Charlton Service Plaza Westbound
0 mi from route
Trip from New Bedford, MA to Sunderland, MA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 55m
Distance
141.2 mi
227 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 44m
★
6 AM
2h 55m
8 AM
3h 18m
10 AM
3h 3m
12 PM
3h 1m
3 PM
3h 4m
5 PM
3h 17m
8 PM
2h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New Bedford, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Sunderland, MA
Italo Melo
Trip Overview
New Bedford, MA to Sunderland, MA is 141.2 miles and takes about 2h 55m via Massachusetts Turnpike and I-91, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Massachusetts, beginning in the Northeast region and ending in the same region. Given its relatively short duration and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward drive perfect for a single-day excursion. Plan for a day where you'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it an efficient way to cover the distance.
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
70.6 miles from New Bedford, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 47.7 mi | 55m |
| I 195 | 28.1 mi | 35m |
| I 91 | 22.7 mi | 26m |
| 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 |
| Old Louisquisset Pike | 3 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 47.7 mi, about 55m
Traffic on I-195
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 170 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,478 veh/hr typical · worst 4,151
Quietest
2 AM
~179 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 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 Sunderland, 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 Massachusetts
Use 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-B
Toward RI 146 North: State Offices
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on RI 146
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Louisquisset Pike
Exit 38A
Toward RI 146 North: Woonsocket
Use 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
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 45
Toward I 91, US 5: Springfield, Holyoke
29
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 91: Holyoke, Springfield
30
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 91 North: Holyoke
31
Merge onto I 91
23 mi
·
26 min
·
I 91
32
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
1 min
Exit 24
Toward US 5, MA 10: Deerfield, Conway
33
Turn right onto US 5; MA 10
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
State Road
34
Turn right onto MA 116
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Sunderland Road
35
Turn left onto MA 47
200 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Main Street
36
Turn right
159 ft
·
11 sec
37
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 1-day trip, consider leaving New Bedford in the morning to avoid any potential rush hour traffic. The drive is under 3 hours, so you might only need one quick stop for fuel or a restroom break. The longest uninterrupted stretch is about 47.7 miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before embarking on that section. With a fuel cost estimated around $24, it's an economical drive, allowing for some flexibility in your timing.
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 70.6 miles from New Bedford, MA, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.7 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 31 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.6 miles or 1h 29m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sunderland, 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 141.2 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 47.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
71 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 70.6 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area I-195 (West Bound)
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Ludlow Service Plaza Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Ludlow Service Plaza Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area I-195 (East Bound)
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Charlton Service Plaza Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Bike Trail Parking - Rest Area
1.1 mi from route
Rest Area I-295 (North Bound)
1.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 265 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
$19.18 one way
$38.36 round trip
$3.45/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $21.40 | $42.80 |
| premium | $4.15 | $23.07 | $46.14 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $20.85 | $41.69 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.99
Massachusetts Turnpike
(47.7 mi)
$2.86
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
$19
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.4 | 0 | $14.83 | $6.78 |
| Efficient EV | 35.3 | 0 | $12.36 | $5.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.5 | 0 | $19.77 | $9.04 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (65% 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.
Origin
New Bedford, MA
Morning in New Bedford on Saturday
Local time
10:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Rain Showers
S 14 to 20 mph
95% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Sunderland, MA
Morning in Sunderland on Saturday
Local time
10:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 8 mph
100% chance
Live forecast
41°F
Worcester, MA
71 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 55m 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...
0 mi from route
Free
View on nps.gov
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 34.1
View on nps.gov
New England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 126.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 76% of the drive on major roads. You'll encounter a stretch of 47.7 miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike before transitioning to other routes. Expect a significant amount of interstate driving, which means you'll likely notice frequent exits and merges as you navigate through different sections of the highway system.
76% 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: 47.7 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 Effort
10/10
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 26 significant decision points across 141.2 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
Gently rolling terrain
791 ft
31 ft
Total Climb
1,081 ft
Total Descent
1,006 ft
Highest Point
791 ft
~90.8 mi in
Elevation Range
760 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Sunderland, MA, road signs point toward Springfield and Holyoke.
Springfield
65.9 mi in
|
~1h 22m
Holyoke
115 mi in
|
~2h 21m
About the Cities
Starting in New Bedford, MA
Full guide →Founded 1640
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 141.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.7 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.99 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 16 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 Sunderland, 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 16 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 Sunderland, MA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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