Origin
Wales, MA
Late night in Wales on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wales, MA to Worcester, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
31.4 mi
51 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wales, MA
Lisa from Pexels
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Wales to Worcester, Massachusetts, you are looking at a straightforward 31.7-mile journey that typically takes about 39 minutes. This short transit is perfect for a single-day trip, as it requires no overnight stay and remains entirely within the Northeast region. You will primarily navigate via Main Street, Wales Road, and Sturbridge Road, avoiding the highway system entirely. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, this is a highly economical route for a quick commute or local excursion. Because the drive is brief and direct, it offers a practical way to connect these two Massachusetts communities without the complexity of interstate travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 11.2 mi | 12m |
| I 290 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| Sturbridge Road | 4 mi | 5m |
| Main Street | 3.8 mi | 7m |
| Wales Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Wilbur Cross Highway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Brimfield Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Charlton Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 11.2 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wales, MA and Worcester, MA.
1
Start on MA 19
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Main Street
2
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 19
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
3
Continue on MA 19
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Wales Road
4
Turn right onto US 20
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Sturbridge Road
5
Continue on US 20
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Brimfield Road
6
Continue on US 20
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
7
Continue on US 20
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Charlton Road
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
9
Merge onto I 84
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Wilbur Cross Highway
10
Merge onto I 90
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 90
Toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 395, MA 12 North, I 290
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 395, I 290
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 290
15
Continue on I 290
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
I 290
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 17
Toward MA 122A: Kelly Square
17
Turn left onto MA 122A
423 ft
·
10 sec
·
Vernon Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Enter roundabout onto Green Street
205 ft
·
3 sec
·
Green Street
19
Continue on Green Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Green Street
20
Continue on Franklin Street
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Franklin Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto Main Street
135 ft
·
2 sec
·
Main Street
22
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.7 miles from Wales, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 24.2 and 30.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
24.2 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester
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 90
Toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester
6
24.6 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 395, MA 12 North, I 290
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 395, MA 12 North, I 290
7
24.8 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 395, I 290
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 395, I 290
5
25 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 290
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 290
6
30.7 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
MA 122A / Vernon Street
Turn left onto MA 122A / Vernon Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.03 one way
$10.05 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $5.48 | $10.96 |
| premium | $4.82 | $5.96 | $11.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.93 | $13.87 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.67
Massachusetts Turnpike
(11.2 mi)
$0.67
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.75 | $1.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.40 | $2.01 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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 Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
24 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
46m 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 turn-heavy, local experience rather than a high-speed interstate grind, as this route maintains a zero-percent highway share. You will navigate through local corridors, meaning there is no single long-distance stretch of road; in fact, the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on Main Street. The personality of this drive is defined by constant transitions between local roads, requiring your full attention as you move between towns. Because you are avoiding major highways, the pace remains steady and grounded in the local landscape. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience where the road conditions change frequently as you progress toward your destination.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.2 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 31.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 24.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Wales, MA
Full guide →Holland is a small town in Hampden County in the Pioneer Valley region of Massachusetts. It borders on Central Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Arriving in Worcester, MA
Full guide →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.
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 46m. Total distance: 31.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.2 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.67 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 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 24.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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