Origin
Salem, MA
Morning in Salem on Tuesday
Local time
8:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salem, MA to Worcester, 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
1h 23m
Distance
59.9 mi
96 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salem, MA
José Alcalá
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embark on a straightforward 59.9-mile journey from Salem, MA, to Worcester, MA, a drive typically taking about 1 hour and 23 minutes. This route is designed as a single-day trip, with a modest fuel cost estimate of around $10. The majority of your travel, about 68% of the distance, will be on highways, offering a relatively quick transit between these two Massachusetts cities. You'll primarily navigate via the Massachusetts Turnpike, Grafton Street, and North Shore Road, experiencing a highway-focused drive that makes for an efficient connection within the Northeast region. This trip is ideal for those seeking a practical and uncomplicated way to travel between these points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 39.8 mi | 49m |
| Grafton Street | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| North Shore Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Western Avenue | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Highland Avenue | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Ted Williams Tunnel | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| McClellan Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Lee Burbank Highway | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 39.8 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, MA and Worcester, 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 Market Square
377 ft
·
6 sec
·
Market Square
8
Continue on Market Square
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Market Square
9
Turn right onto Commercial Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Commercial Street
10
Turn right onto MA 1A
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lynnway
11
Continue on MA 1A
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Shore Road
12
Enter roundabout onto MA 1A
108 ft
·
1 sec
·
Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
13
Continue on MA 1A
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
14
Enter roundabout onto MA 1A
377 ft
·
8 sec
·
MA 1A
15
Continue on MA 1A
215 ft
·
7 sec
·
MA 1A
16
Merge onto MA 1A
53 ft
·
1 sec
·
Lee Burbank Highway
17
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 1A
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Lee Burbank Highway
18
Continue on MA 1A
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
McClellan Highway
19
Continue on MA 1A
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
East Boston Expressway
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Toward I 90 Toll West: Williams Tunnel, Logan Airport
Use the slight left lane.
21
Continue on I 90
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Ted Williams Tunnel
22
Continue on I 90
39 mi
·
48 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 96
Toward MA 122: Millbury, Worcester
24
Keep slight left at fork
173 ft
·
10 sec
25
Turn left onto MA 122
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Grafton Road
26
Continue on MA 122
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grafton Street
27
Enter roundabout onto MA 122
123 ft
·
1 sec
·
Grafton Street
28
Continue on MA 122
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
Grafton Street
29
Continue on MA 122
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Grafton Street
30
Enter roundabout onto Front Street
277 ft
·
4 sec
·
Front Street
31
Continue on Front Street
427 ft
·
11 sec
·
Front Street
32
Turn right onto Foster Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Foster Street
33
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Main Street
34
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 29.9 miles from Salem, 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 58.5 — 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
13.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike toward I 90 Toll West: Williams Tunnel, Logan Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 90 Toll West: Williams Tunnel, Logan A...
6
54.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward MA 122: Millbury, Worcester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 96
Toward MA 122: Millbury, Worcester
5
58.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
MA 122 / Grafton Street
Enter roundabout onto MA 122 / Grafton Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.59 one way
$19.17 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $10.45 | $20.91 |
| premium | $4.82 | $11.37 | $22.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.23 | $26.45 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.39
Massachusetts Turnpike
(39.8 mi)
$2.39
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$2
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 21 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 | 18 | 0 | $6.29 | $2.88 |
| Efficient EV | 15 | 0 | $5.24 | $2.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24 | 0 | $8.39 | $3.83 |
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
Worcester, MA
Morning in Worcester on Tuesday
Local time
8:59 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
2 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 23m 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 leans heavily into its highway-focused profile, with a significant 68% of the journey utilizing faster roads. You'll experience an uninterrupted stretch of 39.8 miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike, providing a consistent pace for a considerable portion of the trip. While the primary roads are the Massachusetts Turnpike, Grafton Street, and North Shore Road, the overall character is one of efficient travel rather than scenic meandering. Expect a driving experience characterized by steady progress, making it easy to maintain momentum and cover ground quickly. The road primarily offers a functional connection between your origin and destination.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.8 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Grafton Street. 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
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.9 miles you will encounter 18 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: near the start (Margin Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (MA 107 / Highland Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13.2 miles (I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Worcester, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Logan Airport along the way.
Logan Airport
13.2 mi in
|
~22m
|
via I 90
About the Cities
Arriving in Worcester, MA
Full guide →Founded 1848
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.
Top landmarks
- • Clark University — American private university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts
- • Cathedral of Saint Paul — church in Massachusetts, United States
- • Worcester Academy — private high school in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
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 23m. Total distance: 59.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.8 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.39 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: near the start (Margin Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (MA 107 / Highland Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13.2 miles (I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Salem Maritime 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 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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