Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
62.2 mi
100 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plymouth, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Ashland, MA
Phil Evenden
Plymouth, MA to Ashland, MA is 62.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 17 minutes via I-495 and US-44, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, entirely within Massachusetts, making it a straightforward connection between two points. Given its short duration and predominantly highway profile, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion. You'll find it a practical way to cover ground efficiently, particularly if you're looking to connect with points west of Boston.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 38.8 mi | 44m |
| US 44 | 15.5 mi | 18m |
| West Main Street | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| West Union Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Samoset Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Pilgrims Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Summer Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Harding Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 88 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,518 veh/hr typical · worst 4,268
Quietest
2 AM
~150 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
23.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, MA and Ashland, MA.
Start on MA 3A
Turn left onto US 44
Take the ramp onto US 44
Merge onto US 44; MA 3
Take the exit onto US 44
Enter roundabout onto US 44
Continue on US 44
Take the exit
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn straight onto West Main Street
Continue on MA 135
Turn left onto Summer Street
Continue on Summer Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Turn right onto Front Street
Turn left onto Concord Street
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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.
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 31.1 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 62.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit onto US 44 toward US 44 West: Taunton, Providence Rhode Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Marlboro, Boston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward West Main Street, Hopkinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$11.03 one way
$22.06 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.90 | $11.99 | $23.99 |
| premium | $5.29 | $12.96 | $25.91 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $13.10 | $26.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.53 | $2.99 |
| Efficient EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.44 | $2.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.71 | $3.98 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Plymouth on Wednesday
Local time
4:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Afternoon in Ashland on Wednesday
Local time
4:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Clear
67°F
Mansfield, MA
31 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is 87% highway, so expect to spend most of your time on I-495. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 38.8 miles on I-495. You'll transition to surface roads, specifically US-44 and then West Main Street, as you approach Ashland. Be prepared for a higher density of exits and potential merging traffic as you leave the interstate.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and US 44. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near US 44.
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 62.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.7 miles (US 44): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.5 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
593 ft
Total Descent
457 ft
Highest Point
441 ft
~57.8 mi in
Elevation Range
393 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Plymouth, MA and Ashland, MA, road signs point toward Boston and Hopkinton.
Boston
Hopkinton
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
Founded 1750
Ashland is a town of 18,000 in Massachusetts approximately 25 miles west of Boston. Ashland was the original starting point of the Boston Marathon and birthplace of the electric clock. Holliston is a town with a population of 15,000 (2020). Hopkinton is a town with a population of 19,000 (2020). It is notable as the current starting place of the Boston Marathon. Sherborn is a town with a population of 4,000 (2020).
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 62.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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