Origin
Plymouth, MA
Morning in Plymouth on Sunday
Local time
6:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plymouth, MA to New Bedford, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
32.1 mi
52 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plymouth, MA
Wikimedia Commons
New Bedford, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Plymouth to New Bedford is 32.1 miles and takes about 50 minutes via I-195 and local roads, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Massachusetts, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a mixed drive that balances highway speeds with local transitions. It's a straightforward journey, ideal for a quick transit or as part of a larger exploration of the South Coast area.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 195 | 14.5 mi | 17m |
| Tremont Street | 5.6 mi | 9m |
| Federal Furnace Road | 3.6 mi | 7m |
| I 495 | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Samoset Street | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| John F. Kennedy Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| MA 58 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Seven Hills Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 195
— 14.5 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plymouth, MA and New Bedford, MA.
1
Start on MA 3A
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Court Street
2
Turn left onto US 44
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Samoset Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn slight left onto Seven Hills Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Seven Hills Road
4
Turn straight onto Federal Furnace Road
3.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Federal Furnace Road
5
Continue on Tremont Street
5.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Tremont Street
6
Continue on MA 58
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
MA 58
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 495 South
8
Merge onto I 495
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 495
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 1
Toward I 195 West: Wareham, New Bedford
10
Continue on I 195
15 mi
·
17 min
·
I 195
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 26
Toward MA 18 South: Downtown New Bedford
12
Merge onto MA 18
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
John F. Kennedy Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward US 6: Dartmouth, Fairhaven
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward US 6 West: Dartmouth
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto US 6
186 ft
·
8 sec
·
US 6
16
Turn left onto Sixth Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Sixth Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Turn left onto Market Street
237 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
18
Turn left onto Pleasant Street
172 ft
·
3 sec
·
Pleasant Street
19
Arrive at destination
Pleasant Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16 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 0.2 and 31.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 44 / Samoset Street
Turn left onto US 44 / Samoset Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
15.3 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward I 195 West: Wareham, New Bedford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1
Toward I 195 West: Wareham, New Bedford
5
30.2 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward MA 18 South: Downtown New Bedford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 26
Toward MA 18 South: Downtown New Bedford
7
31.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward US 6: Dartmouth, Fairhaven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 6: Dartmouth, Fairhaven
8
31.6 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 6 West: Dartmouth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 6 West: Dartmouth
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.14 one way
$10.27 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
| premium | $4.82 | $6.10 | $12.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.09 | $14.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.37 | $1.54 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.81 | $1.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.49 | $2.05 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
New Bedford, MA
Morning in New Bedford on Sunday
Local time
6:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
SW 8 mph
8% chance
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
50m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a mixed drive profile, with 55% of the journey on the highway. You'll experience about 14.5 miles on I-195, offering a chance to maintain steady speeds. The drive will transition from interstate conditions to local roads like Tremont Street and Federal Furnace Road as you approach your destination. This blend means you'll get both efficiency and a feel for the local landscape.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.5 mi on I 195.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 44 / Samoset Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 32.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 44 / Samoset Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
Arriving in New Bedford, MA
Full guide →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.
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 50m. Total distance: 32.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.5 miles on I 195. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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 New Bedford, 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 0.2 miles (US 44 / Samoset Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, Adams National Historical Park and Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park (4 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.
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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