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Trip from Russell, MA to Worcester, 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 27m

Distance

66.5 mi

107 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Sparse

1 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 21m ★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 24m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Russell, MA, MA

Russell, MA

Krista Glīzdeniece

Downtown Worcester, MA, MA

Worcester, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Russell, MA to Worcester, MA is 66.5 miles and takes about 1h 27m via Massachusetts Turnpike and I 290, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically moving across Massachusetts. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for getting from point A to point B without much fuss. Given its short duration and highway focus, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Massachusetts Turnpike 49.1 mi 56m
I 290 5.1 mi 6m
Westfield Road 3.8 mi 5m
Russell Road 3.6 mi 6m
Franklin Street 1.1 mi 2m
North Elm Street 0.8 mi 2m
Union Avenue 0.4 mi 1m
Green Street 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Massachusetts Turnpike — 49.1 mi, about 56m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Russell, MA and Worcester, MA.

1

Start on US 20

65 ft · 1 sec · Huntington Road
2

Continue on US 20

3.8 mi · 5 min · Westfield Road
3

Continue on US 20

3.6 mi · 6 min · Russell Road
4

Continue on US 20

0.8 mi · 1 min · Franklin Street
5

Turn left onto Maple Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Maple Street
6

At end of road, turn right onto Orange Street

279 ft · 14 sec · Orange Street
7

Turn left onto US 202; MA 10

343 ft · 11 sec · Elm Street
8

Turn slight right onto US 202; MA 10

0.4 mi · 1 min · Union Avenue
9

Merge onto US 202; MA 10

0.8 mi · 2 min · North Elm Street
10

Turn right

0.1 mi · 22 sec
11

Turn left onto Friendlys Way

355 ft · 12 sec · Friendlys Way
12

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 19 sec · this road
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 35 sec
14

Merge onto I 90

49 mi · 56 min · Massachusetts Turnpike
15

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Exit 90 Toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester Use the slight right lane.
16

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Toward I 395, MA 12 North, I 290
17

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 395, I 290
18

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 290
19

Continue on I 290

5.1 mi · 6 min · I 290
20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 36 sec
Exit 17 Toward MA 122A: Kelly Square
21

Turn left onto MA 122A

423 ft · 10 sec · Vernon Street
Use the straight lane.
22

Enter roundabout onto Green Street

205 ft · 3 sec · Green Street
23

Continue on Green Street

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Green Street
24

Continue on Franklin Street

0.3 mi · 48 sec · Franklin Street
25

At end of road, turn right onto Main Street

135 ft · 2 sec · Main Street
26

Arrive at destination

Main Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Palmer, MA

33 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.

Popular next leg

Palmer, MA to Worcester, MA

35.4 mi · 45m

Pacing Suggestions

West Springfield, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Palmer, MA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 33.2 miles from Russell, 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 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 8.3 and 65.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
8.3 mi into trip | ~14m in | Orange Street

At end of road, turn right onto Orange Street

Navigation decision point

8
59.3 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Take the exit toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester

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 90 Toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester
6
59.7 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 395, MA 12 North, I 290

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 395, MA 12 North, I 290
7
59.9 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 395, I 290

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 395, I 290
6
65.7 mi into trip | ~1h 25m in | MA 122A / Vernon Street

Turn left onto MA 122A / Vernon Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.64 one way

$21.29 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $11.61 $23.21
premium $4.82 $12.63 $25.25
diesel $5.61 $14.68 $29.36

Estimated Tolls: $2.95

Massachusetts Turnpike (49.1 mi) $2.95

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Tolls

$3

Total

$14

Estimated CO2 emission: 23.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 20 0 $6.98 $3.19
Efficient EV 16.6 0 $5.82 $2.66
EV Truck/SUV 26.6 0 $9.31 $4.26

Gas CO2

23 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (65% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Russell, MA

Late night in Russell on Sunday

Local time

3:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Worcester, MA

Late night in Worcester on Sunday

Local time

3:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°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

1h 27m 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 drive is heavily highway-focused, with 82% of the journey taking place on major interstates. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Massachusetts Turnpike, including one uninterrupted stretch of 49.1 miles. Expect a consistent driving experience characterized by faster speeds and limited local road interaction. The profile suggests a clear progression along well-maintained expressways, making for a predictable and efficient travel time.

82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.1 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and I 290. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.3 miles in near Orange Street.

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 66.5 miles you will encounter 16 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 8.3 miles (Orange Street): Navigation decision point; at 59.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

About the Cities

Arriving in Worcester, MA

Full guide →

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.

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 27m. Total distance: 66.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 49.1 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.95 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 8.3 miles (Orange Street): Navigation decision point; at 59.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — New England National Scenic Trail and Minute Man National Historical Park. 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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