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Trip from North Andover, MA to Worcester, MA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 2m

Distance

50.7 mi

82 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 57m ★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States

North Andover, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Worcester, MA, MA

Worcester, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 50.7-mile drive from North Andover, MA to Worcester, MA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking just over an hour. The route is predominantly highway, with 93% of it on major interstates like I-495 and I-290. You'll find the estimated fuel cost to be around $8, making it an economical journey. Given its focus on efficient travel between two points in the Northeast region, it’s a practical option for getting from point A to point B without significant detours. This drive is built for speed and directness, so plan accordingly if you're seeking a leisurely exploration.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 495 34.2 mi 39m
I 290 12.7 mi 15m
Main Street 0.6 mi 1m
Massachusetts Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Lincoln Street 0.3 mi <1m
Waverley Road 0.2 mi <1m
William Street 0.1 mi <1m
Lincoln Square <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 495 — 34.2 mi, about 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between North Andover, MA and Worcester, MA.

1

Start on this road

61 ft · 10 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto Middlesex Street

142 ft · 13 sec · Middlesex Street
3

Turn left onto Waverley Road

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Waverley Road
4

Turn right onto William Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · William Street
5

Turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue

0.3 mi · 48 sec · Massachusetts Avenue
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Toward I 495 South: Lowell, Marlboro
7

Merge onto I 495

11 mi · 12 min · I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 14 sec
Exit 89C-B-A Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 17 sec
Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 25 sec
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
12

Merge onto I 495

23 mi · 27 min · I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Exit 65B Toward I 290 West: Worcester
14

Merge onto I 290

13 mi · 15 min · I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 21 Toward Ware, Framingham
16

Turn right onto MA 70

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Lincoln Street
17

Turn right onto MA 9

158 ft · 2 sec · Lincoln Square
18

Turn left onto Main Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Main Street
19

Arrive at destination

Main Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in Massachusetts

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Berlin, MA

25 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.

Popular next leg

Berlin, MA to Worcester, MA

14.8 mi · 20m

Pacing Suggestions

Lowell, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Boxborough, MA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 25.3 miles from North Andover, 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 49.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Middlesex Street

Turn left onto Middlesex Street

Navigation decision point

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Waverley Road

Turn left onto Waverley Road

Navigation decision point

8
11.7 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the exit toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 89C-B-A Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
7
11.9 mi into trip | ~15m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
6
49.6 mi into trip | ~1h in

Take the exit toward Ware, Framingham

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 21 Toward Ware, Framingham

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.11 one way

$16.23 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $8.85 $17.70
premium $4.82 $9.63 $19.25
diesel $5.61 $11.19 $22.39

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.2 0 $5.32 $2.43
Efficient EV 12.7 0 $4.44 $2.03
EV Truck/SUV 20.3 0 $7.10 $3.24

Gas CO2

18 kg

EV CO2

6 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 Apr 21, 2026

Origin

North Andover, MA

Late night in North Andover on Tuesday

Local time

5:14 AM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Worcester, MA

Late night in Worcester on Tuesday

Local time

5:14 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

60°F

Berlin, MA

25 mi in

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

1 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 2m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 50.7-mile trip, with a substantial 93% of the journey on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 34.2 miles on I-495, offering a consistent pace. You'll transition onto I-290, which will carry you the rest of the way toward Worcester, primarily utilizing Main Street for the final approach. This profile suggests a drive characterized by efficient travel and minimal scenic diversions, designed to get you to your destination promptly.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.2 mi on I 495.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and I 290. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Middlesex Street.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.7 miles you will encounter 16 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: near the start (Middlesex Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (Waverley Road): Navigation decision point; at 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 North Andover, MA to Worcester, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Nashua New Hampshire along the way.

Nashua New Hampshire

11.7 mi in | ~15m

About the Cities

Starting in North Andover, MA

Full guide →

Founded 1644

Andover is a town in Massachusetts with a population of 37,000 (2020). It is situated at the crossroads of I-495 and I-93 in the heart of the Merrimack Valley. North Andover is a small town on the banks of the Merrimack River. It has a population of about 31,000 (2020) and is 25 miles north of Boston.

Top landmarks

  • Parson Barnard House — Museum in Massachusetts
  • Abiel Stevens House — house in North Andover, Massachusetts
  • Kittredge Mansion — historic house in Massachusetts, United States

Arriving in Worcester, MA

Full guide →

Founded 1848

Explore fine arts, history, and take in a show in Worcester, a medium sized city in Central Massachusetts about an hour's drive west of Boston. Worcester's seven hills and their valleys contain top notch museums, nine colleges and universities, beautiful parks, and food from all over the globe.

Top landmarks

  • Clark University — American private university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts
  • Cathedral of Saint Paul — church in Massachusetts, United States
  • Worcester Academy — private high school in Worcester, 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 1h 2m. Total distance: 50.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 34.2 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Worcester, 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: near the start (Middlesex Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (Waverley Road): Navigation decision point; at 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Lowell National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Salem Maritime 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 Worcester, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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