Origin
Sherborn, MA
Late night in Sherborn on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sherborn, MA to Cambridge, 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
38m
Distance
19 mi
31 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 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sherborn, MA
Jacob Sierra
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 19-mile drive from Sherborn, MA to Cambridge, MA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 38 minutes. With a modest fuel cost estimate of $3, it's an economical journey. The route primarily utilizes local roads like Washington Street and Eliot Street, with a portion on the Massachusetts Turnpike, making up 27% of the drive as highway. Expect a turn-heavy local experience for the majority of this trip within the Northeast region of Massachusetts. This drive is perfect for a quick transit or a leisurely local exploration without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Street | 5.7 mi | 13m |
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| Eliot Street | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Walnut Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| River Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Prospect Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Line Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Washington Street
— 5.7 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sherborn, MA and Cambridge, MA.
1
Start on Sawin Street
128 ft
·
11 sec
·
Sawin Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto MA 27
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
3
Turn right onto MA 16
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Eliot Street
4
Continue on MA 16
3.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Washington Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto Walnut Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Walnut Street
Use the right lane.
6
Turn right onto MA 16
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Washington Street
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on MA 16
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Street
Toward West Newton, Watertown
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 90 East: Boston
9
Merge onto I 90
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 131
Toward Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway Park
Use the slight left lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Cambridge, Somerville, Fenway Park
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Turn slight right onto Cambridge Street
180 ft
·
6 sec
·
Cambridge Street
13
Continue on River Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
River Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Continue on Prospect Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Prospect Street
15
Turn left onto Hampshire Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Hampshire Street
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on Cambridge Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Cambridge Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto Line Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Line Street
18
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
460 ft
·
19 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Leonard Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 8.3 and 18.9 — 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
|
~16m in
|
Walnut Street
Turn right onto Walnut Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
16.4 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 131
Toward Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway Park
8
16.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Cambridge, Somerville, Fenway Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Cambridge, Somerville, Fenway Park
5
18.4 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
Hampshire Street
Turn left onto Hampshire Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
18.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
Leonard Avenue
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.04 one way
$6.08 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $3.32 | $6.63 |
| premium | $4.82 | $3.61 | $7.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.19 | $8.39 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.31
Massachusetts Turnpike
(5.1 mi)
$0.31
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: 6.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.66 | $0.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.66 | $1.22 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Cambridge, MA
Late night in Cambridge on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
38m 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 offers a turn-heavy local drive, meaning you'll be navigating through various town streets and intersections. While 27% of the journey involves highway driving, the longest uninterrupted stretch is 5.7 miles on Washington Street, indicating a predominantly local road feel. You'll experience a mix of speeds as you transition between local roads and the faster pace of the Massachusetts Turnpike. Be prepared for frequent adjustments in direction as you make your way from Sherborn to Cambridge.
Only 27% 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: 5.7 mi on Washington Street.
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 8.3 miles in near Walnut 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 12 decision points packed into just 19 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 38m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.3 miles (Walnut Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 miles: 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.
Between Sherborn, MA and Cambridge, MA, road signs point toward Newton, Watertown, Allston-Brighton, Fenway Park and Somerville.
Newton
9.5 mi in
|
~19m
|
via MA 16
Watertown
9.5 mi in
|
~19m
|
via MA 16
Allston-Brighton
16.4 mi in
|
~30m
Fenway Park
16.4 mi in
|
~30m
Somerville
16.9 mi in
|
~31m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 19 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m 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 5.7 miles on Washington Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.31 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 Cambridge, 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 (Walnut Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Minute Man 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 Cambridge, 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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