Osterville to Worcester is 102.5 miles and takes about 2h 14m via I 495 and Mid Cape Highway, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Massachusetts, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a day trip or a quick connection between these two points. The relatively short duration and manageable fuel cost make this a practical choice for getting across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.3 miles from Osterville, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 495
59.5 mi
1h 8m
Mid Cape Highway
10.5 mi
14m
MA 25
9.6 mi
11m
Turnpike Road
4.8 mi
7m
Boston Turnpike
4.1 mi
6m
Sandwich Road
3 mi
5m
Osterville-West Barnstable Road
2 mi
3m
Osterville West Barnstable Road
1.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 59.5 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Osterville, MA and Worcester, MA.
1
Start on Parker Road
174 ft·10 sec·Parker Road
2
Turn left onto Main Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Turn slight right onto Osterville-West Barnstable Road
258 ft·7 sec·Osterville-West Barnstable Road
4
Continue on Osterville West Barnstable Road
1.7 mi·4 min·Osterville West Barnstable Road
5
Continue on Osterville-West Barnstable Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Osterville-West Barnstable Road
6
Turn left onto Race Lane
109 ft·3 sec·Race Lane
7
Turn right onto Osterville-West Barnstable Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Osterville-West Barnstable Road
8
Turn straight onto MA 149
0.2 mi·19 sec·Prospect Street
9
Enter roundabout onto MA 149
123 ft·2 sec·Prospect Street
Toward MA 149 North, US 6 West: West Barnstable
10
Continue on MA 149
0.1 mi·10 sec·Prospect Street
Toward MA 149 North, US 6 West: West Barnstable
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 6 West: Boston, Providence, RI
12
Merge onto US 6
10 mi·14 min·Mid Cape Highway
13
Continue on US 6
0.3 mi·20 sec·Mid Cape Highway
14
Take the exit onto MA 6A
0.5 mi·1 min·MA 6A
Exit 55Toward MA 6A: SagamoreUse the straight lane.
15
At end of road, turn left onto Sandwich Road
2.8 mi·4 min·Sandwich Road
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on Sandwich Road
0.2 mi·30 sec·Sandwich Road
17
Enter roundabout onto MA 28
22 ft·0 sec·MA 28
18
Continue on MA 28
1.0 mi·1 min·MA 28
19
Continue on MA 25
9.6 mi·11 min·MA 25
20
Continue on I 495
59 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 59BToward MA 9 West: WorcesterUse the straight / right lanes.
22
Merge onto MA 9
4.8 mi·7 min·Turnpike Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Continue on MA 9
0.8 mi·1 min·Belmont Street
24
Continue on MA 9
4.1 mi·6 min·Boston Turnpike
25
Continue on MA 9
0.3 mi·41 sec·Boston Worcester Turnpike
26
Continue on MA 9
0.6 mi·1 min·Belmont Street
27
Turn slight left onto Shrewsbury Street
1.5 mi·2 min·Shrewsbury Street
28
Enter roundabout onto Front Street
168 ft·2 sec·Front Street
29
Continue on Front Street
427 ft·11 sec·Front Street
30
Turn right onto Foster Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·Foster Street
31
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi·16 sec·Main Street
32
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to avoid potential afternoon traffic. You can easily complete this trip in a single day, so flexibility is key. With only 102.5 miles, you won't need many stops, but consider a quick break around the halfway point if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $16, and it’s always wise to top off before a longer highway stretch like the 59.5 miles on I 495.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.3 miles from Osterville, MA, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 23 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.3 miles or 1h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Worcester, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Osterville, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Osterville, MA
This is one driving day of about 102.5 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Osterville, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 495 for about 59.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 89.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.9 mi into trip|~9m in|MA 149 / Prospect Street
Enter roundabout onto MA 149 / Prospect Street toward MA 149 North, US 6 West: West Barnstable
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MA 149 North, US 6 West: West Barnstable
5
5 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the ramp toward US 6 West: Boston, Providence, RI
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6 West: Boston, Providence, RI
7
15.7 mi into trip|~25m in|MA 6A
Take the exit onto MA 6A toward MA 6A: Sagamore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 55
Toward MA 6A: Sagamore
7
16.3 mi into trip|~26m in|Sandwich Road
At end of road, turn left onto Sandwich Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
89.4 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward MA 9 West: Worcester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 59B
Toward MA 9 West: Worcester
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.40 one way
$32.81 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$17.89
$35.78
premium
$4.82
$19.46
$38.93
diesel
$5.61
$22.63
$45.26
Estimated Tolls: $0.63
Turnpike Road
(4.8 mi)$0.34
Boston Turnpike
(4.1 mi)$0.29
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.8
0
$10.76
$4.92
Efficient EV
25.6
0
$8.97
$4.10
EV Truck/SUV
41
0
$14.35
$6.56
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 Jun 22, 2022
Origin
Osterville, MA
Night
in Osterville on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Worcester, MA
Night
in Worcester on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
10 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 14m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With 77% of this route on highways, you'll spend most of your time on faster-paced roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 59.5 miles on I 495. You'll transition from highway driving to surface roads as you approach your destination. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits along the main highway segments.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.5 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and Mid Cape Highway. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in near MA 149 / Prospect Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 102.5 miles you will encounter 15 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 4.9 miles (MA 149 / Prospect Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.7 miles (MA 6A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 102.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.5 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.63 in tolls one way, starting with Turnpike Road. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles (MA 149 / Prospect Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.7 miles (MA 6A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Worcester, MA before heading back.
