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Trip from Shirley, MA to Fall River, 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 47m

Distance

83.6 mi

134 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 39m ★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 43m

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

Downtown Shirley, MA, MA

Shirley, MA

Renata Meneses

Trip Overview

This 83.6-mile journey from Shirley, MA to Fall River, MA is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 47 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with about 68% of the drive on faster roads, making it a straightforward transit. You'll spend most of your time on I-190 and the East Providence Expressway. With an estimated fuel cost of $13, this drive is quite economical for a day out. Given its relatively short duration and highway nature, it's perfectly suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

41.8 miles from Shirley, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 190 18.7 mi 21m
East Providence Expressway 13.5 mi 16m
Providence Pike 7.7 mi 8m
Eddie Dowling Highway 7.5 mi 8m
Worcester Providence Turnpike 7 mi 8m
North Smithfield Expressway 5.7 mi 6m
Purple Heart Highway 3.6 mi 4m
US 6 3.3 mi 5m
Longest stretch: I 190 — 18.7 mi, about 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Shirley, MA and Fall River, MA.

1

Start on Chapel Street

75 ft · 5 sec · Chapel Street
2

Turn right onto Porter Street

314 ft · 19 sec · Porter Street
3

Turn left onto Front Street

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Front Street
4

Continue on Main Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Main Street
5

Keep slight left at fork onto Lancaster Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · Lancaster Road
6

Continue on Shirley Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Shirley Road
7

Turn right onto Fort Pond Road

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Fort Pond Road
8

Take the ramp

329 ft · 7 sec
9

Merge onto MA 2

2.6 mi · 3 min · MA 2
10

Keep slight right at fork onto Leominster Connector

0.6 mi · 1 min · Leominster Connector
Exit 101 Toward I 190 South: Worcester
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
12

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 23 sec · this road
13

Merge onto I 190

19 mi · 21 min · I 190
14

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 290 West: Auburn
15

Merge onto I 290

2.7 mi · 4 min · I 290
16

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 16 Toward MA 146 South: Millbury, Providence Rhode Island
17

Merge onto MA 146

2.2 mi · 2 min · Purple Heart Highway
18

Continue on MA 122A; MA 146

2.1 mi · 2 min · Worcester-Providence Turnpike
19

Continue on MA 146

0.9 mi · 1 min · Purple Heart Highway
20

Continue on MA 146

7.0 mi · 8 min · Worcester Providence Turnpike
21

Continue on MA 146

0.3 mi · 22 sec · Purple Heart Highway
22

Continue on MA 146

7.7 mi · 8 min · Providence Pike
23

Continue on MA 146

0.2 mi · 15 sec · Purple Heart Highway
24

Continue on RI 146

5.7 mi · 6 min · North Smithfield Expressway
25

Continue on RI 146

7.5 mi · 8 min · Eddie Dowling Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Continue on RI 146

2.9 mi · 3 min · Old Louisquisset Pike
27

Merge onto I 95

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Take the exit onto US 6

3.3 mi · 5 min · US 6
Exit 36A Toward I 195 East, US 6 East: East Providence, Cape Cod Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

Keep slight left at fork onto I 195; US 1A; US 6

13 mi · 16 min · East Providence Expressway
Toward US 6: Pawtucket Avenue, Seekonk MA Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 14 sec
Exit 12-13 Toward MA 81 South: Plymouth Avenue, Hartwell Street
31

Keep slight right at fork

482 ft · 12 sec
Exit 12 Toward Downtown Fall River Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32

Turn right onto Hartwell Street

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Hartwell Street
33

Continue on Troy Street

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Troy Street
34

Turn left onto Bedford Street

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Bedford Street
35

Turn left onto Purchase Street

269 ft · 19 sec · Purchase Street
36

Arrive at destination

Purchase Street

Trip Plan

For this 1-hour and 47-minute drive, leaving early in the morning can help you avoid the bulk of commuter traffic, especially as you approach the Providence area. Since it's a relatively short and highway-centric trip, you won't need to plan for extensive stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge as the longest uninterrupted stretch is 18.7 miles. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $13, so budgeting for gas is simple. Take advantage of the flexibility this shorter drive offers; you can depart and return on your own schedule.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.8 miles from Shirley, MA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.7 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 18 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 41.8 miles or 55m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 31m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fall River, MA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Shirley, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Shirley, MA

