Origin
Northborough, MA
Late night in Northborough on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Northborough, MA to Worcester, MA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
17m
Distance
11.6 mi
19 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 16m
★
6 AM
0h 17m
8 AM
0h 20m
10 AM
0h 18m
12 PM
0h 18m
3 PM
0h 19m
5 PM
0h 20m
8 PM
0h 16m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Northborough, MA
Phil Evenden
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This is a short, 11.6-mile drive from Northborough, MA to Worcester, MA, taking about 17 minutes. It's a straightforward trip primarily focused on I-290, making it a convenient local hop rather than a multi-day adventure. With a fuel cost estimated at just $2, this route is very budget-friendly. Since it's so brief, you won't need to consider overnight stays; it's perfect for a quick commute or a simple point-to-point journey within the Northeast region. The drive offers a practical way to get from one Massachusetts town to another without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 | 7.9 mi | 9m |
| Church Street | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Lincoln Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Lincoln Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 290
— 7.9 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Northborough, MA and Worcester, MA.
1
Start on this road
44 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto US 20
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto Church Street
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Church Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
5
Merge onto I 290
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
I 290
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 21
Toward Ware, Framingham
7
Turn right onto MA 70
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Lincoln Street
8
Turn right onto MA 9
158 ft
·
2 sec
·
Lincoln Square
9
Turn left onto Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
10
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 10.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 20 / Main Street
Turn left onto US 20 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Church Street
Turn right onto Church Street
Navigation decision point
3
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 290
Merge onto I 290
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
10.5 mi into trip
|
~15m 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
4
10.9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
MA 9 / Lincoln Square
Turn right onto MA 9 / Lincoln Square
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.86 one way
$3.71 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $2.02 | $4.05 |
| premium | $4.82 | $2.20 | $4.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.56 | $5.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.22 | $0.56 |
| Efficient EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.02 | $0.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.62 | $0.74 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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.
Destination
Worcester, MA
Late night in Worcester on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Cloudy
NE 5 to 8 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
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
14 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
17m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for this 11.6-mile trip, with 68% of the route utilizing major highways like I-290. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 7.9 miles on I-290, allowing for a consistent pace. The drive transitions from local roads like Church Street and Main Street in Northborough onto the interstate, offering a blend of familiar town driving and efficient highway travel. The overall feel is one of straightforward transit, designed for covering ground effectively rather than for scenic exploration.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.9 mi on I 290.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 290 and Church Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 20 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 17m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 20 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (I 290): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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 Northborough, MA and Worcester, MA, road signs point toward Ware and Framingham.
Ware
10.5 mi in
|
~15m
Framingham
10.5 mi in
|
~15m
About the Cities
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 17m. Total distance: 11.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.9 miles on I 290. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (US 20 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (I 290): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes — Minute Man National Historical Park and Lowell National Historical Park. 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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