New Bedford to Sudbury is 68.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 33 minutes via Amvets Highway, Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway, and I-95, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, entirely within Massachusetts. The profile indicates it's mostly surface roads, suggesting a drive that's less about highway cruising and more about navigating local routes. It's a good option for a single-day trip where you want to avoid extensive time on interstates.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.4 miles from New Bedford, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Amvets Highway
23.3 mi
26m
Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway
15.8 mi
18m
I 95
11.3 mi
15m
Boston Post Road Bypass
3.4 mi
4m
Old Sudbury Road
3.1 mi
5m
Yankee Division Highway
2.1 mi
2m
Newton Street
1.8 mi
3m
Purchase Street
1.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Amvets Highway
— 23.3 mi, about 26m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 181 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~5,570 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,687
Quietest
2 AM
~301 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.5×
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 Sudbury, 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 left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 41BToward I 93 South, US 1 SouthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 93; US 1
2.1 mi·2 min·Yankee Division Highway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
0.6 mi·50 sec·US 1
Exit 1BToward I 95 North, US 1 South: Dedham, Portsmouth New HampshireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 95
11 mi·15 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 39B-AToward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, WestonUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
423 ft·10 sec
Toward I 95 North, MA 128 North, MA 30, I 90 Toll: Boston, Albany New York, Massachusetts Turnpike Toll
17
Continue on this road
351 ft·8 sec·this road
Exit 39 A-BToward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, Weston
18
Continue on this road
411 ft·10 sec·this road
Exit 39 A-BToward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, WestonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward MA 30: Newton, WestonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·20 sec
Exit 39AToward MA 30: Newton, WestonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
110 ft·4 sec
Toward MA 30 West: WestonUse the left / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto MA 30
0.6 mi·1 min·South Avenue
23
Turn right onto Newton Street
1.8 mi·3 min·Newton Street
Use the right lane.
24
Continue on Wellesley Street
495 ft·12 sec·Wellesley Street
25
Continue on School Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·School Street
26
Turn left onto US 20
3.4 mi·4 min·Boston Post Road Bypass
27
Turn right onto MA 27; MA 126
0.1 mi·22 sec·Cochituate Road
28
Continue on MA 27
3.1 mi·5 min·Old Sudbury Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
29
Continue on MA 27
0.2 mi·23 sec·Hudson Road
30
Arrive at destination
MA 27
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour 33 minutes, this route is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility for when you depart. You can comfortably start anytime, but leaving mid-morning might help you avoid the worst of any local commuter traffic. With only 68.8 miles, you won't need many stops for fuel or rest, but there are no designated stops mentioned, so plan any breaks yourself. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition from the highway sections to the surface roads, especially during the 23.3-mile stretch on Amvets Highway, to ensure you're on the correct local paths.
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 34.4 miles from New Bedford, MA, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.3 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 15 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.4 miles or 43m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sudbury, 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 68.8 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from New Bedford, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Amvets Highway for about 23.3 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 43 and 58.8 — 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 left at fork toward I 93 South, US 1 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 41B
Toward I 93 South, US 1 South
9
46.1 mi into trip|~58m in|US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 toward I 95 North, US 1 South: Dedham, Portsmouth New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward I 95 North, US 1 South: Dedham, Portsmou...
8
58.1 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, Weston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 39B-A
Toward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, Wes...
9
58.6 mi into trip|~1h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MA 30: Newton, Weston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MA 30: Newton, Weston
10
58.8 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 30: Newton, Weston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 39A
Toward MA 30: Newton, Weston
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.20 one way
$24.41 round trip
$4.51/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$13.27
$26.53
premium
$5.29
$14.33
$28.66
diesel
$5.35
$14.49
$28.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.6
0
$7.22
$3.30
Efficient EV
17.2
0
$6.02
$2.75
EV Truck/SUV
27.5
0
$9.63
$4.40
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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 May 27, 2026
Origin
New Bedford, MA
Evening
in New Bedford on Wednesday
Local time
5:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
SW 9 to 13 mph24% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Sudbury, MA
Evening
in Sudbury on Wednesday
Local time
5:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Partly Sunny
W 7 to 12 mph10% 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
11 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 33m 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...
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...
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 61.7
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.
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 54.6
. . . 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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 42.7
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...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 21.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 17% of this 68.8-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a single main road is 23.3 miles on Amvets Highway. After that, expect to transition to surface roads for the majority of your travel. This means you'll encounter more intersections and potentially more varied traffic patterns as you get closer to your destination.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.3 mi on Amvets Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 68.8 miles you will encounter 19 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 46.1 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
237 ft53 ft
Total Climb
422 ft
Total Descent
292 ft
Highest Point
237 ft
~39.3 mi in
Elevation Range
184 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 Sudbury, MA, road signs point toward Boston, Portsmouth New Hampshire, Albany, Newton, Weston and Albany New York - among others.
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
Wayland, a town in the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, is a residential suburb of 14,000 (2020), with mostly families as residents.
Sudbury is a town with a population of 19,000 in the 2020 census.
Top landmarks
•Bogle-Walker House — building in Massachusetts, United States
•Goodnow Library — library
•Moses Brewer House — historic house in Massachusetts, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 68.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.3 miles on Amvets Highway. 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 Sudbury, 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 46.1 miles (US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, Adams 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 Sudbury, MA before heading back.
