Springfield, MA to Sandwich, MA is 136.1 miles and takes about 2h 46m via I 495 and MA 25, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically Massachusetts for both departure and arrival. You'll encounter a high percentage of highway driving, making it a straightforward transit. Plan for a single day to cover the distance comfortably, with a modest fuel expense.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
68.1 miles from Springfield, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 495
57 mi
1h 5m
Massachusetts Turnpike
54.5 mi
1h 2m
MA 25
10.1 mi
11m
Sandwich Road Connector
4.6 mi
8m
Springfield Expressway
4.4 mi
5m
Route 6A
1.6 mi
3m
MA 28
0.8 mi
1m
Chestnut Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 57 mi, about 1h 5m
Traffic on I-495
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 106 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,227 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,961
Quietest
2 AM
~129 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
25×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Sandwich, 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
55 mi·1 hr 2 min·Massachusetts Turnpike
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 106Toward I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, TauntonUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 495 South: Taunton, Cape Cod
14
Merge onto I 495
57 mi·1 hr 5 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on MA 25
10 mi·11 min·MA 25
16
Continue on MA 28
0.8 mi·1 min·MA 28
17
Enter roundabout onto Sandwich Road Connector
0.1 mi·22 sec·Sandwich Road Connector
18
Continue on Sandwich Road Connector
4.5 mi·8 min·Sandwich Road Connector
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on MA 6A
1.6 mi·3 min·Route 6A
20
Turn right onto Jarves Street
73 ft·3 sec·Jarves Street
21
Arrive at destination
Jarves Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 3 hours, you have flexibility on when to depart. Leaving Springfield in the morning should allow you to reach Sandwich well before evening. While there's only one recommended stop, consider breaking up the 57-mile stretch on I 495 with a brief pause for fuel or a stretch. The total fuel cost is estimated at $22, so factor that into your budget.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.1 miles from Springfield, MA, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57 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 30 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.1 miles or 1h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sandwich, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Springfield, MA
This is one driving day of about 136.1 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Springfield, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 495 for about 57 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 61.2 — 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
61 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Taunton
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 106
Toward I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Taunton
6
61.2 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 495 South: Taunton, Cape Cod
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 495 South: Taunton, Cape Cod
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.14 one way
$48.28 round trip
$4.51/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$26.24
$52.49
premium
$5.29
$28.35
$56.70
diesel
$5.35
$28.67
$57.33
Estimated Tolls: $3.27
Massachusetts Turnpike
(54.5 mi)$3.27
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
$24
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.8
0
$14.29
$6.53
Efficient EV
34
0
$11.91
$5.44
EV Truck/SUV
54.4
0
$19.05
$8.71
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Springfield, MA
Afternoon
in Springfield on Wednesday
Local time
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 3 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Sandwich, MA
Afternoon
in Sandwich on Wednesday
Local time
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Chance Rain Showers
W 3 mph28% chanceLive forecast
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
2 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
2h 46m 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.
New England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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...
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 84.5
"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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 117.4
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...
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...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
$15
near mile 89.2
. . . 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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 98.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to spend 94% of your time on highways like I 495 and the Massachusetts Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 57 miles on I 495, so you'll have long periods of cruising. You'll transition to surface roads for the final portion of the drive as you approach Sandwich.
94% 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: 57 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and Massachusetts Turnpike. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Boland Way.
Driving Effort6/10
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 136.1 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
856 ft13 ft
Total Climb
841 ft
Total Descent
895 ft
Highest Point
856 ft
~38.9 mi in
Elevation Range
843 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 Sandwich, MA, road signs point toward Taunton and Cape Cod.
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
Sandwich is on Cape Cod in Massachusetts at the east end of the Cape Cod Canal, and includes the villages of East Sandwich and Forestdale. It is the oldest town on the Cape, settled in 1637. Sandwich is famous for the glassware produced here in the 1800s. It is also home to numerous gift and antique stores, art galleries, and rare book stores.
Top landmarks
•Benjamin Nye Homestead — building in Massachusetts, United States
•Forestdale School — school in Sandwich, Massachusetts
•Wing Fort House — historic house in Massachusetts, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 136.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.27 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.
Yes — we found about 13 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Sandwich, MA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 — New England National Scenic Trail, Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and New Bedford Whaling 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 Sandwich, MA before heading back.
