Traveling from Pepperell to New Bedford covers 98 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 6 minutes. This straightforward journey is best suited for a single-day trip, as it is easily manageable without requiring an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $16 for fuel to complete the transit between these two Massachusetts locations. Since the route remains entirely within the Northeast, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. It is a practical and efficient way to move from the northern part of the state down to the coast.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49 miles from Pepperell, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 495
60.3 mi
1h 9m
MA 140
15.9 mi
18m
Amvets Highway
5.2 mi
5m
Boston Road
3.9 mi
6m
River Road
2.7 mi
5m
Main Street
2.3 mi
5m
Great Road
2.1 mi
3m
Purchase Street
1.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 60.3 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pepperell, MA and New Bedford, MA.
1
Start on this road
78 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto MA 111
2.7 mi·5 min·River Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto MA 111; MA 119
0.4 mi·49 sec·South Road
4
Continue on MA 111; MA 119
2.3 mi·5 min·Main Street
5
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 119; MA 225
3.9 mi·6 min·Boston Road
6
Continue on MA 119
2.1 mi·3 min·Great Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro, Taunton
8
Merge onto I 495
60 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 19BToward MA 24 South: Fall RiverUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto MA 24
5.2 mi·5 min·Amvets Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Exit 17AToward MA 140 South: New BedfordUse the right lane.
12
Turn straight onto MA 140
16 mi·18 min·MA 140
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 4Toward Mount Pleasant Street, Airport RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Mount Pleasant Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Mount Pleasant Street
15
Turn left onto Nauset Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·Nauset Street
16
Continue on Purchase Street
1.8 mi·3 min·Purchase Street
17
Continue on Pleasant Street
432 ft·10 sec·Pleasant Street
18
Continue on Sixth Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·Sixth Street
19
Turn left onto Market Street
237 ft·15 sec·Market Street
20
Turn left onto Pleasant Street
172 ft·3 sec·Pleasant Street
21
Arrive at destination
Pleasant Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours on I-495 will make for a much smoother experience. Because the drive clocks in at just over two hours, you can easily complete it without needing formal stops if you prepare ahead of time. Keep in mind that with a $16 fuel budget, it is wisest to fuel up before you hit the main highway stretches to avoid higher prices at service centers. Pay close attention to the transition points between I-495 and MA-140 to ensure you stay on track as you navigate toward the coast.
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 49 miles from Pepperell, MA, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.3 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 22 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49 miles or 1h 5m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Bedford, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pepperell, 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 Pepperell, MA
This is one driving day of about 98 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Pepperell, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 495 for about 60.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.8 and 94.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
11.8 mi into trip|~22m in|I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
72.1 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward MA 24 South: Fall River
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 19B
Toward MA 24 South: Fall River
5
72.9 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|MA 24 / Amvets Highway
Merge onto MA 24 / Amvets Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
78.1 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward MA 140 South: New Bedford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 17A
Toward MA 140 South: New Bedford
8
94.3 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward Mount Pleasant Street, Airport Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4
Toward Mount Pleasant Street, Airport Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.68 one way
$31.37 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$17.10
$34.21
premium
$4.82
$18.61
$37.22
diesel
$5.61
$21.64
$43.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.4
0
$10.29
$4.70
Efficient EV
24.5
0
$8.58
$3.92
EV Truck/SUV
39.2
0
$13.72
$6.27
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Pepperell, MA
Late night
in Pepperell on Sunday
Local time
12:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New Bedford, MA
Late night
in New Bedford on Sunday
Local time
12:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
SW 16 to 25 mph17% chanceLive 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
2 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 6m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
National Historical Park
"The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in, in all New England..nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses, parks and gardens more opulent, than in New Bedford…all t...
The Blackstone River powered America's entry into the Age of Industry. The success of Samuel Slater's cotton spinning mill in Pawtucket, RI touched off a chain reaction that changed how people worked...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 54.1
Lowell’s water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation – including immigrant families and early female factory workers – into an uncertain new industrial era. Nearly 200 years later, the changes t...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 10.1
At Minute Man National Historical Park the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and structures associated with April 19, 1775, and witness the Ameri...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 13.5
From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penn’s Hill to the gentleman’s country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of “heroes, statesmen, philosophers…and learned wome...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
$15
near mile 64.2
. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach o...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 78% of this trip is spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-495, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 60.3 miles. The transition from the interstate onto MA-140 and the Amvets Highway shifts the pace as you move toward your destination. While the drive is largely functional rather than scenic, the consistency of the highway segments allows for steady progress. You will find that the rhythm of the trip is defined by these fast-moving, high-capacity roads.
78% 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: 60.3 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and MA 140. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.8 miles in near I 495.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 98 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.8 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.9 miles (MA 24 / Amvets Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
443 ft33 ft
Total Climb
437 ft
Total Descent
622 ft
Highest Point
443 ft
~28 mi in
Elevation Range
410 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Pepperell, MA to New Bedford, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Taunton along the way.
New Bedford is in Massachusetts on the southern coast. New Bedford's excellent harbor made it a natural fishing and whaling center. It was the world's premier whaling port in the 19th century, and, for a time, "the richest city in the world" and "the city that lit the world" because of whale oil production.
New Bedford neighbor Acushnet is the birthplace of the Titleist golf ball.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 98 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.3 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 New Bedford, MA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.8 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.9 miles (MA 24 / Amvets Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and Lowell 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 New Bedford, MA before heading back.
