Origin
Reading, MA
Late night in Reading on Tuesday
Local time
4:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Reading, MA to Cambridge, MA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
23m
Distance
12 mi
19 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Reading, MA
Vika Glitter
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Planning a quick trip from Reading to Cambridge, Massachusetts? This 12-mile drive will take you about 23 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion. You'll primarily navigate through local streets and I-93, with Fellsway also playing a role in your journey. With a low estimated fuel cost of just $2, this route is very budget-friendly. The drive is characterized by frequent turns, so be prepared for a more engaged driving experience rather than a simple highway cruise. Given its short distance, it's easily manageable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| I 93 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Fellsway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| McGrath Highway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Mystic Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Concord Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Pleasant Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Main Street
— 4.1 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Reading, MA and Cambridge, MA.
1
Start on Eaton Street
110 ft
·
7 sec
·
Eaton Street
2
Turn right onto Pleasant Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Pleasant Street
3
Turn left onto MA 28
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
4
Continue on MA 28
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Main Street
5
Continue on MA 28
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Fellsway
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 93 South: Boston
7
Merge onto I 93
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 93
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 21
Toward MA 38: Medford, Somerville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto MA 38
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Mystic Avenue
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn slight right onto MA 28
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Fellsway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on MA 28
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
McGrath Highway
12
Continue on McGrath Highway
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
McGrath Highway
Toward Washington Street
13
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Washington Street
14
Turn left onto Prospect Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Prospect Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto Concord Avenue
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Concord Avenue
16
At end of road, turn left onto Concord Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Concord Avenue
17
Turn right onto Beacon Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Beacon Street
18
Turn left onto Cooney Street
295 ft
·
12 sec
·
Cooney Street
19
At end of road, turn right onto Line Street
294 ft
·
19 sec
·
Line Street
20
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
460 ft
·
19 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Leonard Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 5.6 and 11.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 93
Merge onto I 93
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward MA 38: Medford, Somerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21
Toward MA 38: Medford, Somerville
6
11.1 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
Prospect Street
Turn left onto Prospect Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
11.5 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
Concord Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Concord Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
11.9 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
Line Street
At end of road, turn right onto Line Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.92 one way
$3.84 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $2.09 | $4.19 |
| premium | $4.82 | $2.28 | $4.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.65 | $5.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.26 | $0.58 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.05 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Cambridge, MA
Late night in Cambridge on Tuesday
Local time
4:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
23m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be actively navigating through various city streets and some highway sections. With only 28% of the drive on the highway, expect a dynamic experience that requires your attention. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 4.1 miles on Main Street, offering a brief period of more consistent speed before you transition back to more complex road segments. The mix of local roads and highway means the pace will vary considerably, so keep an eye on your surroundings as you make your way.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.1 mi on Main Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.6 miles in near I 93.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 12 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.6 miles (I 93): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.1 miles (Prospect Street): 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Reading, MA to Cambridge, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Somerville along the way.
Somerville
9 mi in
|
~15m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 12 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (28%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.1 miles on Main Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 5.6 miles (I 93): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.1 miles (Prospect Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area and Adams 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 Cambridge, 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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