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Trip from Sandwich, MA to Somerville, MA

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Compiled 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

60 mi

97 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 17m ★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m

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

Downtown Sandwich, MA, MA

Sandwich, MA

Costin Cerednicenco

city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States

Somerville, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 60-mile drive from Sandwich, MA to Somerville, MA is a straightforward, single-day trip that should take about 1 hour and 23 minutes. You'll primarily navigate using Pilgrims Highway, MA 3, and the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway, with about 23% of the journey on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of $10, this route is an economical option for a quick getaway or commute within the Northeast region. The drive is generally turn-heavy, suggesting a more local feel rather than an open interstate experience, making it manageable for a single day without the need for an overnight stay.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pilgrims Highway 42.3 mi 53m
MA 3 8.4 mi 11m
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway 3.2 mi 5m
Route 6A 1.6 mi 2m
Cranberry Highway 0.7 mi 1m
I 93 0.6 mi <1m
Washington Street 0.5 mi 1m
Sandwich Road 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Pilgrims Highway — 42.3 mi, about 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sandwich, MA and Somerville, MA.

1

Start on Jarves Street

73 ft · 10 sec · Jarves Street
2

Turn left onto MA 6A

1.6 mi · 2 min · Route 6A
3

Continue on MA 6A

0.4 mi · 1 min · Sandwich Road
4

Turn left onto MA 6A

0.7 mi · 1 min · Cranberry Highway
5

Take the ramp onto MA 6A

0.2 mi · 21 sec · MA 6A
6

Merge onto US 6

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Sagamore Bridge
7

Continue on US 6

0.3 mi · 20 sec · Pilgrim Highway
8

Continue on MA 3

42 mi · 53 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

Where to Stop

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

city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Quincy, MA

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

Plymouth, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Norwell, MA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30 miles from Sandwich, 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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 57.5 and 59.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
57.5 mi into trip | ~1h 17m 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
58.1 mi into trip | ~1h 17m 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
58.5 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in | Cambridge Street

Turn left onto Cambridge Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / right lanes.
5
59.2 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in | McGrath Highway

Turn right onto McGrath Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
59.5 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in | Medford Street

Turn left onto Medford Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.60 one way

$19.20 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $10.47 $20.94
premium $4.82 $11.39 $22.79
diesel $5.61 $13.25 $26.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

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 $6.30 $2.88
Efficient EV 15 0 $5.25 $2.40
EV Truck/SUV 24 0 $8.40 $3.84

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Sandwich, MA

Morning in Sandwich on Tuesday

Local time

6:25 AM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Somerville, MA

Morning in Somerville on Tuesday

Local time

6:25 AM

EDT

Current temp

62°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

20 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?

Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" for most of this 60-mile route between Sandwich and Somerville. While there's a highway share of 23%, the character leans towards navigating local roads and intersections. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 42.3 miles on Pilgrims Highway, offering a decent segment of consistent driving before you transition back to more varied road conditions. This means you'll likely experience frequent changes in speed limits and road types as you make your way through Massachusetts.

Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.3 mi on Pilgrims Highway.

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 around 57.5 miles in near I 93.

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 60 miles you will encounter 11 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 57.5 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.5 miles (Cambridge Street): Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Sandwich, MA

Full guide →

Sandwich is on Cape Cod in Massachusetts at the east end of the Cape Cod Canal, and includes the villages of East Sandwich and Forestdale. It is the oldest town on the Cape, settled in 1637. Sandwich is famous for the glassware produced here in the 1800s. It is also home to numerous gift and antique stores, art galleries, and rare book stores.

Arriving in Somerville, MA

Full guide →

Founded 1630

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.

Top landmarks

  • Mystic Valley Parkway — Historic road in Massachusetts
  • Alewife Brook Parkway — highway in Massachusetts
  • Martin W. Carr School

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: 60 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.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 42.3 miles on Pilgrims Highway. 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 57.5 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.5 miles (Cambridge Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Adams 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 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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