Origin
Reading, MA
Morning in Reading on Tuesday
Local time
6:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Reading, MA to Worcester, 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
1h 8m
Distance
51.2 mi
82 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Reading, MA
Vika Glitter
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 51.2-mile drive from Reading, MA, to Worcester, MA, is easily manageable as a day trip, taking just about 1 hour and 8 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $8, it's an economical journey. The route primarily utilizes the Massachusetts Turnpike and the Yankee Division Highway, making up about 51% of the drive. You'll experience a mixed driving profile, transitioning between highway speeds and more local road conditions. This trip is perfect for a single day of travel within the Northeast region, offering a straightforward connection between two Massachusetts cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 26.1 mi | 30m |
| Yankee Division Highway | 16.6 mi | 22m |
| Grafton Street | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Grafton Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Pleasant Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Foster Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Front Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 26.1 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Reading, MA and Worcester, 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
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 95 South: Waltham, Providence Rhode Island
5
Merge onto I 95; MA 128
17 mi
·
22 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 39B
Toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
240 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Albany New York
8
Continue on this road
393 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
Toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Albany New York
9
Continue on this road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
10
Merge onto I 90
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 96
Toward MA 122: Millbury, Worcester
12
Keep slight left at fork
173 ft
·
10 sec
13
Turn left onto MA 122
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Grafton Road
14
Continue on MA 122
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grafton Street
15
Enter roundabout onto MA 122
123 ft
·
1 sec
·
Grafton Street
16
Continue on MA 122
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
Grafton Street
17
Continue on MA 122
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Grafton Street
18
Enter roundabout onto Front Street
277 ft
·
4 sec
·
Front Street
19
Continue on Front Street
427 ft
·
11 sec
·
Front Street
20
Turn right onto Foster Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Foster Street
21
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Main Street
22
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.6 miles from Reading, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 45.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 95; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway
Merge onto I 95; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
18.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 39B
Toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
6
19 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Albany New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Al...
5
19.8 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
45.9 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward MA 122: Millbury, Worcester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 96
Toward MA 122: Millbury, Worcester
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.19 one way
$16.39 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.94 | $17.87 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.72 | $19.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.30 | $22.61 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.56
Massachusetts Turnpike
(26.1 mi)
$1.56
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.38 | $2.46 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.17 | $3.28 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Worcester, MA
Morning in Worcester on Tuesday
Local time
6:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Partly Cloudy then Areas Of Fog
NE 5 mph
4% chance
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
12 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
1h 8m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied driving experience on this 51.2-mile route. Roughly half of your journey, about 51%, will be on highways like the Massachusetts Turnpike and the Yankee Division Highway, allowing for consistent speeds. The longest uninterrupted stretch on the Massachusetts Turnpike covers 26.1 miles, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. As you progress, you'll notice the transition from the faster highway sections to more of a mixed drive, incorporating roads like Grafton Street as you approach your destination. This blend means you'll encounter both open road cruising and potentially more varied traffic conditions.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.1 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 2.1 miles in near I 95; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.2 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 2.1 miles (I 95; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
595 ft
81 ft
Total Climb
867 ft
Total Descent
476 ft
Highest Point
595 ft
~40.3 mi in
Elevation Range
514 ft
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.
Between Reading, MA and Worcester, MA, road signs point toward Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York and Mass Pike West: Warcester.
Mass Pike: Boston
18.6 mi in
|
~27m
Albany New York
18.6 mi in
|
~27m
Mass Pike West: Warcester
19 mi in
|
~28m
About the Cities
Arriving in Worcester, MA
Full guide →Founded 1848
Explore fine arts, history, and take in a show in Worcester, a medium sized city in Central Massachusetts about an hour's drive west of Boston. Worcester's seven hills and their valleys contain top notch museums, nine colleges and universities, beautiful parks, and food from all over the globe.
Top landmarks
- • Clark University — American private university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts
- • Cathedral of Saint Paul — church in Massachusetts, United States
- • Worcester Academy — private high school in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 51.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.1 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.56 in tolls one way, starting with Massachusetts Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Worcester, MA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 2.1 miles (I 95; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Minute Man National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park and Salem Maritime 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 Worcester, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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