This 86.5-mile drive from Ware, MA to Lynn, MA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 2 minutes. With 68% of the route on highways, it offers a straightforward journey through the Northeast region of Massachusetts. You can expect the fuel costs to be around $14, making it an economical option for a quick getaway or a practical commute. Given the relatively short distance and duration, there's no need to plan for an overnight stay, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule. This route provides a direct connection between two points within the same state, focusing on efficient travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.3 miles from Ware, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Massachusetts Turnpike
58 mi
1h 10m
Southbridge Road
4.4 mi
9m
Main Street
4.2 mi
7m
North Shore Road
2.7 mi
4m
Brookfield Road
2.3 mi
3m
Lynnway
1.7 mi
2m
Ted Williams Tunnel
1.6 mi
2m
West Warren Road
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 58 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ware, MA and Lynn, MA.
1
Start on MA 9; MA 32
28 ft·5 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto South Street
0.9 mi·1 min·South Street
3
Continue on West Warren Road
1.4 mi·2 min·West Warren Road
4
Continue on West Ware Street
1.1 mi·1 min·West Ware Street
5
Continue on Ware Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Ware Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto MA 67
2.6 mi·3 min·Main Street
7
Turn right onto MA 19
390 ft·13 sec·Maple Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto Southbridge Road
4.4 mi·9 min·Southbridge Road
9
Turn straight onto Brookfield Road
224 ft·4 sec·Brookfield Road
10
Turn left onto Southbridge Road Extension
0.2 mi·21 sec·Southbridge Road Extension
11
Continue on Apple Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Apple Road
12
Continue on Warren Road
0.4 mi·37 sec·Warren Road
13
Turn straight onto MA 148
2.3 mi·3 min·Brookfield Road
14
Turn left onto US 20
1.6 mi·3 min·Main Street
15
Continue on US 20
0.6 mi·1 min·Charlton Road
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
17
Merge onto I 84
1.4 mi·2 min·Wilbur Cross Highway
18
Merge onto I 90
57 mi·1 hr 8 min·Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on I 90
1.6 mi·2 min·Ted Williams Tunnel
20
Continue on I 90
1.1 mi·1 min·Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto MA 1A
0.3 mi·34 sec·East Boston Expressway
22
Continue on MA 1A
1.0 mi·1 min·McClellan Highway
23
Continue on MA 1A
1.0 mi·2 min·Lee Burbank Highway
24
Take the exit onto MA 1A
366 ft·11 sec·MA 1A
25
Enter roundabout onto MA 1A
7 ft·0 sec·Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
26
Continue on MA 1A
0.4 mi·34 sec·Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
27
Enter roundabout onto MA 1A
375 ft·4 sec·North Shore Road
28
Continue on MA 1A
2.6 mi·4 min·North Shore Road
29
Continue on MA 1A
1.7 mi·2 min·Lynnway
30
Turn left onto MA 1A
504 ft·12 sec·MA 1A
Use the left lane.
31
Continue on Market Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Market Street
32
Turn right onto Liberty Street
0.3 mi·43 sec·Liberty Street
33
Turn left onto Essex Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Essex Street
34
Turn right onto Rogers Avenue
66 ft·2 sec·Rogers Avenue
35
Arrive at destination
Rogers Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour, 86.5-mile trip, starting your journey earlier in the day can help you avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach the Lynn area. With no designated stops, you have the flexibility to pull over for breaks as needed, though the Massachusetts Turnpike does offer service areas. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $14 estimated cost suggests a reliance on highway travel where service stations might be less frequent than on local roads. A good tip is to ensure your vehicle is topped off before departing Ware to maximize your time on the road and minimize any unplanned stops.
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 43.3 miles from Ware, MA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58 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 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.3 miles or 1h 4m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lynn, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ware, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ware, MA
This is one driving day of about 86.5 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Ware, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Massachusetts Turnpike for about 58 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.9 and 86.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
18.9 mi into trip|~35m in|I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
80.9 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|MA 1A / Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
Enter roundabout onto MA 1A / Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
85.7 mi into trip|~2h in|MA 1A
Turn left onto MA 1A
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
86.1 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|Liberty Street
Turn right onto Liberty Street
Navigation decision point
5
86.3 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|Essex Street
Turn left onto Essex Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.84 one way
$27.69 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$15.10
$30.19
premium
$4.82
$16.42
$32.85
diesel
$5.61
$19.10
$38.20
Estimated Tolls: $3.47
Massachusetts Turnpike
(58 mi)$3.47
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
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26
0
$9.08
$4.15
Efficient EV
21.6
0
$7.57
$3.46
EV Truck/SUV
34.6
0
$12.11
$5.54
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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Ware, MA
Late night
in Ware on Sunday
Local time
3:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Rain
N 6 to 10 mph33% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lynn, MA
Late night
in Lynn on Sunday
Local time
3:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Patchy Fog then Chance Light Rain
NE 1 to 9 mph32% chanceLive 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
10 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
2h 2m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 82.9
Park Closure: Dorchester Heights Temporary Public Access Restrictions
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 92.4
. . . 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
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 82.9
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...
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 66.9
From the Sound to the summits: the New England Trail covers 235 miles from Long Island Sound across long ridges to scenic mountain summits in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail offers panoramic...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 3.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with a significant 68% of the journey utilizing faster roadways. You'll experience a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 58 miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike, allowing for consistent speed and minimal traffic interruptions. While much of the route involves highway driving, you'll also navigate sections on Southbridge Road and Main Street, which may offer a change of pace with more local traffic. The overall character is one of efficiency, designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Southbridge Road. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 18.9 miles in near I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike.
Driving Effort5/10
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 86.5 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 18.9 miles (I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.9 miles (MA 1A / Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 85.7 miles (MA 1A): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 86.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.47 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 18.9 miles (I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.9 miles (MA 1A / Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 85.7 miles (MA 1A): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Salem Maritime 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 Lynn, MA before heading back.
