Origin
Salem, MA
Afternoon in Salem on Tuesday
Local time
1:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salem, MA to Boston, 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
27m
Distance
16.1 mi
26 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salem, MA
José Alcalá
Boston, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on a journey from Salem to Boston, Massachusetts, you'll cover a modest 16.1 miles, a trip that typically takes around 27 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single day, requiring no overnight stays. With a projected fuel cost of just $3, it's an economical option for exploring the Northeast region. The drive primarily utilizes local roads like Western Avenue, Highland Avenue, and Broadway, offering a glimpse into everyday Massachusetts life. Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed highway experience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Western Avenue | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Highland Avenue | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Broadway | 2 mi | 3m |
| Tobin Bridge | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Salem Turnpike | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Northeast Expressway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| North Washington Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Jackson Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Western Avenue
— 3.6 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, MA and Boston, MA.
1
Start on Gedney Street
150 ft
·
9 sec
·
Gedney Street
2
Turn right onto Margin Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Margin Street
3
Continue on Jefferson Avenue
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Jefferson Avenue
4
Turn right onto Jackson Street
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Jackson Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto MA 107
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Highland Avenue
6
Continue on MA 107
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Western Avenue
7
Enter roundabout onto MA 107
178 ft
·
2 sec
·
Western Avenue
8
Continue on MA 107
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Western Avenue
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on MA 107
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Salem Turnpike
10
Continue on MA 107
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
11
Turn slight right onto MA 60; MA 107
328 ft
·
11 sec
·
Albert J Brown Circle
12
Turn slight right onto MA 107
148 ft
·
5 sec
·
Broadway
13
Continue on MA 107
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Broadway
14
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
15
Merge onto MA 16
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Revere Beach Parkway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward US 1 South: Tobin Bridge, Boston
Use the right lane.
17
Merge onto US 1
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on US 1
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Tobin Bridge
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 93 North: Somerville, Charlestown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto MA 99
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
New Rutherford Avenue
21
Continue on MA 99
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Turn right onto New Chardon Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
New Chardon Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto Bulfinch Place
492 ft
·
18 sec
·
Bulfinch Place
24
Turn right onto Sudbury Street
121 ft
·
6 sec
·
Sudbury Street
25
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Cambridge Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
26
Continue on Tremont Street
190 ft
·
6 sec
·
Tremont Street
Use the straight lane.
27
Arrive at destination
Tremont Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 14.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Margin Street
Turn right onto Margin Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
MA 107 / Highland Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto MA 107 / Highland Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
11 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward US 1 South: Tobin Bridge, Boston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 1 South: Tobin Bridge, Boston
5
11.2 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
US 1 / Northeast Expressway
Merge onto US 1 / Northeast Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
14.3 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward I 93 North: Somerville, Charlestown
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.
Toward I 93 North: Somerville, Charlestown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.58 one way
$5.15 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $2.81 | $5.62 |
| premium | $4.82 | $3.06 | $6.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.55 | $7.11 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.12
Salem Turnpike
(1.7 mi)
$0.12
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
| Efficient EV | 4 | 0 | $1.41 | $0.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.25 | $1.03 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Boston, MA
Afternoon in Boston on Tuesday
Local time
1:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
1 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
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 route is characterized by its frequent turns, making it a more engaging local drive than a monotonous interstate cruise. Only 21% of the journey involves highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch measuring 3.6 miles on Western Avenue. As you navigate through towns and neighborhoods, the road will likely feel more intimate and less about covering ground quickly. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience with plenty of transitions between different road types.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 3.6 mi on Western Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Margin Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 16.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 27m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Margin Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (MA 107 / Highland Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Salem, MA to Boston, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Charlestown along the way.
Charlestown
14.3 mi in
|
~22m
About the Cities
Arriving in Boston, MA
Full guide →A city of history and tradition, Boston offers a proud legacy of culture, education, and numerous sporting championships. The "shining city on a hill"s independent spirit has been displayed to the world ever since colonists were angry over a British tax on their beloved tea and dumped shiploads of it into the harbor in protest. In the early 1600s, the peninsula in Massachusetts that would become known as Boston was controlled by Native Americans until John Smith (English soldier, explorer, colonial governor, Admiral of New England, and author) named the area New England to attract European settlers. Boston was founded in 1630 by John Winthrop, making it one of the oldest cities in the U.S. No other American city has made more of an effort to preserve its history, and you'll find buildings that pre-date the republic dotted throughout the region.
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 27m. Total distance: 16.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 3.6 miles on Western Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.12 in tolls one way, starting with Salem 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 Boston, 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: near the start (Margin Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (MA 107 / Highland Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Boston, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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