Origin
Norwood, MA
Morning in Norwood on Tuesday
Local time
10:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norwood, 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
1h 1m
Distance
45.4 mi
73 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 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norwood, MA
Yaroslav Shuraev
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Norwood to Worcester, you are looking at a manageable 45.4-mile trek that typically takes about an hour and one minute. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting approximately $7 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. Since both cities are located within the Northeast, you will experience a familiar regional feel throughout the journey. This route is a straightforward, practical choice for travelers who prefer efficiency over a long-haul adventure.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 26.1 mi | 30m |
| Yankee Division Highway | 7.5 mi | 10m |
| Grafton Street | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| High Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Nahatan Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Grafton Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Foster Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 26.1 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norwood, MA and Worcester, MA.
1
Start on Central Street
73 ft
·
9 sec
·
Central Street
2
Turn right onto Nahatan Street
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Nahatan Street
3
Turn right onto MA 109
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
High Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 95 North: Peabody, Portsmouth New Hampshire
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 95; MA 128
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 39B-A
Toward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, Weston
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
423 ft
·
10 sec
Toward I 95 North, MA 128 North, MA 30, I 90 Toll: Boston, Albany New York, Massachusetts Turnpike Toll
8
Continue on this road
351 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
Exit 39 A-B
Toward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, Weston
9
Continue on this road
411 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
Exit 39 A-B
Toward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, Weston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 39B
Toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Albany New York
12
Merge onto I 90
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 96
Toward MA 122: Millbury, Worcester
14
Keep slight left at fork
173 ft
·
10 sec
15
Turn left onto MA 122
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Grafton Road
16
Continue on MA 122
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grafton Street
17
Enter roundabout onto MA 122
123 ft
·
1 sec
·
Grafton Street
18
Continue on MA 122
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
Grafton Street
19
Continue on MA 122
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Grafton Street
20
Enter roundabout onto Front Street
277 ft
·
4 sec
·
Front Street
21
Continue on Front Street
427 ft
·
11 sec
·
Front Street
22
Turn right onto Foster Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Foster Street
23
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.7 miles from Norwood, 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 12.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
4.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North: Peabody, Portsmouth New Hampshire
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 95 North: Peabody, Portsmouth New Hamp...
8
12.3 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, Weston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 39B-A
Toward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, Wes...
7
12.6 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North, MA 128 North, MA 30, I 90 Toll: Boston, Albany New York, Massachusetts Turnpike Toll
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North, MA 128 North, MA 30, I 90 To...
6
12.7 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Continue toward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, Weston
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 39 A-B
Toward I 90, MA 30: Boston, Albany, Newton, Wes...
9
12.8 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 39B
Toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.27 one way
$14.53 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $7.92 | $15.85 |
| premium | $4.82 | $8.62 | $17.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.02 | $20.05 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.56
Massachusetts Turnpike
(26.1 mi)
$1.56
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.97 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.36 | $2.91 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Morning in Worcester on Tuesday
Local time
10:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
20 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 1m 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 mixed driving experience as you navigate this route, which is comprised of 57% highway travel. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Massachusetts Turnpike, where your longest uninterrupted stretch reaches 26.1 miles. The journey transitions from the Yankee Division Highway into the local flow of Grafton Street as you approach your destination. While the interstate segments offer a faster pace, the character of the drive shifts as you move off the major turnpikes and into the urban environment of Worcester. It is a balanced route that combines high-speed transit with typical local road navigation.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.1 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
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 4.5 miles in.
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 45.4 miles you will encounter 18 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 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Norwood, MA and Worcester, MA, road signs point toward Portsmouth New Hampshire, Albany, Newton, Weston, Albany New York and Massachusetts Turnpike Toll - among others.
Portsmouth New Hampshire
4.5 mi in
|
~8m
Albany
12.3 mi in
|
~19m
Newton
12.3 mi in
|
~19m
Weston
12.3 mi in
|
~19m
Albany New York
12.6 mi in
|
~20m
Massachusetts Turnpike Toll
12.6 mi in
|
~20m
Mass Pike: Boston
12.8 mi in
|
~20m
Mass Pike West: Warcester
13.2 mi in
|
~21m
About the Cities
Starting in Norwood, MA
Full guide →Norwood is a town of 32,000 (2020) in Massachusetts. Westwood has a population of 16,000 (2020).
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 1m. Total distance: 45.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). 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 26.1 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.56 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 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: at 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Minute Man 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 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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