This is one driving day of about 83.6 miles and 1h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Shirley, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 190 for about 18.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

town in Massachusetts, US

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Grafton, MA

42 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

Worcester, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Grafton, MA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 41.8 miles from Shirley, 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 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 83 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
5.2 mi into trip | ~8m in | Leominster Connector

Keep slight right at fork onto Leominster Connector toward I 190 South: Worcester

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 101 Toward I 190 South: Worcester
6
27.8 mi into trip | ~37m in

Take the exit toward MA 146 South: Millbury, Providence Rhode Island

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 16 Toward MA 146 South: Millbury, Providence Rhode...
8
66.1 mi into trip | ~1h 23m in | US 6

Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 195 East, US 6 East: East Providence, Cape Cod

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 36A Toward I 195 East, US 6 East: East Providence,...
8
69.4 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in | I 195; US 1A; US 6 / East Providence Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 195; US 1A; US 6 / East Providence Expressway toward US 6: Pawtucket Avenue, Seekonk MA

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 6: Pawtucket Avenue, Seekonk MA
9
83 mi into trip | ~1h 45m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown Fall River

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 12 Toward Downtown Fall River

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.38 one way

$26.76 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $14.59 $29.18
premium $4.82 $15.87 $31.75
diesel $5.61 $18.46 $36.92

Estimated Tolls: $0.64

Worcester Providence Turnpike (7 mi) $0.49
Worcester-Providence Turnpike (2.1 mi) $0.15

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

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.1 0 $8.78 $4.01
Efficient EV 20.9 0 $7.31 $3.34
EV Truck/SUV 33.4 0 $11.70 $5.35

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (66% 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

Shirley, MA

Late night in Shirley on Sunday

Local time

3:42 AM

EDT

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fall River, MA

Late night in Fall River on Sunday

Local time

3:42 AM

EDT

Current temp

--

Unavailable

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Road read

1h 47m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park

Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The Blackstone River powered America's entry into the Age of Industry. The success of Samuel Slater's cotton spinning mill in Pawtucket, RI touched off a chain reaction that changed how people worked...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Free near mile 63.4
View on nps.gov
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park

National Historical Park

"The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in, in all New England..nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses, parks and gardens more opulent, than in New Bedford…all t...

13 mi from route ~32 min detour Free near mile 83.6
View on nps.gov
Lowell National Historical Park

Lowell National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Lowell’s water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation – including immigrant families and early female factory workers – into an uncertain new industrial era. Nearly 200 years later, the changes t...

18 mi from route ~46 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Minute Man National Historical Park

Minute Man National Historical Park

National Historical Park

At Minute Man National Historical Park the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and structures associated with April 19, 1775, and witness the Ameri...

18 mi from route ~46 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 68% of the drive utilizing major expressways. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 18.7 miles on I-190, offering uninterrupted driving time. The transition to roads like the East Providence Expressway and Providence Pike will likely involve changes in speed and traffic patterns as you move closer to more urban areas. This drive is characterized by efficient travel on well-maintained roads, prioritizing getting you to your destination with minimal fuss.

68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.7 mi on I 190.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 190 and East Providence Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in near Leominster Connector.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.6 miles you will encounter 20 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 5.2 miles (Leominster Connector): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 27.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.1 miles (US 6): 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.

Between Shirley, MA and Fall River, MA, road signs point toward Providence Rhode Island, Cape Cod and Seekonk.

Providence Rhode Island

27.8 mi in | ~37m

Cape Cod

66.1 mi in | ~1h 23m | via US 6

Seekonk

69.4 mi in | ~1h 29m | via I 195; US 1A; US 6

About the Cities

Arriving in Fall River, MA

Full guide →

In the SouthCoast region of Massachusetts, where the Taunton River empties into Mount Hope Bay, stands Fall River- the "Spindle City". Not to be overshadowed by nearby Boston and Providence, Fall River offers visitors unique attractions that are absent from its two larger neighbors. Fall River is famous for Battleship Cove, the largest museum of its kind in the world; a rich Portuguese-American culture, featuring authentic food; and the accused axe murderess Lizzie Borden.

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 47m. Total distance: 83.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 18.7 miles on I 190. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.64 in tolls one way, starting with Worcester Providence 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 Fall River, 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 5.2 miles (Leominster Connector): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 27.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.1 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and Lowell National Historical Park (4 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 Fall River, 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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