Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
42.1 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning to travel from Worcester to Cambridge, you are looking at a straightforward 42.1-mile journey that typically takes about 57 minutes. This route is an ideal day trip, as it is short enough to complete in under an hour without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Massachusetts Turnpike, Grafton Street, and River Street. Budgeting around $7 for fuel should cover your needs for this quick transit between these two Massachusetts hubs. Because both cities are located within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent cultural and geographic feel throughout the drive. It is a highly efficient connection that works perfectly for commuters or those heading into the Greater Boston area for the day.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 34 mi | 40m |
| Grafton Street | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| River Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Prospect Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Front Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Grafton Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Line Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cambridge Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Worcester, MA and Cambridge, MA.
Start on Main Street
Turn right onto Front Street
Enter roundabout onto Grafton Street
Continue on Grafton Street
Continue on MA 122
Enter roundabout onto MA 122
Continue on MA 122
Continue on MA 122
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn slight right onto Cambridge Street
Continue on River Street
Continue on Prospect Street
Turn left onto Hampshire Street
Continue on Cambridge Street
Turn right onto Line Street
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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.
A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21 miles from Worcester, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 41.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Merge onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Cambridge, Somerville, Fenway Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto Hampshire Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.74 one way
$13.48 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $7.35 | $14.70 |
| premium | $4.82 | $7.99 | $15.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.30 | $18.59 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.04
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.42 | $2.02 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.89 | $2.69 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Worcester on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Cambridge on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 81% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will quickly settle into the pace of the Massachusetts Turnpike, which accounts for the longest stretch of your journey at 34 miles of uninterrupted driving. While the highway segment provides a fast, consistent rhythm, the transition into local roads like Grafton Street and River Street signals your arrival into the more densely populated areas near Cambridge. Expect a functional, direct experience behind the wheel rather than a winding scenic tour. The route effectively balances high-speed highway travel with the necessary local navigation required to reach your final destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Grafton Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 42.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 5.5 miles (I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Worcester, MA and Cambridge, MA, road signs point toward Allston-Brighton and Fenway Park.
Allston-Brighton
Fenway Park
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 42.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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