Origin
Plymouth, MA
Late night in Plymouth on Tuesday
Local time
4:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plymouth, MA to Arlington, 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
46.8 mi
75 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plymouth, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Plymouth, MA to Arlington, MA is 46.8 miles and takes about 1h 7m via Pilgrims Highway, MA 3, and John F. Fitzgerald Expressway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically Massachusetts. Expect a drive with frequent turns and a mix of highway and local road sections. It's a straightforward, manageable drive perfect for a single day, offering a practical way to connect these two points without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pilgrims Highway | 27.5 mi | 34m |
| MA 3 | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| I 93 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Mystic Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Broadway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Powder House Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Samoset Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Pilgrims Highway
— 27.5 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, MA and Arlington, MA.
1
Start on MA 3A
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Court Street
2
Turn left onto US 44
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Samoset Street
3
Take the ramp onto US 44
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 44
Toward MA 3 North: Kingston, Boston
4
Merge onto US 44; MA 3
27 mi
·
34 min
·
Pilgrims Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on MA 3
8.4 mi
·
11 min
·
MA 3
Exit 43B
Toward I 93 North: Boston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
I 93
Toward I 93 North: Concord NH
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 21
Toward MA 28, MA 38: Somerville, Medford
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward MA 28 South, MA 38 North: Somerville, Medford
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto MA 38
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Mystic Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Harvard Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Harvard Street
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on Warner Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Warner Street
13
Enter roundabout onto Powder House Boulevard
127 ft
·
2 sec
·
Powder House Boulevard
14
Continue on Powder House Boulevard
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Powder House Boulevard
15
Turn left onto North Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto Broadway
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Broadway
17
At end of road, turn right onto US 3; MA 2A
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
Massachusetts Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto Academy Street
320 ft
·
18 sec
·
Academy Street
19
Turn left
203 ft
·
14 sec
20
Arrive at destination
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 23.4 miles from Plymouth, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 40.3 and 46.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
40.3 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
I 93
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 North: Concord NH
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 93 North: Concord NH
8
41.9 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward MA 28, MA 38: Somerville, Medford
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 21
Toward MA 28, MA 38: Somerville, Medford
9
42 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MA 28 South, MA 38 North: Somerville, Medford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward MA 28 South, MA 38 North: Somerville, Me...
6
44.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
Powder House Boulevard
Enter roundabout onto Powder House Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
46.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
US 3; MA 2A / Massachusetts Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto US 3; MA 2A / Massachusetts Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.49 one way
$14.98 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.17 | $16.34 |
| premium | $4.82 | $8.89 | $17.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.33 | $20.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 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 | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.25 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.55 | $3.00 |
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
Arlington, MA
Late night in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
4:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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 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 characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 29% of the route on highways. You'll experience a dynamic journey, transitioning between different road types as you progress. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 27.5 miles on Pilgrims Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before more frequent turns resume. Be prepared for a route that requires your attention, as the local road segments necessitate more active navigation.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.5 mi on Pilgrims Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 40.3 miles in near I 93.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.8 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 40.3 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42 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.
On the drive from Plymouth, MA to Arlington, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Medford along the way.
Medford
41.9 mi in
|
~56m
About the Cities
Starting in Plymouth, MA
Full guide →Founded 1620
Plymouth is on the South Shore of Massachusetts. Known as "America's Hometown," Plymouth is most famous for being the final landing place of the Pilgrims who arrived on board the Mayflower in 1620, after storms lead them away from their desired settlement, the Hudson River. The settlement they established, Plimoth Colony, was one of the earliest successful settlements of Europeans in North America. In addition to its obvious historical draws, modern-day Plymouth is a picturesque seaside town with a bustling summer resident population who come back year after year to enjoy its beaches, ponds, and forests. Although summer is Plymouth's peak tourist season, spring (before Memorial Day) and fall (after Labor Day) can be excellent times to visit. These bumper seasons are less crowded and certainly more comfortable temperature-wise.
Top landmarks
- • Plymouth Rock — Historical important rock in Ply-mouth, Massachusetts, USA
- • Plimoth Patuxet — museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
- • Mayflower II — replica of the 17th-century ship Mayflower
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 7m. Total distance: 46.8 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.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.5 miles on Pilgrims Highway. 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 Arlington, 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 40.3 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Adams National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park and Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (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 Arlington, 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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