Origin
Sudbury, MA
Late night in Sudbury on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sudbury, MA to Worcester, MA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
26.5 mi
43 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sudbury, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Driving from Sudbury to Worcester is a straightforward 26.5-mile journey that typically takes about 37 minutes. Because this trip is so quick, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $4 on fuel for the trek, making it a very budget-friendly trip within the Northeast region. The route utilizes a combination of I-290, Boston Post Road, and Lincoln Street to navigate between the two Massachusetts towns. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, this drive offers a practical and efficient way to travel across the state.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 | 13.1 mi | 15m |
| Boston Post Road | 6 mi | 9m |
| Lincoln Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Union Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Concord Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 290
— 13.1 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sudbury, MA and Worcester, MA.
1
Start on MA 27
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Hudson Road
2
Turn right onto Concord Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Concord Road
3
Turn right onto Union Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Union Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 20
6.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Boston Post Road
5
Continue on US 20
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
East Main Street
6
Continue on Lincoln Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Lincoln Street
7
At end of road, turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Lakeside Avenue
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
9
Merge onto I 495
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 65B
Toward I 290 West: Worcester
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on I 290
13 mi
·
15 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 21
Toward Ware, Framingham
13
Turn right onto MA 70
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Lincoln Street
14
Turn right onto MA 9
158 ft
·
2 sec
·
Lincoln Square
15
Turn left onto Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 9.8 and 25.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
9.8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 20 / Lakeside Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto US 20 / Lakeside Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
10.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
5
10.4 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 495 / Blue Star Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 495 / Blue Star Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
11.9 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward I 290 West: Worcester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 65B
Toward I 290 West: Worcester
6
25.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward Ware, Framingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 21
Toward Ware, Framingham
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.24 one way
$8.48 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.62 | $9.25 |
| premium | $4.82 | $5.03 | $10.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.85 | $11.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.78 | $1.27 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.32 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.70 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Worcester, MA
Late night in Worcester on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
37m 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 mixed driving experience as you transition between local roads and faster highway segments. With a highway share of 49 percent, you will spend roughly half your time on the interstate, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 13.1 miles on I-290. The character of the road shifts noticeably as you move from the quieter corridors of Sudbury onto the more structured flow of the interstate. It is a balanced route that avoids the monotony of a purely highway-based drive while still allowing you to make good time. You will get a feel for both the suburban layout of the start and the more urban connectivity of Worcester as the pavement changes beneath you.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.1 mi on I 290.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 9.8 miles in near US 20 / Lakeside Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 26.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 9.8 miles (US 20 / Lakeside Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 10.4 miles (I 495 / Blue Star Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Sudbury, MA
Full guide →Wayland, a town in the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, is a residential suburb of 14,000 (2020), with mostly families as residents. Sudbury is a town with a population of 19,000 in the 2020 census.
Arriving in Worcester, MA
Full guide →Founded 1848
Explore fine arts, history, and take in a show in Worcester, a medium sized city in Central Massachusetts about an hour's drive west of Boston. Worcester's seven hills and their valleys contain top notch museums, nine colleges and universities, beautiful parks, and food from all over the globe.
Top landmarks
- • Clark University — American private university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts
- • Cathedral of Saint Paul — church in Massachusetts, United States
- • Worcester Academy — private high school in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
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 37m. Total distance: 26.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.1 miles on I 290. 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 Worcester, 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 9.8 miles (US 20 / Lakeside Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 10.4 miles (I 495 / Blue Star Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Worcester, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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