Springfield, MA to Swampscott, MA is 102.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 10 minutes via Massachusetts Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Massachusetts, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its relatively short length and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward drive. You'll be on the road for just over two hours, making it a very manageable same-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.3 miles from Springfield, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Massachusetts Turnpike
85.1 mi
1h 41m
Springfield Expressway
4.4 mi
5m
North Shore Road
2.7 mi
4m
Lynnway
2.2 mi
2m
Ted Williams Tunnel
1.6 mi
2m
Lynn Shore Drive
1.2 mi
1m
McClellan Highway
1 mi
1m
Lee Burbank Highway
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 85.1 mi, about 1h 41m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 129 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,340 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,006
Quietest
2 AM
~252 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.3×
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 Swampscott, 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
84 mi·1 hr 40 min·Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on I 90
1.6 mi·2 min·Ted Williams Tunnel
13
Continue on I 90
1.1 mi·1 min·Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto MA 1A
0.3 mi·34 sec·East Boston Expressway
15
Continue on MA 1A
1.0 mi·1 min·McClellan Highway
16
Continue on MA 1A
1.0 mi·2 min·Lee Burbank Highway
17
Take the exit onto MA 1A
366 ft·11 sec·MA 1A
18
Enter roundabout onto MA 1A
7 ft·0 sec·Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
19
Continue on MA 1A
0.4 mi·34 sec·Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
20
Enter roundabout onto MA 1A
375 ft·4 sec·North Shore Road
21
Continue on MA 1A
2.6 mi·4 min·North Shore Road
22
Continue on MA 1A
2.2 mi·2 min·Lynnway
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Enter roundabout onto Lynn Shore Drive
0.1 mi·8 sec·Lynn Shore Drive
24
Continue on Lynn Shore Drive
1.1 mi·1 min·Lynn Shore Drive
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on MA 129
0.2 mi·19 sec·Humphrey Street
26
Turn left onto Monument Avenue
415 ft·13 sec·Monument Avenue
Use the left lane.
27
Enter roundabout onto Elmwood Road
176 ft·6 sec·Elmwood Road
28
Continue on Elmwood Road
413 ft·19 sec·Elmwood Road
29
Turn right onto Hardy Road
419 ft·18 sec·Hardy Road
30
Arrive at destination
Hardy Road
Trip Plan
For this 2 hour 10 minute drive, departing in the morning or mid-afternoon will help you avoid peak traffic. Since it's a relatively short trip, you don't need to plan for overnight stays, and you can be flexible with your departure time. The fuel cost is estimated at $16, so ensure you have enough before heading out, especially if you plan to make detours. Keep an eye out for the transition from the Massachusetts Turnpike to surface roads as you approach your destination to ensure you don't miss your exit.
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 51.3 miles from Springfield, MA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.1 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 23 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.3 miles or 1h 4m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Swampscott, 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 102.6 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 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 85.1 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 102.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Columbus Avenue
Turn right onto East Columbus Avenue
Navigation decision point
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
6
102.3 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|Monument Avenue
Turn left onto Monument Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.20 one way
$36.39 round trip
$4.51/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$19.78
$39.57
premium
$5.29
$21.37
$42.74
diesel
$5.35
$21.61
$43.22
Estimated Tolls: $5.10
Massachusetts Turnpike
(85.1 mi)$5.10
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
$18
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.8
0
$10.77
$4.92
Efficient EV
25.7
0
$8.98
$4.10
EV Truck/SUV
41
0
$14.36
$6.57
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 2, 2026
Origin
Springfield, MA
Afternoon
in Springfield on Wednesday
Local time
4:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Clear
SE 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Swampscott, MA
Afternoon
in Swampscott on Wednesday
Local time
4:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Clear
W 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
70°F
Ashland, MA
51 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
4 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 10m 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.
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 92
Park Closure: Dorchester Heights Temporary Public Access Restrictions
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 102.6
. . . 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...
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...
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
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 77.8
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 88% of the 102.6 miles on major roads like the Massachusetts Turnpike. You'll experience a long stretch of 85.1 miles on the Turnpike before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a high number of exits on the main highway for much of the route.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.1 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 0.1 miles in near East Columbus Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 102.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Columbus Avenue): Navigation decision point; 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
733 ft5 ft
Total Climb
727 ft
Total Descent
770 ft
Highest Point
733 ft
~36.6 mi in
Elevation Range
729 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 Swampscott, MA, road signs point toward Albany and Boston.
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 2h 10m. Total distance: 102.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.1 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.10 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 10 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 Swampscott, 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. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Columbus Avenue): Navigation decision point; 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.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Salem Maritime 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 Swampscott, MA before heading back.
