Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
22.5 mi
36 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Quincy, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Burlington, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Quincy to Burlington covers a straightforward 22.5-mile distance that typically takes about 37 minutes. Because this trip is short, you can easily complete it as a one-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate the Northeast landscape using the Southeast Expressway, the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway, and I-93. Budgeting approximately $4 for fuel should be sufficient for this direct transit. This route is ideal for those looking to move efficiently between these two Massachusetts locations without the need for multiple stops. It offers a practical way to connect these areas while keeping your travel time well under an hour.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast Expressway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| I 93 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Cambridge Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Newport Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Cambridge Road | 2 mi | 2m |
| Winthrop Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Mystic Valley Parkway | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Quincy, MA and Burlington, MA.
Start on Faxon Avenue
Turn right onto Coddington Street
Turn right onto Hancock Street
Keep slight left at fork onto Adams Street
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
Turn slight left onto MA 3A
Continue on MA 3A
Merge onto MA 3A
Take the exit onto MA 3A
Merge onto I 93; US 1; MA 3
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93
Take the exit
Continue on MA 16
Turn right onto MA 38
Enter roundabout onto Winthrop Street
Continue on Winthrop Street
Continue on MA 38
Enter roundabout onto Bacon Street
Continue on Bacon Street
Turn left onto Church Street
Turn right onto US 3
Continue on US 3
Continue on US 3
Continue on MA 3A
Turn right
Turn left
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 13.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Hancock Street
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto MA 3A / William T. Morrissey Boulevard
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto MA 3A toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 North: Concord NH
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$3.60 one way
$7.20 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $3.93 | $7.85 |
| premium | $4.82 | $4.27 | $8.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.97 | $9.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.36 | $1.08 |
| Efficient EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.97 | $0.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9 | 0 | $3.15 | $1.44 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Late night in Quincy on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Burlington on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Partly Sunny
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.
Expect a mixed driving profile as you transition between urban expressways and standard interstate travel. With a highway share of 47 percent, you will spend nearly half of your time on major thoroughfares, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 3.3 miles on the Southeast Expressway. The road character shifts from the initial expressway segments into the flow of I-93, providing a consistent driving experience. While you will encounter varying traffic patterns, the road remains functional and direct. You won't face long, monotonous stretches, as the drive balances high-speed highway segments with the necessary transitions required to reach your destination.
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 0.1 miles in near Hancock Street.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 22.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Hancock Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (MA 3A / William T. Morrissey Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (MA 3A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
284 ft
Total Descent
101 ft
Highest Point
217 ft
~22.5 mi in
Elevation Range
222 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Quincy, MA to Burlington, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Arlington along the way.
Arlington
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 22.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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