Springfield, MA to Medford, MA is 91.9 miles and takes about 1h 58m via Massachusetts Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region and entirely within Massachusetts. Given the relatively short distance and quick travel time, it's a straightforward commute or a segment of a larger New England adventure. The majority of this route is highway driving, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B without much fuss. Plan for a single-day trip, as it's easily manageable within a few hours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46 miles from Springfield, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Massachusetts Turnpike
79 mi
1h 32m
Springfield Expressway
4.4 mi
5m
Fellsway
1.3 mi
2m
Riverside Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Prospect Street
1.1 mi
3m
McGrath Highway
0.9 mi
1m
River Street
0.8 mi
2m
Chestnut Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 79 mi, about 1h 32m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 240 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,381 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,137
Quietest
2 AM
~241 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, MA and Medford, MA.
1
Start on City Hall Place
164 ft·7 sec·City Hall Place
2
Continue on Pynchon Street
403 ft·19 sec·Pynchon Street
3
Turn right onto East Columbus Avenue
282 ft·9 sec·East Columbus Avenue
4
Turn right onto Boland Way
0.1 mi·9 sec·Boland Way
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on Harrison Avenue
0.2 mi·27 sec·Harrison Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
At end of road, turn left onto Chestnut Street
0.5 mi·47 sec·Chestnut Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
8
Merge onto I 291; US 20
4.4 mi·5 min·Springfield Expressway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 7Toward I 90 Toll: Boston, Albany
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East Toll: Worcester, Boston
11
Merge onto I 90
79 mi·1 hr 32 min·Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 131Toward Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway ParkUse the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward Cambridge, Somerville, Fenway ParkUse 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
1.1 mi·3 min·Prospect Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto McGrath Highway
0.9 mi·1 min·McGrath Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Continue on MA 28
1.3 mi·2 min·Fellsway
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Turn left onto Riverside Avenue
1.3 mi·2 min·Riverside Avenue
21
Continue on City Hall Mall
0.1 mi·18 sec·City Hall Mall
22
Turn right onto MA 60
52 ft·0 sec·Salem Street
Use the right lane.
23
Arrive at destination
MA 60
Trip Plan
For this 1h 58m drive, leaving Springfield, MA in the mid-morning, perhaps around 9:00 AM, should help you avoid the worst of the morning commute. Since the total distance is under 100 miles and the estimated fuel cost is only $15, you likely won't need to worry about finding many fuel stops. The Massachusetts Turnpike has service plazas, so you can easily grab a break if needed. Keep an eye out for the transition from the Massachusetts Turnpike to local roads as you get closer to Medford, as this is where navigation might become slightly more complex.
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 46 miles from Springfield, MA, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79 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 20 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46 miles or 57m 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 Medford, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Springfield, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Springfield, MA
This is one driving day of about 91.9 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Springfield, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Massachusetts Turnpike for about 79 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 86 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Boland Way
Turn right onto Boland Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
5.7 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward I 90 Toll: Boston, Albany
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 7
Toward I 90 Toll: Boston, Albany
6
5.9 mi into trip|~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East Toll: Worcester, Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 East Toll: Worcester, Boston
8
85.5 mi into trip|~1h 43m 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
86 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
$16.06 one way
$32.12 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$17.74
$35.48
premium
$5.31
$19.22
$38.43
diesel
$6.18
$22.36
$44.71
Estimated Tolls: $4.74
Massachusetts Turnpike
(79 mi)$4.74
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
$16
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.6
0
$9.65
$4.41
Efficient EV
23
0
$8.04
$3.68
EV Truck/SUV
36.8
0
$12.87
$5.88
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Springfield, MA
Morning
in Springfield on Tuesday
Local time
8:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
33°F
Patchy Fog
E 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Medford, MA
Morning
in Medford on Tuesday
Local time
8:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Clear
SW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
64°F
Sunderland, MA
46 mi in
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.
Temperature spread
6 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
1h 58m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Boston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 79.3
From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penn’s Hill to the gentleman’s country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of “heroes, statesmen, philosophers…and learned wome...
. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach o...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 88.8
From the Sound to the summits: the New England Trail covers 235 miles from Long Island Sound across long ridges to scenic mountain summits in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail offers panoramic...
Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 91.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 91% of this 91.9-mile trip on highways, with the longest continuous stretch of highway driving being 79 miles along the Massachusetts Turnpike. After that, expect a shift to surface roads for the final portion of your drive into Medford. The high percentage of highway driving means you'll encounter dense traffic and numerous exits for a significant part of the trip, especially as you approach the Greater Boston area.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Springfield Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Boland Way.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.9 miles you will encounter 14 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 (Boland Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
801 ft11 ft
Total Climb
878 ft
Total Descent
933 ft
Highest Point
801 ft
~27.5 mi in
Elevation Range
790 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Springfield, MA and Medford, MA, road signs point toward Albany, Boston, Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway Park and Somerville.
Springfield is the largest city on the Connecticut River, in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts, USA. It sits 24 miles (40 km) north of Hartford, Connecticut, and 5 miles (8 km) north of the Connecticut state line. Springfield and Hartford are the principal cities in the Knowledge Corridor - the second largest urban region in New England with 1.9 million people, 29 universities and colleges, and 120,000 university students.
Top landmarks
•Quadrangle-Mattoon Street Historic District — historic district in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States of America
•Michele & Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts — art museum in Springfield, Massachusetts
•Springfield Science Museum — museum in Springfield, Massachusetts
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 91.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.74 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 Medford, 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 (Boland Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Medford, MA before heading back.
