New Bedford to Woburn is 68.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes via Amvets Highway and I-93, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Massachusetts, moving from the Southeast region to the Northeast. You'll experience a mix of highway cruising and surface road travel, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. It's a practical route for getting between these two points without a significant time commitment.
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
I 93
19.7 mi
26m
Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway
15.8 mi
18m
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
3.2 mi
5m
Montvale Avenue
2 mi
3m
Purchase Street
1.8 mi
3m
Mount Pleasant Street
0.9 mi
1m
Pleasant Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Amvets Highway
— 23.3 mi, about 26m
Traffic on I-93
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 281 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~5,624 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,571
Quietest
2 AM
~474 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.9×
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 Woburn, 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 right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 41AToward I 93 North, US 1 North: BostonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 93; US 1
12 mi·15 min·I 93; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
3.2 mi·5 min·John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93
8.1 mi·10 min·I 93
Toward I 93 North: Concord NHUse the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Take the exit
455 ft·13 sec
Exit 27Toward Montvale Avenue, Stoneham, Woburn
16
Keep slight left at fork
485 ft·13 sec
Toward Montvale Avenue, Stoneham, WoburnUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Montvale Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·Montvale Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto MA 38
212 ft·3 sec·Main Street
19
Turn slight left onto Winn Street
119 ft·9 sec·Winn Street
20
Turn left onto MA 38
216 ft·3 sec·Pleasant Street
21
Turn slight left onto MA 38
89 ft·10 sec·Common Street
22
Continue on MA 38
186 ft·3 sec·Common Street
23
Arrive at destination
MA 38
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour 30 minute duration, this trip is easily completed in one day. Leaving New Bedford in the morning, perhaps before 8 AM, will help you avoid peak traffic heading north. While there are no designated stops, you can take advantage of the flexibility this shorter drive offers to pull over if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $11, and plan to fill up before you leave New Bedford if you're running low, as the longest surface road stretch is over 23 miles.
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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Woburn, 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 68.7 miles and 1h 30m.
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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 66.4 — 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
9
43 mi into trip|~53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 41A
Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
7
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|I 93
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 North: Concord NH
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 93 North: Concord NH
9
66.4 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Montvale Avenue, Stoneham, Woburn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Montvale Avenue, Stoneham, Woburn
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.18 one way
$24.37 round trip
$4.51/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$13.25
$26.50
premium
$5.29
$14.31
$28.62
diesel
$5.35
$14.47
$28.94
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 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
$7.21
$3.30
Efficient EV
17.2
0
$6.01
$2.75
EV Truck/SUV
27.5
0
$9.62
$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 15, 2026
Origin
New Bedford, MA
Evening
in New Bedford on Wednesday
Local time
5:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Patchy Drizzle then Scattered Rain Showers
N 2 to 8 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Woburn, MA
Evening
in Woburn on Wednesday
Local time
5:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Patchy Fog
NE 2 to 8 mph26% chanceLive forecast
70°F
Milton, MA
34 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
1h 30m 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...
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.
. . . 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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 52.1
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 68.7
Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 66.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About a third of this 68.7-mile drive, specifically 33%, is on highways. The longest continuous stretch on surface roads is 23.3 miles along Amvets Highway. You'll transition from these surface roads to the I-93 highway, which will likely involve merging with faster-moving traffic. Expect to navigate a mix of driving environments as you move from more local roads to interstate speeds.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 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
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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.7 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 43 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
240 ft9 ft
Total Climb
409 ft
Total Descent
370 ft
Highest Point
240 ft
~39.3 mi in
Elevation Range
232 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 Woburn, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Boston 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
Woburn is a city in the Greater Boston region of Massachusetts with a population of 41,000 (2020). If you want to sound like a local, pronounce it "WOO-burn".
Burlington is a town with a population of 26,000 (2020). Home of the Burlington Mall and other retail development.
Just south of Woburn, Winchester is a town in the Commonwealth with a population of 23,000 (2020).
Top landmarks
•Middlesex Canal — canal in Massachusetts, United States of America
•Winn Memorial Library — library in Woburn, Massachusetts
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 68.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). 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 23.3 miles on Amvets Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 Woburn, 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 43 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, Adams National Historical Park and Boston 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 Woburn, MA before heading back.
