Traveling from West Tisbury to Worcester covers 116 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 10 minutes. This trip is ideally suited for a single-day journey, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $18 for fuel to complete the trek. By utilizing major routes like I-495, MA-25, and West Falmouth Highway, you can expect a straightforward transit across the Northeast. Because the drive is relatively short, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, whether you are heading out for business or a quick getaway. Plan for at least one stop along the way to break up the time behind the wheel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
58 miles from West Tisbury, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 495
59.5 mi
1h 8m
MA 25
9.6 mi
11m
West Falmouth Highway
8.3 mi
11m
Woods Hole - Vineyard Haven Ferry
7.9 mi
45m
State Road
7.2 mi
12m
Turnpike Road
4.8 mi
7m
General MacArthur Boulevard
4.1 mi
6m
Boston Turnpike
4.1 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 59.5 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Tisbury, MA and Worcester, MA.
1
Start on State Road
1.6 mi·2 min·State Road
2
Keep slight right at fork onto State Road
5.5 mi·9 min·State Road
3
Continue on Beach Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Beach Street
4
Turn left onto Water Street
388 ft·11 sec·Water Street
5
Turn right
369 ft·27 sec
6
Continue on Woods Hole - Vineyard Haven Ferry
7.9 mi·45 min·Woods Hole - Vineyard Haven Ferry
7
Continue
203 ft·18 sec
8
At end of road, turn left onto Railroad Avenue
416 ft·21 sec·Railroad Avenue
9
Merge onto Woods Hole Road
3.3 mi·7 min·Woods Hole Road
10
Continue on Locust Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Locust Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto MA 28
0.1 mi·9 sec·North Main Street
12
Continue on MA 28
1.0 mi·2 min·Palmer Avenue
13
Continue on MA 28
8.3 mi·11 min·West Falmouth Highway
14
Enter roundabout onto MA 28
0.1 mi·17 sec·General MacArthur Boulevard
15
Continue on MA 28
4.0 mi·5 min·General MacArthur Boulevard
16
Enter roundabout onto MA 28
402 ft·13 sec·MA 28
17
Continue on MA 28
1.0 mi·1 min·MA 28
18
Continue on MA 25
9.6 mi·11 min·MA 25
19
Continue on I 495
59 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 59BToward MA 9 West: WorcesterUse the straight / right lanes.
21
Merge onto MA 9
4.8 mi·7 min·Turnpike Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on MA 9
0.8 mi·1 min·Belmont Street
23
Continue on MA 9
4.1 mi·6 min·Boston Turnpike
24
Continue on MA 9
0.3 mi·41 sec·Boston Worcester Turnpike
25
Continue on MA 9
0.6 mi·1 min·Belmont Street
26
Turn slight left onto Shrewsbury Street
1.5 mi·2 min·Shrewsbury Street
27
Enter roundabout onto Front Street
168 ft·2 sec·Front Street
28
Continue on Front Street
427 ft·11 sec·Front Street
29
Turn right onto Foster Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·Foster Street
30
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi·16 sec·Main Street
31
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
To ensure a smooth trip, aim to depart early to avoid potential congestion on the major highways leading toward Worcester. Since the total drive time is just over 3 hours, a single well-timed stop will keep you refreshed and focused. Keep in mind that the $18 fuel estimate is based on typical conditions, so consider topping off your tank before you leave the island to avoid last-minute price fluctuations. Because this is a highway-heavy route, monitor traffic reports for I-495 specifically, as this long stretch is the most likely place to encounter delays. Use the flexibility of this short trip to adjust your departure time based on real-time traffic data rather than sticking to a rigid schedule.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58 miles from West Tisbury, MA, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.5 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 26 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Worcester, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Tisbury, 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 West Tisbury, MA
This is one driving day of about 116 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from West Tisbury, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 495 for about 59.5 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 103.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.6 mi into trip|~2m in|State Road
Keep slight right at fork onto State Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
7.3 mi into trip|~12m in|Water Street
Turn left onto Water Street
Navigation decision point
5
15.4 mi into trip|~58m in|Railroad Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Railroad Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
102.9 mi into trip|~2h 49m in
Take the exit toward MA 9 West: Worcester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 59B
Toward MA 9 West: Worcester
5
103.3 mi into trip|~2h 50m in|MA 9 / Turnpike Road
Merge onto MA 9 / Turnpike Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.56 one way
$37.13 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$20.25
$40.49
premium
$4.82
$22.03
$44.05
diesel
$5.61
$25.61
$51.22
Estimated Tolls: $0.63
Turnpike Road
(4.8 mi)$0.34
Boston Turnpike
(4.1 mi)$0.29
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
$19
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.8
0
$12.18
$5.57
Efficient EV
29
0
$10.15
$4.64
EV Truck/SUV
46.4
0
$16.24
$7.42
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 Jun 21, 2022
Origin
West Tisbury, MA
Night
in West Tisbury on Saturday
Local time
9:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Worcester, MA
Night
in Worcester on Saturday
Local time
9:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
12 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
3h 10m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 68% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will navigate a mix of local connectors and major interstates, transitioning from the coastal atmosphere of West Tisbury toward the interior of Massachusetts. A significant portion of the trip involves a 59.5-mile stretch on I-495, which serves as the longest uninterrupted leg of your journey. While the highway segments provide a consistent pace, be prepared for the shift in road character as you move from the initial local highways onto the busier interstate system. Expect a functional, efficient drive that prioritizes steady progress over technical maneuvering.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.5 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and MA 25. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near State Road.
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 116 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.6 miles (State Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7.3 miles (Water Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.4 miles (Railroad Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 116 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 10m 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 59.5 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.63 in tolls one way, starting with Turnpike Road. 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 1.6 miles (State Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7.3 miles (Water Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.4 miles (Railroad Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Worcester, MA, but most travelers stay overnight.
