Origin
Wayland, MA
Late night in Wayland on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wayland, MA to Worcester, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
27.9 mi
45 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wayland, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition from the suburbs of Wayland to the city of Worcester, this 27.9-mile trip is an efficient choice. You can expect to reach your destination in about 40 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $4 for fuel should cover your travel needs for the entire journey. Navigating through the Northeast, you will experience a straightforward connection between these two Massachusetts locations. Because the drive is short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule without worrying about long-distance fatigue. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a change of scenery, this route provides a reliable and practical path.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 | 13.1 mi | 15m |
| Boston Post Road | 9.1 mi | 15m |
| Lincoln Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Lakeside Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Lincoln Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 290
— 13.1 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wayland, MA and Worcester, MA.
1
Start on this road
116 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto US 20
9.1 mi
·
15 min
·
Boston Post Road
3
Continue on US 20
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
East Main Street
4
Continue on Lincoln Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Lincoln Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Lakeside Avenue
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
7
Merge onto I 495
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 65B
Toward I 290 West: Worcester
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on I 290
13 mi
·
15 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 21
Toward Ware, Framingham
11
Turn right onto MA 70
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Lincoln Street
12
Turn right onto MA 9
158 ft
·
2 sec
·
Lincoln Square
13
Turn left onto Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 11.2 and 26.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
11.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
US 20 / Lakeside Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto US 20 / Lakeside Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
11.4 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
5
11.8 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 495 / Blue Star Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 495 / Blue Star Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
13.3 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 290 West: Worcester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 65B
Toward I 290 West: Worcester
6
26.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward Ware, Framingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 21
Toward Ware, Framingham
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.47 one way
$8.93 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.87 | $9.74 |
| premium | $4.82 | $5.30 | $10.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.16 | $12.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.93 | $1.34 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.44 | $1.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.91 | $1.79 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Worcester, MA
Late night in Worcester on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
40m 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 drive offers a mixed-road profile, transitioning from local surface streets to more open highway travel. You will spend roughly 47% of your time on highways, with a significant 13.1-mile stretch occurring on I-290. As you move from the Boston Post Road and Lincoln Street onto the interstate, the pace of the drive shifts noticeably. The journey balances the stop-and-go nature of local roads with the faster, more consistent flow of the highway. By the time you reach Worcester, you will have experienced a varied driving environment that keeps the trip from feeling like a monotonous interstate grind.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.1 mi on I 290.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.2 miles in near US 20 / Lakeside Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 27.9 miles you will encounter 8 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 11.2 miles (US 20 / Lakeside Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 11.8 miles (I 495 / Blue Star Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
545 ft
119 ft
Total Climb
822 ft
Total Descent
458 ft
Highest Point
545 ft
~19.9 mi in
Elevation Range
426 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Worcester, MA
Full guide →Explore fine arts, history, and take in a show in Worcester, a medium sized city in Central Massachusetts about an hour's drive west of Boston. Worcester's seven hills and their valleys contain top notch museums, nine colleges and universities, beautiful parks, and food from all over the globe.
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 40m. Total distance: 27.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). 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 13.1 miles on I 290. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Worcester, 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 11.2 miles (US 20 / Lakeside Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 11.8 miles (I 495 / Blue Star Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Worcester, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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