Origin
South Boston, MA
Morning in South Boston on Sunday
Local time
11:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Boston, 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 3m
Distance
49.3 mi
79 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Boston, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from South Boston to Fall River covers 49.3 miles, making it an efficient trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 3 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops along the way. You should plan for a fuel budget of approximately $8 to cover the journey. Navigating through the Northeast, you will primarily rely on the Southeast Expressway, I-93, and the Amvets Highway. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, this drive offers a straightforward transit between these two Massachusetts cities without the need for complex multi-day planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Amvets Highway | 32.7 mi | 37m |
| Southeast Expressway | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| I 93 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Western Fall River Expressway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Durfee Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Old Colony Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Columbia Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Dorchester Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Amvets Highway
— 32.7 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Boston, MA and Fall River, MA.
1
Start on Dorchester Street
172 ft
·
9 sec
·
Dorchester Street
2
Turn right onto Mercer Street
328 ft
·
13 sec
·
Mercer Street
3
Turn right onto Telegraph Street
485 ft
·
16 sec
·
Telegraph Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto Dorchester Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Dorchester Street
5
Turn left onto Old Colony Avenue
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Old Colony Avenue
6
Enter roundabout onto Old Colony Avenue
95 ft
·
1 sec
·
Old Colony Avenue
7
Continue on Old Colony Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Old Colony Avenue
8
Turn straight onto Columbia Road
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Columbia Road
9
Enter roundabout onto Columbia Road
20 ft
·
0 sec
·
Columbia Road
10
Continue on Columbia Road
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Columbia Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I-93 South, US 1 South: Quincy, Cape Cod
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Merge onto I 93; US 1; MA 3
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Southeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93; US 1
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 93; US 1
Toward I 93 South, US 1 South: Providence Rhode Island
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 4
Toward MA 24 South: Fall River
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on MA 24
33 mi
·
37 min
·
Amvets Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 79
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Western Fall River Expressway
Exit 7
Toward MA 79 South: North Fall River, Somerset
17
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
18
Turn right onto Durfee Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Durfee Street
19
Turn left onto Bank Street
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Bank Street
20
Turn right onto Purchase Street
361 ft
·
15 sec
·
Purchase Street
21
Continue on Purchase Street
269 ft
·
19 sec
·
Purchase Street
22
Arrive at destination
Purchase Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.7 miles from South Boston, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 44.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Mercer Street
Turn right onto Mercer Street
Navigation decision point
9
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left toward I-93 South, US 1 South: Quincy, Cape Cod
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I-93 South, US 1 South: Quincy, Cape Cod
6
8.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 93; US 1
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93; US 1 toward I 93 South, US 1 South: Providence Rhode Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 93 South, US 1 South: Providence Rhode...
7
11.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward MA 24 South: Fall River
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 4
Toward MA 24 South: Fall River
7
44.9 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
MA 79 / Western Fall River Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 79 / Western Fall River Expressway toward MA 79 South: North Fall River, Somerset
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 7
Toward MA 79 South: North Fall River, Somerset
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.89 one way
$15.78 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.60 | $17.21 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.36 | $18.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.88 | $21.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.18 | $2.37 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.90 | $3.16 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Fall River, MA
Morning in Fall River on Sunday
Local time
11:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
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 3m 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 mix of driving styles on this 49.3-mile journey, which features a 27% highway share. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Amvets Highway, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch at 32.7 miles. Outside of these faster sections, be prepared for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention. The road's personality shifts from the structured flow of major expressways to more technical maneuvering as you progress toward your destination. You will find that the transition between these road types keeps the drive engaging despite the relatively short duration.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.7 mi on Amvets 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 early in the drive near Mercer Street.
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 49.3 miles you will encounter 16 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: near the start (Mercer Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.1 miles (I 93; US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from South Boston, MA to Fall River, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Somerset along the way.
Somerset
44.9 mi in
|
~56m
|
via MA 79
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 3m. Total distance: 49.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m 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 32.7 miles on Amvets 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 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: near the start (Mercer Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.1 miles (I 93; US 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 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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