Springfield, MA to Swansea, MA is 99.1 miles and takes about 2h 5m via Massachusetts Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Northeast region, entirely within Massachusetts, making it a straightforward local trip. It's a good option if you're looking for a relatively short drive with a significant portion on major highways. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so expect a consistent pace for the majority of the trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.6 miles from Springfield, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Massachusetts Turnpike
41.9 mi
48m
East Providence Expressway
8.5 mi
10m
Providence Pike
7.7 mi
8m
Eddie Dowling Highway
7.5 mi
8m
Worcester Providence Turnpike
7 mi
8m
North Smithfield Expressway
5.7 mi
6m
Springfield Expressway
4.4 mi
5m
US 6
3.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 41.9 mi, about 48m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 74 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~4,668 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,410
Quietest
2 AM
~406 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 44 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 Swansea, 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
42 mi·48 min·Massachusetts Turnpike
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 94Toward MA 146, US 20: Worcester, Providence
13
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·33 sec·this road
Toward MA 146, US 20
14
Turn right
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward MA 146
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward MA 146 South
16
Merge onto MA 122A; MA 146
1.6 mi·2 min·Worcester-Providence Turnpike
17
Continue on MA 146
0.9 mi·1 min·Purple Heart Highway
18
Continue on MA 146
7.0 mi·8 min·Worcester Providence Turnpike
19
Continue on MA 146
0.3 mi·22 sec·Purple Heart Highway
20
Continue on MA 146
7.7 mi·8 min·Providence Pike
21
Continue on MA 146
0.2 mi·15 sec·Purple Heart Highway
22
Continue on RI 146
5.7 mi·6 min·North Smithfield Expressway
23
Continue on RI 146
7.5 mi·8 min·Eddie Dowling Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on RI 146
2.9 mi·3 min·Old Louisquisset Pike
25
Merge onto I 95
1.2 mi·1 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit onto US 6
3.3 mi·5 min·US 6
Exit 36AToward I 195 East, US 6 East: East Providence, Cape CodUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 195; US 1A; US 6
8.5 mi·10 min·East Providence Expressway
Toward US 6: Pawtucket Avenue, Seekonk MAUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Exit 8Toward US 6: Swansea
29
Turn right onto US 6
1.5 mi·2 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
30
Turn left onto Gardners Neck Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Gardners Neck Road
31
Turn right onto Main Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Main Street
32
Turn right
61 ft·5 sec
33
Turn right
226 ft·18 sec
34
Turn left
48 ft·6 sec
35
Turn right
102 ft·7 sec
36
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Consider leaving Springfield mid-morning to avoid peak commuter traffic, especially on the Massachusetts Turnpike. You'll have ample flexibility for stops since the drive is relatively short. Keep an eye on your fuel level; while the estimated cost is $16, it’s always wise to fill up before hitting the longer highway stretches. The transition from highway to surface roads occurs around the 74-mile mark, so plan your final approach into Swansea accordingly.
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 49.6 miles from Springfield, MA, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.9 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 22 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.6 miles or 1h 1m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Swansea, 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 99.1 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 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 41.9 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 87.9 — 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
84.6 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 195 East, US 6 East: East Providence, Cape Cod
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 36A
Toward I 195 East, US 6 East: East Providence,...
8
87.9 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|I 195; US 1A; US 6 / East Providence Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 195; US 1A; US 6 / East Providence Expressway toward US 6: Pawtucket Avenue, Seekonk MA
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 6: Pawtucket Avenue, Seekonk MA
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.58 one way
$35.15 round trip
$4.51/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$19.11
$38.22
premium
$5.29
$20.64
$41.29
diesel
$5.35
$20.87
$41.75
Estimated Tolls: $3.12
Massachusetts Turnpike
(41.9 mi)$2.52
Worcester Providence Turnpike
(7 mi)$0.49
Worcester-Providence Turnpike
(1.6 mi)$0.11
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
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.7
0
$10.41
$4.76
Efficient EV
24.8
0
$8.67
$3.96
EV Truck/SUV
39.6
0
$13.87
$6.34
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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 Jun 3, 2026
Origin
Springfield, MA
Evening
in Springfield on Wednesday
Local time
5:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Mostly Clear
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Swansea, MA
Evening
in Swansea on Wednesday
Local time
5:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
72°F
Sunderland, MA
50 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
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 5m 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.
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
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 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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 99.1
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...
30 mi from route
~75 min detour
Free
near mile 51.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 74% of this 99.1-mile route. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 41.9 miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike. After this, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of your drive into Swansea. Expect a good number of exits on the highway portions, indicating frequent opportunities for services or potential traffic.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.9 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and East Providence 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 Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 99.1 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 0.2 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
833 ft19 ft
Total Climb
826 ft
Total Descent
857 ft
Highest Point
833 ft
~28.3 mi in
Elevation Range
814 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 Swansea, MA, road signs point toward Albany, Boston, Providence, Cape Cod and Seekonk.
Albany
5.7 mi in|~8m
Boston
5.9 mi in|~9m
Providence
48.4 mi in|~59m
Cape Cod
84.6 mi in|~1h 43m|via US 6
Seekonk
87.9 mi in|~1h 49m|via I 195; US 1A; US 6
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
Swansea is a town near the mouth of the Taunton River in Massachusetts. Swansea is a local retail hub, with businesses lining its central artery, Grand Army of the Republic Highway (GAR Hwy, Route 6). Traveling off the main drag offers opportunities for hiking, boating, and swimming.
Top landmarks
•Bark Street School — school building in Swansea, Massachusetts, United States
•Barneyville Historic District — historic district in Massachusetts, United States
•Smuggler's House — historic house in Massachusetts, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 99.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.9 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.12 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 11 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 Swansea, 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 11 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 — Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, New England National Scenic Trail and New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park (4 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 Swansea, MA before heading back.
