Origin
Waltham, MA
Evening in Waltham on Sunday
Local time
5:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waltham, MA to Plymouth, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
49.4 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waltham, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Plymouth, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Waltham to Plymouth covers a 49.1-mile stretch through Massachusetts, typically taking about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should plan for a single day of travel rather than an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $7, this trip is highly affordable for a quick getaway between the two Northeast locations. You will navigate exclusively via local roads, avoiding highways entirely throughout the journey. It is a straightforward route that works best for travelers who prefer local roads over the fast-paced nature of interstate travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MA 3 | 28.2 mi | 35m |
| Southeast Expressway | 8 mi | 10m |
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Main Street | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Samoset Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Galen Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Centre Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
MA 3
— 28.2 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waltham, MA and Plymouth, MA.
1
Start on US 20
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn slight right
253 ft
·
9 sec
Use the right lane.
3
Turn straight onto MA 16
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Galen Street
4
Continue on Centre Street
499 ft
·
19 sec
·
Centre Street
5
Continue on Centre Street
317 ft
·
11 sec
·
Centre Street
6
Turn straight onto Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Washington Street
7
Turn slight left onto Centre Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Centre Street
8
Continue on Centre Street
70 ft
·
2 sec
·
Centre Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the ramp onto Centre Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Centre Street
10
Continue on Washington Street
286 ft
·
6 sec
·
Washington Street
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto Washington Street
302 ft
·
6 sec
·
Washington Street
12
Continue on Saint James Street
181 ft
·
3 sec
·
Saint James Street
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 90 East: Boston
14
Merge onto I 90
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
512 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 134C-B-A
Toward I 93: South Station, Concord New Hampshire, Quincy
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
453 ft
·
10 sec
Exit 134C-B
Toward I 93 South, I 93 North: Quincy, Concord New Hampshire
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 134C
Toward I 93 South: Quincy
Use the slight left lane.
18
Merge onto I 93; US 1; MA 3
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Southeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 3
28 mi
·
35 min
·
MA 3
Exit 7
Toward MA 3 South: Cape Cod
Use the slight left lane.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 15B
Toward US 44 West: Samoset Street, Carver
22
Turn straight onto Samoset Street
254 ft
·
9 sec
·
Samoset Street
23
Continue on Samoset Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Samoset Street
24
Turn right onto MA 3A
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Court Street
Use the right lane.
25
Arrive at destination
MA 3A
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.7 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 10.4 and 48 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
10.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward I 93: South Station, Concord New Hampshire, Quincy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 134C-B-A
Toward I 93: South Station, Concord New Hampshi...
8
10.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 93 South, I 93 North: Quincy, Concord New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 134C-B
Toward I 93 South, I 93 North: Quincy, Concord...
8
10.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 93 South: Quincy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 134C
Toward I 93 South: Quincy
8
19.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
MA 3
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 3 toward MA 3 South: Cape Cod
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 7
Toward MA 3 South: Cape Cod
6
48 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 44 West: Samoset Street, Carver
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 15B
Toward US 44 West: Samoset Street, Carver
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.91 one way
$15.81 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.62 | $17.24 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.38 | $18.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.91 | $21.81 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.37
Massachusetts Turnpike
(6.2 mi)
$0.37
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$0
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.19 | $2.37 |
| Efficient EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.32 | $1.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.92 | $3.16 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Plymouth, MA
Evening in Plymouth on Sunday
Local time
5:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph
4% chance
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
8 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
1h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a very different experience than your typical highway commute, as this 49.1-mile journey is defined by its turn-heavy, local nature. You will spend 0% of your time on highways, relying instead on a series of local streets including Elm, River, and Farwell. Because you are navigating local roads, there is no long, uninterrupted stretch; your longest segment is 0 miles on Elm Street, meaning you will be making frequent adjustments behind the wheel. The personality of this drive is technical and engaging, requiring your full attention as you transition between local road segments.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.2 mi on MA 3.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MA 3 and Southeast Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.4 miles you will encounter 15 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 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Plymouth, MA, road signs point toward Concord New Hampshire and Quincy.
Concord New Hampshire
10.4 mi in
|
~17m
Quincy
10.4 mi in
|
~17m
About the Cities
Starting in Waltham, MA
Full guide →Waltham is a city in the American state of Massachusetts. It is 10 miles (16 km) west of central Boston on the Charles River, and 3 miles from the city limits to the east. Waltham is part of the Greater Boston conurbation; even so, it has a unique character compared to Boston's other suburbs, and is one of the most significant regional centers for employment, culture, education and food in the entire metro area. It is sometimes called "Watch City" because it was home to Waltham Watch Company. Many high-tech companies have made Waltham their home. It is also home to Bentley College and Brandeis University.
Arriving in Plymouth, MA
Full guide →Plymouth is on the South Shore of Massachusetts. Known as "America's Hometown," Plymouth is most famous for being the final landing place of the Pilgrims who arrived on board the Mayflower in 1620, after storms lead them away from their desired settlement, the Hudson River. The settlement they established, Plimoth Colony, was one of the earliest successful settlements of Europeans in North America. In addition to its obvious historical draws, modern-day Plymouth is a picturesque seaside town with a bustling summer resident population who come back year after year to enjoy its beaches, ponds, and forests. Although summer is Plymouth's peak tourist season, spring (before Memorial Day) and fall (after Labor Day) can be excellent times to visit. These bumper seasons are less crowded and certainly more comfortable temperature-wise.
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 1h 10m. Total distance: 49.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.2 miles on MA 3. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.37 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 Plymouth, 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 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Plymouth, 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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