Origin
Northbridge, MA
Late night in Northbridge on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Northbridge, MA to Cambridge, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
40.6 mi
65 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Northbridge, MA
Italo Melo
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Planning a trip from Northbridge, MA to Cambridge, MA? This 40.6-mile drive will take you about 1 hour and 4 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The primary roads you'll encounter are the Massachusetts Turnpike and I-495, with a significant 68% of the journey on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of just $7, this is a budget-friendly excursion. The route stays within the Northeast region, offering a straightforward journey without needing an overnight stay. Consider this a practical option for a quick commute or a short excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 19.1 mi | 23m |
| I 495 | 5 mi | 5m |
| Turnpike Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| West Main Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Pleasant Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| School Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Hopkinton Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Worcester Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 19.1 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Northbridge, MA and Cambridge, MA.
1
Start on this road
96 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Beanes Lane
459 ft
·
25 sec
·
Beanes Lane
3
Turn left onto Church Avenue
163 ft
·
7 sec
·
Church Avenue
4
Turn right onto Cross Place
435 ft
·
20 sec
·
Cross Place
5
Turn right onto School Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
School Street
6
Turn left onto Brookway Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Brookway Drive
7
Turn right onto Allyn Road
476 ft
·
23 sec
·
Allyn Road
8
Turn left onto Quaker Street
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Quaker Street
9
Continue on Pleasant Street
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Pleasant Street
10
Turn slight left onto School Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
School Street
11
Turn slight right onto Hopkinton Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Hopkinton Road
12
Continue on West Main Street
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
14
Merge onto I 495
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 59A
Toward MA 9 East: Framingham
Use the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto MA 9
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Turnpike Road
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on MA 9
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Worcester Road
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 90 West: Masspike, Springfield, Boston
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 90 East: Boston, Massachusetts Turnpike East
Use the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto I 90
19 mi
·
23 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
21
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 131
Toward Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway Park
Use the slight left lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Cambridge, Somerville, Fenway Park
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
23
Turn slight right onto Cambridge Street
180 ft
·
6 sec
·
Cambridge Street
24
Continue on River Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
River Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
25
Continue on Prospect Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Prospect Street
26
Turn left onto Hampshire Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Hampshire Street
Use the left lane.
27
Continue on Cambridge Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Cambridge Street
Use the straight lane.
28
Turn right onto Line Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Line Street
29
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
460 ft
·
19 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
30
Arrive at destination
Leonard Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.3 miles from Northbridge, 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 205 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 38.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Church Avenue
Turn left onto Church Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
13.5 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward MA 9 East: Framingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 59A
Toward MA 9 East: Framingham
8
18.7 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 East: Boston, Massachusetts Turnpike East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 90 East: Boston, Massachusetts Turnpik...
8
38.1 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 131
Toward Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway Park
8
38.6 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Cambridge, Somerville, Fenway Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Cambridge, Somerville, Fenway Park
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.50 one way
$13.00 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $7.09 | $14.17 |
| premium | $4.82 | $7.71 | $15.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.96 | $17.93 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.40
Massachusetts Turnpike
(19.1 mi)
$1.15
Turnpike Road
(3.6 mi)
$0.25
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.55 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.68 | $2.60 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Cambridge, MA
Late night in Cambridge on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
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
23 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 4m 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?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 68% of the 40.6 miles spent on major roadways like the Massachusetts Turnpike and I-495. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 19.1 miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike, indicating periods of steady, high-speed travel. While the profile suggests a highway-dominant experience, expect some segments on Turnpike Road as well. The character of the drive is consistent, prioritizing efficient travel over winding scenic byways.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.1 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 495. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Church Avenue.
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 40.6 miles you will encounter 20 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 0.1 miles (Church Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Northbridge, MA and Cambridge, MA, road signs point toward Springfield, Boston, Massachusetts Turnpike East, Allston-Brighton, Fenway Park and Somerville.
Springfield
18.3 mi in
|
~31m
Boston
18.3 mi in
|
~31m
Massachusetts Turnpike East
18.7 mi in
|
~31m
Allston-Brighton
38.1 mi in
|
~56m
Fenway Park
38.1 mi in
|
~56m
Somerville
38.6 mi in
|
~57m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 40.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.1 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.40 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.
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 Cambridge, 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 0.1 miles (Church Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Adams 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 Cambridge, 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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