Origin
Rochester, MA
Late night in Rochester on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rochester, MA to Somerville, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
58.9 mi
95 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rochester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Somerville, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Rochester to Somerville covers approximately 59.6 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 9 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip within the Northeast, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You can expect to spend about $9 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. The route primarily utilizes Marys Pond Road, County Road, and I-495 North to bridge the gap between these two Massachusetts locations. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, this drive offers a straightforward transit that avoids the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Amvets Highway | 17.5 mi | 20m |
| I 495 | 16.1 mi | 18m |
| I 93 | 12.1 mi | 16m |
| Marys Pond Road | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| County Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Highland Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Amvets Highway
— 17.5 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rochester, MA and Somerville, MA.
1
Start on New Bedford Road
404 ft
·
7 sec
·
New Bedford Road
2
Keep slight left at fork onto Marys Pond Road
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Marys Pond Road
3
Turn left onto County Road
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road
4
Continue on MA 58
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
MA 58
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 495 North
6
Merge onto I 495
16 mi
·
18 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19A
Toward MA 24 North: Boston
8
Merge onto MA 24
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Amvets Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 41A
Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 93; US 1
12 mi
·
15 min
·
I 93; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 93
Toward I 93 North: Concord NH
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 20
Toward Sullivan Square, Somerville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Cambridge Street
Use the left / right lanes.
15
Continue on Washington Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
16
Turn right onto McGrath Highway
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
McGrath Highway
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto Medford Street
332 ft
·
12 sec
·
Medford Street
Use the left lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto Highland Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Highland Avenue
19
Turn right
163 ft
·
12 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.5 miles from Rochester, 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 6.7 and 57.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
41.3 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 41A
Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
7
56.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
I 93
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 North: Concord NH
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 93 North: Concord NH
8
57 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward Sullivan Square, 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 20
Toward Sullivan Square, Somerville
6
57.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
Cambridge Street
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.43 one way
$18.85 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $10.28 | $20.56 |
| premium | $4.82 | $11.18 | $22.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.00 | $26.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.18 | $2.83 |
| Efficient EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.15 | $2.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.25 | $3.77 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Somerville, MA
Late night in Somerville on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Canton, MA
29 mi in
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
20 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 21m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate through the initial segments of your journey. While you will eventually merge onto I-495 North, the route maintains a 0% highway share, emphasizing local roads rather than high-speed interstate cruising. This configuration creates a more technical driving experience compared to a standard highway commute. You will find that the character of the road shifts significantly as you transition from the quiet local lanes of Rochester toward the busier, more complex approach to Somerville. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that prioritizes maneuvering through local intersections over long, uninterrupted highway stretches.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.5 mi on Amvets Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 6.7 miles in near I 495.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.9 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 6.7 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.5 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Somerville, MA
Full guide →Older Bostonians might still derisively call it "Slummerville", but today that tired old moniker couldn't be further from the truth. Packed with upwardly mobile professionals and longtime residents, Somerville is often voted an "All-America City" and the best-run city in Massachusetts. It would seem civically engaged folks can achieve uncommon results; and Somerville fosters an environment of cooperation like no other. Its 81,000 residents (2020) are quick to enjoy the fruits of their artistry, and you'll find top notch options for dinner, drinks, and dancing all in abundance within Somerville's borders. Lurking just to the south, big brothers Boston and Cambridge provide options and opportunities for many of Somerville's creative class residents.
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 21m. Total distance: 58.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). 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 17.5 miles on Amvets 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 Somerville, 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 6.7 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.5 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Adams National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park and Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (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 Somerville, 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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