Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
32m
Distance
18.3 mi
30 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
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
Waltham, MA
Wikimedia Commons
This short 18.3-mile drive from Quincy, MA, to Waltham, MA, is easily manageable in about 32 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll navigate primarily via the Massachusetts Turnpike and the Southeast Expressway, with a portion on Main Street. With a fuel cost estimated at $4, this trip is very budget-friendly. The mixed drive profile suggests a blend of highway speeds and potentially some local road adjustments as you approach your destination. Since it's a quick journey within the Northeast region of Massachusetts, no overnight stay is necessary.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Southeast Expressway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Newport Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Hancock Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Galen Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| MA 3A | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Adams Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Quincy, MA and Waltham, 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
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn left
At end of road, turn left onto Albany Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn slight right onto Centre Street
Continue on Galen Street
Turn sharp left onto US 20
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.2 and 14.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward South Station, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward South Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn left onto Albany Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Newton, Watertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Watertown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.93 one way
$5.86 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $3.19 | $6.39 |
| premium | $4.82 | $3.47 | $6.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.04 | $8.08 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.37
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.60 | $0.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.56 | $1.17 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Quincy on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Patchy Fog
Destination
Late night in Waltham on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
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 drive that's about 52% highway, offering a good mix of faster travel and more local road sections. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 6.1 miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike, providing a period of consistent speed. As you transition from the expressways to Main Street, the character of the drive will likely shift, requiring more attention to local traffic and intersections. This route offers a practical blend, avoiding a monotonous interstate grind while still allowing for efficient travel for much of the journey.
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 7.2 miles in.
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 18.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 32m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles (Albany Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Quincy, MA and Waltham, MA, road signs point toward Station, Airport, Worcester, Newton and Watertown.
Station
Airport
Worcester
Newton
Watertown
Waltham is a city in the American state of Massachusetts. It is 10 miles (16 km) west of central Boston on the Charles River, and 3 miles from the city limits to the east. Waltham is part of the Greater Boston conurbation; even so, it has a unique character compared to Boston's other suburbs, and is one of the most significant regional centers for employment, culture, education and food in the entire metro area. It is sometimes called "Watch City" because it was home to Waltham Watch Company. Many high-tech companies have made Waltham their home. It is also home to Bentley College and Brandeis University.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 18.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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