Origin
Watertown, MA
Morning in Watertown on Sunday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Watertown, 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 6m
Distance
47 mi
76 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 1m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Watertown, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Plymouth, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Watertown to Plymouth covers 47 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 6 minutes. Since you are staying within the Northeast region of Massachusetts, this trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You can expect to spend approximately $6 on fuel for the journey. Because there are no designated stops required, you have the flexibility to head out and arrive without needing to plan for an overnight stay. It is a straightforward local route, making it an accessible option if you are looking for a quick transition between these two Massachusetts locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MA 3 | 28.2 mi | 35m |
| Southeast Expressway | 8 mi | 10m |
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| 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 |
| Church Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MA 3
— 28.2 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Watertown, MA and Plymouth, MA.
1
Start on Oliver Street
428 ft
·
19 sec
·
Oliver Street
2
Turn right onto Church Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
Church Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 20
383 ft
·
20 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn slight right
253 ft
·
9 sec
Use the right lane.
5
Turn straight onto MA 16
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Galen Street
6
Continue on Centre Street
499 ft
·
19 sec
·
Centre Street
7
Continue on Centre Street
317 ft
·
11 sec
·
Centre Street
8
Turn straight onto Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Washington Street
9
Turn slight left onto Centre Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Centre Street
10
Continue on Centre Street
70 ft
·
2 sec
·
Centre Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the ramp onto Centre Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Centre Street
12
Continue on Washington Street
286 ft
·
6 sec
·
Washington Street
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto Washington Street
302 ft
·
6 sec
·
Washington Street
14
Continue on Saint James Street
181 ft
·
3 sec
·
Saint James Street
15
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 90 East: Boston
16
Merge onto I 90
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
17
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.
18
Keep slight left at fork
453 ft
·
10 sec
Exit 134C-B
Toward I 93 South, I 93 North: Quincy, Concord New Hampshire
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 134C
Toward I 93 South: Quincy
Use the slight left lane.
20
Merge onto I 93; US 1; MA 3
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Southeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
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.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 15B
Toward US 44 West: Samoset Street, Carver
24
Turn straight onto Samoset Street
254 ft
·
9 sec
·
Samoset Street
25
Continue on Samoset Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Samoset Street
26
Turn right onto MA 3A
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Court Street
Use the right lane.
27
Arrive at destination
MA 3A
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.5 miles from Watertown, 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 8 and 45.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
8 mi into trip
|
~13m 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
8.1 mi into trip
|
~13m 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
8.2 mi into trip
|
~13m 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
17.5 mi into trip
|
~27m 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
45.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m 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
$7.52 one way
$15.04 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.20 | $16.41 |
| premium | $4.82 | $8.92 | $17.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.38 | $20.75 |
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: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.11 | $1.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.58 | $3.01 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Morning in Plymouth on Sunday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°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
22 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 6m 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 47-mile trek is a turn-heavy local drive that moves entirely off the highway system. You will navigate through local roads like Church Street, Main Street, and Galen Street, which means you won't encounter any long, monotonous stretches of interstate. In fact, the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on Church Street, requiring your full attention as you handle frequent turns. Expect a more hands-on driving experience rather than a high-speed cruise, as the route prioritizes local navigation over highway efficiency.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 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 8 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 47 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 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.2 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 Watertown, MA and Plymouth, MA, road signs point toward Concord New Hampshire and Quincy.
Concord New Hampshire
8 mi in
|
~13m
Quincy
8 mi in
|
~13m
About the Cities
Starting in Watertown, MA
Full guide →Watertown is a city in the Greater Boston metropolitan area of Massachusetts.
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 6m. Total distance: 47 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). 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 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.2 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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