Origin
Rockport, MA
Late night in Rockport on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rockport, MA to New Bedford, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 10m
Distance
96.7 mi
156 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 1m
★
6 AM
2h 10m
8 AM
2h 28m
10 AM
2h 17m
12 PM
2h 15m
3 PM
2h 17m
5 PM
2h 28m
8 PM
2h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rockport, MA
Wikimedia Commons
New Bedford, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 109.2-mile drive from Rockport, MA to New Bedford, MA is a manageable one-day trip, taking just under two hours to complete. You'll primarily navigate local roads like Broadway, Main Street, and Eastern Avenue, with no highway driving involved, making it a more connected journey through communities. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $17, which is quite economical for the distance covered. Given its relatively short duration and lack of highway, this route is perfect for a relaxed day trip, allowing you to appreciate the local scenery and pace yourself without needing an overnight stay. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, so you'll be exploring familiar New England landscapes.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.4 miles from Rockport, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Amvets Highway | 23.3 mi | 26m |
| Yankee Division Highway | 20.1 mi | 27m |
| MA 140 | 15.9 mi | 18m |
| Southeast Expressway | 8 mi | 10m |
| Tobin Bridge | 5.8 mi | 9m |
| Broadway | 4 mi | 5m |
| I 93 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Northeast Expressway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Amvets Highway
— 23.3 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rockport, MA and New Bedford, MA.
1
Start on Broadway Avenue
172 ft
·
12 sec
·
Broadway Avenue
2
Continue on MA 127A
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Broadway
3
Continue on MA 127
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
4
Continue on MA 127
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Eastern Avenue
5
Turn right onto MA 128
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
MA 128
6
Enter roundabout onto MA 128
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
Yankee Division Highway
7
Continue on MA 128
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
Yankee Division Highway
8
Enter roundabout onto MA 128
308 ft
·
4 sec
·
Yankee Division Highway
9
Continue on MA 128
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 63
Toward US 1: Danvers, Boston
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 1 South: Boston
Use the slight left lane.
12
Continue on US 1
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Newbury Street
13
Continue on US 1
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
Broadway
14
Continue on US 1; MA 129
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Newburyport Turnpike
15
Continue on US 1; MA 129
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Broadway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on US 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Newburyport Turnpike
17
Continue on US 1
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Bennett Highway
Toward Boston
18
Continue on US 1
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cutler Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on US 1
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Northeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on US 1
5.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Tobin Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Southeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93; US 1
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 93; US 1
Toward I 93 South, US 1 South: Providence Rhode Island
23
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 4
Toward MA 24 South: Fall River
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
24
Continue on MA 24
23 mi
·
26 min
·
Amvets Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 17A
Toward MA 140 South: New Bedford
Use the right lane.
26
Turn straight onto MA 140
16 mi
·
18 min
·
MA 140
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 4
Toward Mount Pleasant Street, Airport Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Turn left onto Mount Pleasant Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Mount Pleasant Street
29
Turn left onto Nauset Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Nauset Street
30
Continue on Purchase Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Purchase Street
31
Continue on Pleasant Street
432 ft
·
10 sec
·
Pleasant Street
32
Continue on Sixth Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Sixth Street
33
Turn left onto Market Street
237 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
34
Turn left onto Pleasant Street
172 ft
·
3 sec
·
Pleasant Street
35
Arrive at destination
Pleasant Street
Trip Plan
For this 1h 54m drive, leaving earlier in the morning, perhaps before 8 AM, can help you avoid peak local traffic, especially if you're passing through busier town centers. Since there are no designated 'stops' listed, consider this flexibility an advantage – you can pull over whenever you see something that catches your eye. With a fuel cost of only $17, you won't need to worry excessively about frequent refueling, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Pay close attention to speed limits on Main Street and Eastern Avenue, as these are often enforced in populated areas.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.4 miles from Rockport, MA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.3 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 21 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.4 miles or 1h 8m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Bedford, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rockport, 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 Rockport, MA
This is one driving day of about 96.7 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Rockport, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Amvets Highway for about 23.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.4 miles from Rockport, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 24 and 93 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
24 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Danvers, Boston
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 63
Toward US 1: Danvers, Boston
7
24.3 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 1 South: Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 1 South: Boston
7
52.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward MA 24 South: Fall River
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 4
Toward MA 24 South: Fall River
7
76.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward MA 140 South: New Bedford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 17A
Toward MA 140 South: New Bedford
8
93 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
Take the exit toward Mount Pleasant Street, Airport Road
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 4
Toward Mount Pleasant Street, Airport Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.48 one way
$30.95 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $16.88 | $33.75 |
| premium | $4.82 | $18.36 | $36.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.35 | $42.70 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.05
Newburyport Turnpike
(0.7 mi)
$0.05
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29 | 0 | $10.15 | $4.64 |
| Efficient EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.46 | $3.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.7 | 0 | $13.54 | $6.19 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
New Bedford, MA
Late night in New Bedford on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
SW 8 mph
8% chance
Live forecast
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
1 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
2h 10m 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.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
National Historical Park
"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...
0 mi from route
Free
near mile 96.7
View on nps.gov
Boston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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.
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 36.7
View on nps.gov
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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
$15
near mile 46.7
View on nps.gov
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 20
View on nps.gov
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
. . . 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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 43.4
View on nps.gov
Minute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 36.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the entirety of this 109.2-mile journey, as indicated by the 0% highway share. This means you'll be spending your time on surface streets, potentially experiencing more frequent stops and turns. Without significant highway stretches, the longest uninterrupted period of driving will be dictated by traffic lights and intersections rather than a continuous open road. The character of this route is one of constant engagement with the local environment, offering a ground-level perspective as you traverse through various towns and neighborhoods.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.3 mi on Amvets Highway.
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 24 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 96.7 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 24 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Rockport, MA to New Bedford, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Boston along the way.
Boston
24 mi in
|
~33m
About the Cities
Arriving in New Bedford, MA
Full guide →New Bedford is in Massachusetts on the southern coast. New Bedford's excellent harbor made it a natural fishing and whaling center. It was the world's premier whaling port in the 19th century, and, for a time, "the richest city in the world" and "the city that lit the world" because of whale oil production. New Bedford neighbor Acushnet is the birthplace of the Titleist golf ball.
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 2h 10m. Total distance: 96.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). 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 23.3 miles on Amvets Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.05 in tolls one way, starting with Newburyport 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 New Bedford, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 24 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park 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 New Bedford, 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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