59 ft
Total Climb
674 ft
Total Descent
458 ft
Highest Point
462 ft
~59.5 mi in
Elevation Range
403 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 South Lancaster, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Stow along the way.
Stow
77 mi in|~1h 33m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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 1h 45m. Total distance: 83.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 5 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 South Lancaster, 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 South Lancaster, MA before heading back.
