Embarking from Quincy, MA, to Vineyard Haven, MA, this 74.4-mile journey will take approximately 2 hours and 21 minutes. You'll primarily navigate Pilgrims Highway and MA 28 before boarding the Woods Hole - Vineyard Haven Ferry. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $12, this drive is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, making it an excellent option for a quick getaway. The route offers a turn-heavy local drive experience, so be prepared for frequent adjustments rather than long stretches of consistent highway. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, keeping the travel context consistent.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.2 miles from Quincy, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pilgrims Highway
41.6 mi
52m
MA 28
9.6 mi
14m
Woods Hole - Vineyard Haven Ferry
7.9 mi
45m
General MacArthur Boulevard
4.1 mi
6m
Woods Hole Road
3.3 mi
7m
Sandwich Road
3 mi
5m
Burgin Parkway
1.2 mi
1m
MA 6A
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Pilgrims Highway
— 41.6 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Quincy, MA and Vineyard Haven, MA.
1
Start on Faxon Avenue
362 ft·17 sec·Faxon Avenue
2
Turn right onto Coddington Street
265 ft·6 sec·Coddington Street
3
Continue on Temple Street
280 ft·4 sec·Temple Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on Hancock Street
418 ft·12 sec·Hancock Street
Use the right lane.
5
Turn right onto Granite Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·Granite Street
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto Burgin Parkway
1.2 mi·1 min·Burgin Parkway
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·57 sec
Toward MA 3 South: Cape CodUse the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward MA 3 South: Cape CodUse the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto MA 3
23 mi·29 min·Pilgrims Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on MA 3
0.1 mi·8 sec·Piigrims Highway
11
Continue on MA 3
6.1 mi·7 min·Pilgrims Highway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 3
12 mi·15 min·Pilgrims Highway
13
Continue on MA 3
0.2 mi·19 sec·Pilgrim Highway
14
Continue on US 6
0.4 mi·45 sec·Sagamore Bridge
15
Continue on US 6
0.3 mi·22 sec·Mid Cape Highway
16
Take the exit onto MA 6A
0.5 mi·1 min·MA 6A
Exit 55Toward MA 6A: SagamoreUse the straight lane.
17
At end of road, turn left onto Sandwich Road
2.8 mi·4 min·Sandwich Road
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on Sandwich Road
0.2 mi·30 sec·Sandwich Road
19
Enter roundabout onto MA 28
466 ft·15 sec·General MacArthur Boulevard
Toward MA 28 South: Woods Hole, Joint Base Cape Cod, National Cemetery
20
Continue on MA 28
4.0 mi·5 min·General MacArthur Boulevard
Toward MA 28 South: Woods Hole, Joint Base Cape Cod, National Cemetery
21
Enter roundabout onto MA 28
0.1 mi·15 sec·MA 28
22
Continue on MA 28
9.5 mi·13 min·MA 28
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on Locust Street
0.4 mi·45 sec·Locust Street
24
Continue on Woods Hole Road
3.3 mi·7 min·Woods Hole Road
25
Turn left onto Crane Street
279 ft·12 sec·Crane Street
26
Keep slight right at fork onto Cowdry Road
448 ft·30 sec·Cowdry Road
27
At end of road, turn left
127 ft·15 sec
28
Turn left
203 ft·14 sec
29
Continue on Woods Hole - Vineyard Haven Ferry
7.9 mi·45 min·Woods Hole - Vineyard Haven Ferry
30
Continue
369 ft·30 sec
31
At end of road, turn right onto Water Street
168 ft·10 sec·Water Street
32
Continue on Union Street
408 ft·20 sec·Union Street
33
Turn right onto Main Street
100 ft·7 sec·Main Street
34
Turn left onto Church Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·Church Street
35
At end of road, turn left onto Franklin Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Franklin Street
36
At end of road, turn left onto Spring Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·Spring Street
37
Arrive at destination
Spring Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 21-minute duration, starting your drive from Quincy, MA, earlier in the day is advisable to maximize your time on Martha's Vineyard. Since there are no designated stops in the data, consider planning a brief pause around the halfway point or before boarding the ferry. The fuel cost is estimated at $12, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before departing. A specific tip for this route is to pre-book your ferry passage, especially during peak seasons, as it's a crucial element of reaching Vineyard Haven and can significantly impact your schedule.
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 37.2 miles from Quincy, MA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.6 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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.2 miles or 48m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vineyard Haven, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Quincy, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Quincy, MA
This is one driving day of about 74.4 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Quincy, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pilgrims Highway for about 41.6 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 48.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|Granite Street
Turn right onto Granite Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
2 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MA 3 South: Cape Cod
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward MA 3 South: Cape Cod
7
44.8 mi into trip|~58m in|MA 6A
Take the exit onto MA 6A toward MA 6A: Sagamore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 55
Toward MA 6A: Sagamore
7
45.3 mi into trip|~59m in|Sandwich Road
At end of road, turn left onto Sandwich Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
48.4 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|MA 28 / General MacArthur Boulevard
Enter roundabout onto MA 28 / General MacArthur Boulevard toward MA 28 South: Woods Hole, Joint Base Cape Cod, National Cemetery
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MA 28 South: Woods Hole, Joint Base Cape...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.91 one way
$23.81 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$12.98
$25.97
premium
$4.82
$14.13
$28.25
diesel
$5.61
$16.43
$32.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.3
0
$7.81
$3.57
Efficient EV
18.6
0
$6.51
$2.98
EV Truck/SUV
29.8
0
$10.42
$4.76
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Quincy, MA
Night
in Quincy on Saturday
Local time
10:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Vineyard Haven, MA
Night
in Vineyard Haven on Saturday
Local time
10:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
41°F
Plymouth, MA
37 mi in
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
19 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
2h 21m 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.
Adams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
. . . 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...
Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
"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...
Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with only 15% of the journey on highways. You can expect a dynamic driving experience, with frequent changes in direction and pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 41.6 miles on Pilgrims Highway, offering a brief period of consistent travel before the local roads resume. The transition from MA 28 to the ferry terminal will mark a significant shift in the driving environment, requiring your attention to navigation and local traffic patterns.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.6 mi on Pilgrims Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.3 miles in near Granite Street.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 74.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Granite Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.8 miles (MA 6A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Quincy, MA and Vineyard Haven, MA, road signs point toward Joint Base Cape Cod and National Cemetery.
Joint Base Cape Cod
48.4 mi in|~1h 4m|via MA 28
National Cemetery
48.4 mi in|~1h 4m|via MA 28
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 74.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.6 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 Vineyard Haven, MA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Granite Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.8 miles (MA 6A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Adams National Historical Park, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area and Boston 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 Vineyard Haven, MA before heading back.
