Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
30.3 mi
49 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Adams, MA
Phil Evenden
Mahkeenac Shores, MA
Ritvars Garoza
North Adams, MA to Mahkeenac Shores, MA is 30.3 miles and takes about 58 minutes via MA 8, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day drive entirely within Massachusetts, connecting two points in the Northeast region. You'll encounter a mix of driving experiences on this relatively short trip, making it an easy option for a quick getaway or an addition to a longer journey. The journey is short enough that you won't need to worry about extensive planning, but it's good to be aware of the road conditions.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MA 8 | 12.2 mi | 21m |
| Holmes Road | 3.5 mi | 7m |
| Curran Memorial Highway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Pittsfield Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Columbia Street | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Hawthorne Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Howland Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between North Adams, MA and Mahkeenac Shores, MA.
Start on Eagle Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Turn left onto MA 8
Continue on MA 8
Continue on MA 8
Continue on MA 8
Enter roundabout onto MA 8
Continue on MA 8
Continue on MA 8
Turn straight onto MA 8
Continue on MA 9
Turn left onto Junction Road
Continue on Junction Road
Turn straight onto East Street
Turn left onto Newell Street
Turn left onto Dorchester Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Elm Street
Turn left onto Holmes Road
At end of road, turn left onto US 7; US 20
Take the exit onto MA 7A
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 7A
Turn right onto Stockbridge Road
Continue on Hawthorne Street
At end of road, turn left onto Hawthorne Road
Continue on Hawthorne Road
Continue on Mahkeenac Road
Turn right onto Mahkeenac Shores Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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.
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 15.2 miles from North Adams, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 29.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto MA 8 / State Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto Elm Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto US 7; US 20 / Pittsfield Road
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto Hawthorne Road
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$5.37 one way
$10.75 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.90 | $5.84 | $11.69 |
| premium | $5.29 | $6.31 | $12.62 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $6.38 | $12.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.45 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.65 | $1.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.24 | $1.94 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in North Adams on Wednesday
Local time
8:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Evening in Mahkeenac Shores on Wednesday
Local time
8:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
72°F
Dalton, MA
15 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
This route offers a mixed drive, with about 40% of the journey on highways. You'll experience stretches on MA 8, Holmes Road, and Curran Memorial Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12.2 miles on MA 8, providing a consistent pace for a portion of the trip. Expect the road conditions to vary, transitioning between faster highway segments and potentially more localized roads as you make your way south. This blend means you'll get a bit of everything behind the wheel.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Main Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 30.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.2 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (MA 8 / State Street): Navigation decision point; at 20.7 miles (Elm Street): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
761 ft
Total Descent
512 ft
Highest Point
1,336 ft
~26 mi in
Elevation Range
621 ft
Founded 1745
North Adams is a town of 13,000 people (2020) in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. In the 19th century it was the industrial center of the region. Old factory buildings are now being recycled to other uses, including the new Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. The town's rail access was improved by one of the great engineering feats of the 19th century, the Hoosac Tunnel. North Adams is chock-full of interesting historic houses, only a few of which are pictured in this article.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 30.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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