Origin
Somerville, MA
Late night in Somerville on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Somerville, MA to Carlisle, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
19.7 mi
32 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Somerville, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Carlisle, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Somerville to Carlisle is 19.7 miles and takes about 37 minutes via Yankee Division Highway, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Northeast region, specifically Massachusetts, making it a convenient local excursion. The journey offers a straightforward route with a mix of highway and local road driving, ideal for a quick getaway. Given its brief duration, you can easily complete this trip in a single day, leaving ample time for activities at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Yankee Division Highway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Bedford Road | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| Cambridge Road | 2 mi | 2m |
| The Great Road | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| Carlisle Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Cambridge Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Winthrop Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Yankee Division Highway
— 2.9 mi, about 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Somerville, MA and Carlisle, MA.
1
Start on this road
163 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Highland Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Highland Avenue
3
Turn right onto Sycamore Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Sycamore Street
4
Turn left onto Medford Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Medford Street
5
Continue on Medford Street
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Medford Street
6
Continue on Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
7
Turn left onto Summer Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Summer Street
8
At end of road, turn right onto Winthrop Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
Winthrop Street
9
Enter roundabout onto Winthrop Street
117 ft
·
2 sec
·
Winthrop Street
10
Continue on Winthrop Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Winthrop Street
11
Continue on MA 38
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
Main Street
12
Enter roundabout onto Bacon Street
94 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bacon Street
13
Continue on Bacon Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bacon Street
14
Turn left onto Church Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Church Street
15
Turn right onto US 3
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cambridge Street
16
Continue on US 3
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Cambridge Road
17
Continue on US 3
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
Cambridge Street
18
Take the exit onto US 3
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 3
Toward I 95 South, US 3 North: Waltham, Lowell
19
Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 49B
Toward MA 4 North, MA 225 West: Bedford
Use the slight right lane.
21
Turn straight onto MA 4; MA 225
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bedford Street
22
Continue on MA 4; MA 225
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
The Great Road
Use the right lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 4; MA 225
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Road
24
Turn left onto MA 225
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Carlisle Road
25
Continue on MA 225
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Bedford Road
26
Enter roundabout onto MA 225
76 ft
·
3 sec
·
Westford Road
27
Continue on MA 225
71 ft
·
2 sec
·
Westford Road
28
Arrive at destination
MA 225
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 12.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Sycamore Street
Turn right onto Sycamore Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Winthrop Street
At end of road, turn right onto Winthrop Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Winthrop Street
Enter roundabout onto Winthrop Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
9.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
US 3
Take the exit onto US 3 toward I 95 South, US 3 North: Waltham, Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 South, US 3 North: Waltham, Lowell
8
12.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward MA 4 North, MA 225 West: Bedford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49B
Toward MA 4 North, MA 225 West: Bedford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.15 one way
$6.31 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $3.44 | $6.88 |
| premium | $4.82 | $3.74 | $7.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.35 | $8.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.9 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 | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.95 |
| Efficient EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.72 | $0.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.76 | $1.26 |
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
Carlisle, MA
Late night in Carlisle on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
37m 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 is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with a 100% highway share, meaning you'll be navigating a significant amount of controlled-access road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 2.9 miles on the Yankee Division Highway. Expect a dynamic driving experience as you transition between the main highway and local roads like Bedford Road and Cambridge Road. The frequent turns suggest a need for attention and perhaps a slightly slower pace than a pure interstate cruise.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 2.9 mi on Yankee Division Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Sycamore Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 19.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.2 miles (Sycamore Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (Winthrop Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (Winthrop Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 Somerville, MA to Carlisle, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Lowell along the way.
Lowell
9.5 mi in
|
~17m
|
via US 3
About the Cities
Starting in Somerville, MA
Full guide →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.
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 37m. Total distance: 19.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m 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 2.9 miles on Yankee Division 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 Carlisle, 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 0.2 miles (Sycamore Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (Winthrop Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (Winthrop Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Lowell 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 Carlisle, 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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