The drive from Quincy, MA to West Tisbury, MA covers 81.3 miles and takes about 2h 32m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pilgrims Highway, MA 28, Woods Hole - Vineyard Haven Ferry for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly surface roads.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 41.6 miles on Pilgrims Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.56 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
40.6 miles from Quincy, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m 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
State Road
7.2 mi
12m
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
Longest stretch:
Pilgrims Highway
— 41.6 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Quincy, MA and West Tisbury, 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·31 sec
31
At end of road, turn left onto Water Street
388 ft·11 sec·Water Street
32
Turn right onto Beach Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·Beach Street
33
Continue on State Road
7.2 mi·12 min·State Road
34
Arrive at destination
State Road
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 40.6 miles from Quincy, MA, or about 52m 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.6 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Tisbury, 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 81.3 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Quincy, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
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 20
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
$13.56 one way
$27.12 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.67
$14.93
$29.86
premium
$5.06
$16.19
$32.37
diesel
$5.60
$17.92
$35.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.4
0
$8.54
$3.90
Efficient EV
20.3
0
$7.11
$3.25
EV Truck/SUV
32.5
0
$11.38
$5.20
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Aug 26, 2026
Origin
Quincy, MA
Late night
in Quincy on Wednesday
Local time
4:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
N 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
West Tisbury, MA
Late night
in West Tisbury on Wednesday
Local time
4:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Sunny
SW 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
42°F
Sandwich, MA
41 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
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
2h 32m 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...
1 mi from route
~1 min detour
$15
Park Closure: Upcoming Site Closure – Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill
. . . 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...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 58.9
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?
81.3 mi in 2h 32m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
34 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?
8/10
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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 81.3 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
148 ft0 ft
Total Climb
246 ft
Total Descent
244 ft
Highest Point
148 ft
~11.6 mi in
Elevation Range
148 ft
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 West Tisbury, MA, road signs point toward Joint Base Cape Cod and National Cemetery.
Quincy is in Massachusetts. Quincy was the birthplace of presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams. United States Declaration of Independence signer and first Massachusetts governor John Hancock was also born here. Quincy produced the first commercial railroad in the country in order to transport the granite from its quarries to Boston for use in many buildings there. Quincy's shipbuilding history started with sailing ships in the 1800s and continued with battleships at the Fore River Shipyard. Howard Johnson's and Dunkin Donuts restaurants were also started here.
Top landmarks
•United First Parish Church — church in Quincy, Massachusetts, United States
•John Adams Birthplace — Quincy, Massachusetts, listed on the NRHP in Massachusetts
•Adams National Historical Park — Park commemerating the Adams political family
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 81.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m 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 West Tisbury, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. 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 West Tisbury, MA before heading back.
