Plymouth, MA to Lunenburg, MA is 87.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 54 minutes via I 495 and US 44, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Massachusetts, taking you from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. The majority of the trip is on highways, making for efficient travel. This route is straightforward and suitable for a single-day excursion, especially if you're looking for a relatively quick transit between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.9 miles from Plymouth, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 495
54.9 mi
1h 3m
US 44
15.5 mi
18m
Lunenburg Road
4.6 mi
8m
Lancaster Avenue
4.3 mi
7m
Main Street
3.9 mi
6m
Seven Bridge Road
1.5 mi
2m
Samoset Street
0.7 mi
1m
Leominster Shirley Road
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 54.9 mi, about 1h 3m
Traffic on I-495
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 260 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,664 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,418
Quietest
2 AM
~164 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, MA and Lunenburg, 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
0.5 mi·40 sec·Pilgrims Highway
5
Take the exit onto US 44
15 mi·17 min·US 44
Exit 16Toward US 44 West: Taunton, Providence Rhode IslandUse the left / straight lanes.
6
Enter roundabout onto US 44
256 ft·3 sec·Harding Street
7
Continue on US 44
0.1 mi·13 sec·Harding Street
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 495 North: Marlboro, Boston
9
Merge onto I 495
55 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 70Toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
11
Keep slight right at fork
377 ft·12 sec
Exit 70Toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
12
Turn straight onto MA 117
3.6 mi·6 min·Main Street
13
Continue on MA 117
1.5 mi·2 min·Seven Bridge Road
14
Continue on MA 70; MA 117
0.3 mi·45 sec·Main Street
15
Turn right onto MA 70
3.5 mi·6 min·Lunenburg Road
16
Enter roundabout onto Lunenburg Road
107 ft·4 sec·Lunenburg Road
17
Continue on Lunenburg Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Lunenburg Road
18
Continue on Fort Pond Road
0.3 mi·45 sec·Fort Pond Road
19
Turn left onto Leominster Shirley Road
0.6 mi·59 sec·Leominster Shirley Road
20
Turn right onto Lancaster Avenue
4.3 mi·7 min·Lancaster Avenue
21
Turn left
97 ft·7 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 54 minute duration, this is a trip you can easily complete in one day. Leaving earlier in the morning can help you avoid potential commuter traffic, especially as you approach the I 495 corridor. While the drive is not excessively long, consider a brief stop around the halfway mark if you feel the need to stretch your legs. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, it's wise to ensure you have adequate fuel before departing, as services can be spaced out on longer highway stretches. The flexibility of a shorter drive means you can adjust your timing as needed.
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 43.9 miles from Plymouth, MA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.9 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.9 miles or 52m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lunenburg, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Plymouth, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Plymouth, MA
This is one driving day of about 87.8 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Plymouth, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 495 for about 54.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 72.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in|US 44
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
Use the left / straight lanes.
Exit 16
Toward US 44 West: Taunton, Providence Rhode Is...
5
17.1 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Marlboro, Boston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 495 North: Marlboro, Boston
5
17.5 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.
6
72.5 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 70
Toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
8
72.6 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 70
Toward MA 117: Bolton, Stow
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.16 one way
$30.32 round trip
$4.39/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$16.79
$33.59
premium
$5.27
$18.20
$36.40
diesel
$6.28
$21.69
$43.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.3
0
$9.22
$4.21
Efficient EV
22
0
$7.68
$3.51
EV Truck/SUV
35.1
0
$12.29
$5.62
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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 Oct 24, 2026
Origin
Plymouth, MA
Afternoon
in Plymouth on Saturday
Local time
4:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Patchy Frost
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lunenburg, MA
Afternoon
in Lunenburg on Saturday
Local time
4:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
28°F
Widespread Frost
NW 1 mph0% 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
6 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 54m 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.
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 39.4
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...
15 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 72.7
"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...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 15.1
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 30.3
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...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 72.7
. . . 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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 30.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 80% of the 87.8 miles on faster roads like I 495. You'll experience a longest stretch of 54.9 miles on I 495, which means extended periods of highway cruising. Expect the transition to surface roads, like Lunenburg Road, to occur around the end of that 54.9-mile segment. The highway portion will likely feature frequent exits and merging traffic as you navigate the interstate system.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.9 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
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.
Driving Effort6/10
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 87.8 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
569 ft49 ft
Total Climb
788 ft
Total Descent
269 ft
Highest Point
569 ft
~87.8 mi in
Elevation Range
519 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Plymouth, MA and Lunenburg, MA, road signs point toward Boston and Stow.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 87.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.9 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Lunenburg, 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 1.7 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.
Yes — Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and New Bedford Whaling 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 Lunenburg, MA before heading back.
