Origin
Oxford, MA
Late night in Oxford on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oxford, MA to Cambridge, 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 7m
Distance
49.8 mi
80 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oxford, MA
Michael D Beckwith
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Oxford, MA to Cambridge, MA is 49.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 7 minutes via Massachusetts Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region and entirely within Massachusetts. Expect a drive that leans heavily on highway travel, making it a straightforward journey. Given its short duration, it's an ideal option for a day trip or a quick commute, allowing for flexibility in your departure time and minimal need for extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 36.6 mi | 43m |
| I 395 | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| Washington Street | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| River Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Sutton Avenue | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Prospect Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Cutoff | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Line Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 36.6 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oxford, MA and Cambridge, MA.
1
Start on MA 12
100 ft
·
5 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto Sutton Avenue
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
Sutton Avenue
Use the right lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
4
Merge onto I 395
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
I 395
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 11A
Toward US 20 East: Shrewsbury
6
Merge onto US 20
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Washington Street
7
Continue on US 20
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
·
Southwest Cutoff
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 90, MA 146
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 90
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 90 East
11
Merge onto I 90
37 mi
·
43 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 131
Toward Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway Park
Use the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Cambridge, Somerville, Fenway Park
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Turn slight right onto Cambridge Street
180 ft
·
6 sec
·
Cambridge Street
15
Continue on River Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
River Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Continue on Prospect Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Prospect Street
17
Turn left onto Hampshire Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Hampshire Street
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on Cambridge Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Cambridge Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto Line Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Line Street
20
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
460 ft
·
19 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Leonard Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.9 miles from Oxford, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 47.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Sutton Avenue
Turn right onto Sutton Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
5.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward US 20 East: Shrewsbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 11A
Toward US 20 East: Shrewsbury
5
9.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 90, MA 146
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90, MA 146
8
47.2 mi into trip
|
~59m 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
47.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 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
$7.97 one way
$15.94 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.69 | $17.38 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.46 | $18.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.00 | $21.99 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.20
Massachusetts Turnpike
(36.6 mi)
$2.20
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.23 | $2.39 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.36 | $1.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.97 | $3.19 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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 Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
3 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
1h 7m 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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 83% of the route utilizing major roadways like the Massachusetts Turnpike and I 395. You'll experience a significant stretch of uninterrupted driving, with the longest segment covering 36.6 miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike. While the majority of the journey is on high-speed roads, there are portions on Washington Street that offer a change of pace. Overall, anticipate a relatively smooth and direct experience, characterized by efficient travel on well-maintained highways.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.6 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 395. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Sutton 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 49.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 (Sutton Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Oxford, MA and Cambridge, MA, road signs point toward Allston-Brighton and Fenway Park.
Allston-Brighton
47.2 mi in
|
~59m
Fenway Park
47.2 mi in
|
~59m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 49.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.6 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.20 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: near the start (Sutton Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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