Origin
Rockland, MA
Late night in Rockland on Sunday
Local time
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rockland, 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
40m
Distance
25.8 mi
42 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rockland, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Somerville, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 25.8-mile drive from Rockland to Somerville, Massachusetts, is easily manageable in about 40 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily navigate on MA 3, the Pilgrims Highway, and the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway, with a significant portion (47%) being highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this short journey is around $4. Given its brevity and the mixed driving profile, an overnight stay isn't necessary, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. This route keeps you within the Northeast region, specifically within the state of Massachusetts, for the entire trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MA 3 | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| Pilgrims Highway | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars Drive | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Union Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Hingham Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| I 93 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
MA 3
— 8.4 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rockland, MA and Somerville, MA.
1
Start on Reed Street
99 ft
·
9 sec
·
Reed Street
2
Turn left onto Union Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Union Street
3
Turn slight right onto Veterans of Foreign Wars Drive
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Veterans of Foreign Wars Drive
4
Continue on Weymouth Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Weymouth Street
5
Turn right onto Reservoir Park Drive
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Reservoir Park Drive
6
At end of road, turn left onto Hingham Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Hingham Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward MA 3 North: Braintree, Boston
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto MA 3
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Pilgrims Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on MA 3
8.4 mi
·
11 min
·
MA 3
Exit 43B
Toward I 93 North: Boston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
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.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 20
Toward Sullivan Square, Somerville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Cambridge Street
Use the left / right lanes.
14
Continue on Washington Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
15
Turn right onto McGrath Highway
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
McGrath Highway
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto Medford Street
332 ft
·
12 sec
·
Medford Street
Use the left lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto Highland Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Highland Avenue
18
Turn right
163 ft
·
12 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 24.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Hingham Street
At end of road, turn left onto Hingham Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
3.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward MA 3 North: Braintree, Boston
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward MA 3 North: Braintree, Boston
7
23.4 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
24 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
24.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
Cambridge Street
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.13 one way
$8.26 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.50 | $9.01 |
| premium | $4.82 | $4.90 | $9.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.70 | $11.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.71 | $1.24 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.26 | $1.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
24 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
40m 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 mixed driving experience on this route, with roughly 47% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.4 miles on MA 3. As you progress, the character of the drive will shift, likely transitioning between faster-paced highway sections and potentially more local road segments as you approach Somerville. This blend means you'll experience varying traffic conditions and speed limits throughout the approximately 40-minute travel time.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.4 mi on MA 3.
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 2.6 miles in near Hingham Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 25.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (Hingham Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.4 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Rockland, MA and Somerville, MA, road signs point toward Boston and Sullivan Square.
Boston
3.5 mi in
|
~6m
Sullivan Square
24 mi in
|
~34m
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 40m. Total distance: 25.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). 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 8.4 miles on MA 3. 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 2.6 miles (Hingham Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.4 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Adams 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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