Origin
Waltham, MA
Late night in Waltham on Wednesday
Local time
3:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waltham, MA to South Yarmouth, MA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 58m
Distance
85.1 mi
137 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 50m
★
6 AM
1h 58m
8 AM
2h 15m
10 AM
2h 4m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 5m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waltham, MA
Wikimedia Commons
South Yarmouth, MA
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
The drive from Waltham, MA to South Yarmouth, MA covers 85.1 miles and takes about 1h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MA 3, Mid Cape Highway, Pilgrims Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.9 miles on MA 3. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.20 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.6 miles from Waltham, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MA 3 | 30.9 mi | 39m |
| Mid Cape Highway | 19.3 mi | 26m |
| Pilgrims Highway | 12 mi | 15m |
| Southeast Expressway | 8 mi | 10m |
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Main Street | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Station Avenue | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
MA 3
— 30.9 mi, about 39m
Traffic on I-93
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 208 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~4,593 veh/hr typical · worst 6,053
Quietest
2 AM
~603 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 89 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 Waltham, MA and South Yarmouth, 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
31 mi
·
39 min
·
MA 3
Exit 7
Toward MA 3 South: Cape Cod
Use the slight left lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 3
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Pilgrims Highway
22
Continue on MA 3
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Pilgrim Highway
23
Continue on US 6
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Sagamore Bridge
24
Continue on US 6
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Mid Cape Highway
Use the slight right lane.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 75
Toward Yarmouth, Dennis
26
Keep slight right at fork
203 ft
·
4 sec
Toward Station Avenue, Bass River
27
Turn straight onto Station Avenue
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Station Avenue
28
Turn right onto North Main Street
256 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Main Street
29
Turn left onto MA 28
88 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bridge Street
30
Arrive at destination
MA 28
Trip Plan
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 42.6 miles from Waltham, MA, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.9 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 19 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.6 miles or 1h 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Yarmouth, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Waltham, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waltham, MA
This is one driving day of about 85.1 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Waltham, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on MA 3 for about 30.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.6 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 10.4 and 82.9 — 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
7
82.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Station Avenue, Bass River
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Station Avenue, Bass River
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.20 one way
$28.39 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $15.63 | $31.26 |
| premium | $5.06 | $16.94 | $33.89 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $18.76 | $37.52 |
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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.5 | 0 | $8.94 | $4.08 |
| Efficient EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.45 | $3.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34 | 0 | $11.91 | $5.45 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
South Yarmouth, MA
Late night in South Yarmouth on Wednesday
Local time
3:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
13 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
1h 58m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Adams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penn’s Hill to the gentleman’s country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of “heroes, statesmen, philosophers…and learned wome...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
$15
near mile 17.6
Park Closure: Upcoming Site Closure – Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill
Park Closure: Bag Policy
Boston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 11.7
View on nps.gov
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach o...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 14.7
View on nps.gov
Minute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 11.7
View on nps.gov
Cape Cod National Seashore
National Seashore
The great Outer Beach described by Thoreau in the 1800s is protected within the national seashore. Forty miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds, and uplands support diverse species. Lighthouses...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
$25
near mile 82.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
85.1 mi in 1h 58m — 54% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: MA 3.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.9 mi on MA 3.
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 10.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.1 miles you will encounter 17 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
157 ft
8 ft
Total Climb
270 ft
Total Descent
313 ft
Highest Point
157 ft
~54.7 mi in
Elevation Range
150 ft
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 South Yarmouth, 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 →Founded 1634
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.
Top landmarks
- • Boston Manufacturing Company — cotton mill in Waltham, Massachusetts
- • Rose Art Museum — art museum in Waltham, Massachusetts
- • Wilson's Diner
Arriving in South Yarmouth, MA
Full guide →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 58m. Total distance: 85.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.9 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 South Yarmouth, 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 — Adams National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park and Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (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 South Yarmouth, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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