Origin
Waltham, MA
Late night in Waltham on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waltham, MA to Grafton, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
34.5 mi
56 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waltham, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Grafton, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Waltham to Grafton covers 34.5 miles, making this a straightforward trip that is easily manageable in a single day. You can expect to reach your destination in about 48 minutes, provided traffic flows steadily along the route. With a fuel budget of approximately $5, this short journey is quite economical for a quick getaway or commute within the Northeast. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares like the Massachusetts Turnpike to bridge the gap between these two Massachusetts towns. Because the total duration is under an hour, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay, giving you plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 26.1 mi | 30m |
| Worcester Street | 3.2 mi | 7m |
| South Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| River Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Grafton Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Weston Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 26.1 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waltham, MA and Grafton, MA.
1
Start on US 20
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto US 20
178 ft
·
3 sec
·
Weston Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto South Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Street
4
Continue on River Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
River Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
6
Keep slight right at fork
240 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Albany New York
7
Continue on this road
393 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
Toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Albany New York
8
Continue on this road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
9
Merge onto I 90
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 96
Toward MA 122: Millbury, Worcester
11
Keep slight right at fork
214 ft
·
7 sec
12
Turn slight right onto MA 122
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Grafton Road
13
Continue on MA 122
3.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Worcester Street
14
Arrive at destination
MA 140
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.3 miles from Waltham, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 30.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 20 / Main Street
Depart onto US 20 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
7
3.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Albany New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Al...
5
4.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
30.3 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward MA 122: Millbury, Worcester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 96
Toward MA 122: Millbury, Worcester
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.52 one way
$11.04 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.02 | $12.04 |
| premium | $4.82 | $6.55 | $13.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.62 | $15.23 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.56
Massachusetts Turnpike
(26.1 mi)
$1.56
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.62 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Grafton, MA
Late night in Grafton on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
48m 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?
This 34.5-mile journey is primarily highway-focused, with 76% of your time spent on high-speed routes. You will settle into a steady rhythm during the longest stretch of the trip, which involves 26.1 miles of uninterrupted driving on the Massachusetts Turnpike. As you transition off the turnpike, the route shifts to local roads including Worcester Street and South Street to reach your final destination. While the highway sections offer a consistent, efficient pace, the transition to local streets provides a change in tempo as you approach Grafton. Expect a functional, direct drive that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding, scenic backroads.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.1 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Worcester Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 20 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 34.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 20 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waltham, MA and Grafton, MA, road signs point toward Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York, Mass Pike West: Warcester and Worcester.
Mass Pike: Boston
3.2 mi in
|
~6m
Albany New York
3.2 mi in
|
~6m
Mass Pike West: Warcester
3.4 mi in
|
~6m
Worcester
30.3 mi in
|
~38m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 34.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.1 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.56 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 Grafton, 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: near the start (US 20 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Minute Man National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park and Adams 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 Grafton, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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