Origin
Plymouth, MA
Late night in Plymouth on Sunday
Local time
4:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plymouth, MA to Cambridge, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
42.4 mi
68 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
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plymouth, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Plymouth, MA to Cambridge, MA is 42.4 miles and takes about 1h 2m via Pilgrims Highway and MA 3, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Massachusetts, taking you from the historic coastal region to the bustling Northeast. Expect a drive that involves a mix of highway and local roads, so it's not a straight shot but offers a manageable journey. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this route is perfectly suited for a same-day excursion, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pilgrims Highway | 27.5 mi | 34m |
| MA 3 | 8.9 mi | 12m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Cambridge Street | 1.4 mi | 4m |
| Samoset Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Charles River Dam Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| US 44 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Line Street | 0.2 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 Cambridge, 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
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto MA 3
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
MA 3
Exit 18
Toward Storrow Drive
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Station
9
Keep slight left at fork
213 ft
·
9 sec
Toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on MA 28
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Charles River Dam Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on MA 28
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Monsignor O'Brien Highway
Toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway, Somerville
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
1.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Cambridge Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn right onto Line Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Line Street
14
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
460 ft
·
19 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Leonard Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.2 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 40.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 44; MA 3 / Pilgrims Highway
Merge onto US 44; MA 3 / Pilgrims Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
39.6 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
MA 3
Take the exit onto MA 3 toward Storrow Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 18
Toward Storrow Drive
6
40 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Stat...
8
40.2 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway
6
40.7 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
Cambridge Street
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.79 one way
$13.57 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $7.40 | $14.80 |
| premium | $4.82 | $8.05 | $16.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.36 | $18.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.45 | $2.04 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17 | 0 | $5.94 | $2.71 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Cambridge, MA
Late night in Cambridge on Sunday
Local time
4:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
21 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 2m 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 route is characterized as a "Turn-heavy local drive," with only 28% of the journey on highways like MA 3 and the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 27.5 miles along Pilgrims Highway. As you progress, you'll transition from more open highway sections to navigating local roads, requiring your attention for turns and traffic. Be prepared for a driving experience that demands more active participation than a pure interstate cruise.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 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?
7/10
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 1.2 miles in near US 44; MA 3 / Pilgrims Highway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.2 miles (US 44; MA 3 / Pilgrims Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.6 miles (MA 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 40 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Cambridge, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Station along the way.
Station
40 mi in
|
~54m
About the Cities
Starting in Plymouth, MA
Full guide →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.
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 2m. Total distance: 42.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m 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 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: at 1.2 miles (US 44; MA 3 / Pilgrims Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.6 miles (MA 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 40 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Adams 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 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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