Origin
Shrewsbury, MA
Late night in Shrewsbury on Sunday
Local time
3:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shrewsbury, MA to Cambridge, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
35.7 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shrewsbury, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 35.7-mile drive from Shrewsbury to Cambridge, Massachusetts, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 54 minutes. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with about 81% of the journey on major roads like the Massachusetts Turnpike and Turnpike Road. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $6, this is a practical and efficient option for getting between these two Northeast locations. You won't need an overnight stay for this relatively short distance, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. The direct nature of this drive makes it ideal for those prioritizing speed and ease.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 19.1 mi | 23m |
| Turnpike Road | 8.6 mi | 12m |
| South Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Boston Turnpike | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Worcester Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| River Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Belmont Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Prospect Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 19.1 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shrewsbury, MA and Cambridge, MA.
1
Start on this road
165 ft
·
14 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto MA 140
284 ft
·
12 sec
·
Grafton Street
3
Turn right onto Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
4
Turn right onto South Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Street
5
Turn left onto MA 9
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Boston Turnpike
6
Continue on MA 9
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Belmont Street
7
Continue on MA 9
8.6 mi
·
12 min
·
Turnpike Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on MA 9
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Worcester Road
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 90 East, I 90 West: Masspike, Springfield, Boston
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 90 East: Boston, Massachusetts Turnpike East
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 90
19 mi
·
23 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 131
Toward Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway Park
Use the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Cambridge, Somerville, Fenway Park
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Turn slight right onto Cambridge Street
180 ft
·
6 sec
·
Cambridge Street
15
Continue on River Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
River Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Continue on Prospect Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Prospect Street
17
Turn left onto Hampshire Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Hampshire Street
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on Cambridge Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Cambridge Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto Line Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Line Street
20
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
460 ft
·
19 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Leonard Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.8 miles from Shrewsbury, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 13.4 and 33.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
13.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 90 East, I 90 West: Masspike, Springfield, Boston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 East, I 90 West: Masspike, Springfi...
8
13.7 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 East: Boston, Massachusetts Turnpike East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 90 East: Boston, Massachusetts Turnpik...
5
14 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
33.2 mi into trip
|
~46m 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
33.6 mi into trip
|
~47m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.71 one way
$11.43 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.23 | $12.46 |
| premium | $4.82 | $6.78 | $13.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.88 | $15.76 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.84
Massachusetts Turnpike
(19.1 mi)
$1.15
Turnpike Road
(8.6 mi)
$0.60
Boston Turnpike
(1.3 mi)
$0.09
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.71 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.12 | $1.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Cambridge, MA
Late night in Cambridge on Sunday
Local time
3:35 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
23 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
54m 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 highly highway-focused experience for most of this 35.7-mile journey, with 81% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter stretches like the 19.1-mile segment on the Massachusetts Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. The primary roads guiding you include Massachusetts Turnpike, Turnpike Road, and South Street, suggesting a progression from high-speed highway to potentially more local road access as you near Cambridge. This drive is characterized by its efficiency rather than scenic detours, keeping you focused on covering ground.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.1 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Turnpike Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
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 35.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 13.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14 miles (I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Shrewsbury, MA and Cambridge, MA, road signs point toward Springfield, Boston, Massachusetts Turnpike East, Allston-Brighton, Fenway Park and Somerville.
Springfield
13.4 mi in
|
~21m
Boston
13.4 mi in
|
~21m
Massachusetts Turnpike East
13.7 mi in
|
~22m
Allston-Brighton
33.2 mi in
|
~46m
Fenway Park
33.2 mi in
|
~46m
Somerville
33.6 mi in
|
~47m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 35.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.1 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.84 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 13.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14 miles (I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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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