Origin
Worcester, MA
Late night in Worcester on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Worcester, MA to Carlisle, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
37.9 mi
61 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Carlisle, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Worcester to Carlisle, you are looking at a manageable 37.9-mile trip that typically takes about 51 minutes. Since the entire journey is well under an hour, it serves perfectly as a straightforward day trip, eliminating any need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $6 on fuel, making this an incredibly budget-friendly route for a weekend outing. The path keeps you within the Northeast region, transitioning from the central hub of Worcester to the more residential, quiet atmosphere of Carlisle. It is a practical, efficient drive that prioritizes speed over sightseeing, ideal for those who value reaching their destination without unnecessary complications.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 17.7 mi | 20m |
| I 290 | 11.5 mi | 13m |
| Carlisle Road | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Westford Street | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Lincoln Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Boston Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Westford Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 17.7 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Worcester, MA and Carlisle, MA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto MA 9
154 ft
·
4 sec
·
Lincoln Square
3
Turn left onto MA 70
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Lincoln Street
4
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 70
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Lincoln Street
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 290: Marlboro
6
Merge onto I 290
11 mi
·
13 min
·
I 290
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
2 min
Exit 32B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
8
Merge onto I 495
18 mi
·
20 min
·
I 495
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 83
Toward Westford
10
Turn right onto Boston Road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Boston Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on Carlisle Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Carlisle Road
Use the straight lane.
12
At end of road, turn left onto MA 225
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Carlisle Road
13
Continue on MA 225
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Westford Street
14
Enter roundabout onto MA 225
158 ft
·
4 sec
·
Westford Road
15
Continue on MA 225
71 ft
·
2 sec
·
Westford Road
16
Arrive at destination
MA 225
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 33.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
MA 70 / Lincoln Street
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 70 / Lincoln Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
13.9 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 32B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
5
32.2 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward Westford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 83
Toward Westford
5
32.5 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
Boston Road
Turn right onto Boston Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
33.9 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
MA 225 / Carlisle Road
At end of road, turn left onto MA 225 / Carlisle Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.07 one way
$12.13 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.61 | $13.23 |
| premium | $4.82 | $7.20 | $14.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.37 | $16.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.98 | $1.82 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.31 | $2.43 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Carlisle, MA
Late night in Carlisle on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Berlin, MA
19 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
51m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 77% of this route is spent on major roadways. You will navigate via I-290 and I-495, with the latter providing your longest uninterrupted stretch of 17.7 miles. The drive begins with the fast-paced, multi-lane environment of the interstates before you eventually transition onto the slower, local pace of Carlisle Road. While the interstate sections allow you to maintain a steady speed, the character of the road shifts significantly once you exit the highway. You will experience a blend of high-speed commuting lanes followed by the more intimate, narrow feel of the final approach into Carlisle.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.7 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and I 290. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near MA 70 / Lincoln Street.
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 37.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 1.8 miles (MA 70 / Lincoln Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 13.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 32.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
On the drive from Worcester, MA to Carlisle, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Westford along the way.
Westford
32.2 mi in
|
~40m
About the Cities
Starting 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 51m. Total distance: 37.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.7 miles on I 495. 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 Carlisle, 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 1.8 miles (MA 70 / Lincoln Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 13.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 32.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Minute Man National Historical Park, Lowell National Historical Park and Boston 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 Carlisle, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Carlisle, MA
More trips to Carlisle, MA
Explore more options from Worcester, MA or browse trips ending in Carlisle, MA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MA road trips.