Origin
Worcester, MA
Late night in Worcester on Sunday
Local time
12:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Worcester, MA to Chelsea, 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 4m
Distance
48.6 mi
78 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
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Chelsea, MA
Italo Melo
Trip Overview
Worcester to Chelsea is 48.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 4 minutes via Massachusetts Turnpike and US 1, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward trip stays within Massachusetts, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a drive that's primarily on major highways, making it a quick and efficient option for getting from point A to point B. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a direct route with minimal fuss, perfect for a single-day journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 37.7 mi | 45m |
| Grafton Street | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| US 1 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Front Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Grafton Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Fourth Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Chester Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 37.7 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Worcester, MA and Chelsea, MA.
1
Start on Main Street
293 ft
·
12 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto Front Street
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Front Street
3
Enter roundabout onto Grafton Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
Grafton Street
4
Continue on Grafton Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Grafton Street
5
Continue on MA 122
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
Grafton Street
6
Enter roundabout onto MA 122
39 ft
·
0 sec
·
Grafton Street
7
Continue on MA 122
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grafton Street
8
Continue on MA 122
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Grafton Road
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
11
Merge onto I 90
38 mi
·
45 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
12
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.
13
Keep slight left at fork
453 ft
·
10 sec
Exit 134C-B
Toward I 93 South, I 93 North: Quincy, Concord New Hampshire
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 134B
Toward I 93 North: Concord New Hampshire
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 93; US 1; MA 3
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
US 1
Exit 19
Toward US 1 North: Tobin Bridge, Revere
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
17
Take the exit
275 ft
·
8 sec
Toward Fourth Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto Fourth Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Fourth Street
19
Continue on Fourth Street
104 ft
·
5 sec
·
Fourth Street
20
Turn straight onto Hawthorn Street
213 ft
·
5 sec
·
Hawthorn Street
21
Turn right onto Chester Avenue
526 ft
·
29 sec
·
Chester Avenue
22
Turn left onto Shawmut Street
212 ft
·
9 sec
·
Shawmut Street
23
Arrive at destination
Shawmut Street
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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.3 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 43.2 and 48.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
43.2 mi into trip
|
~54m 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
43.3 mi into trip
|
~55m 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
43.4 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 93 North: Concord New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 134B
Toward I 93 North: Concord New Hampshire
9
45.6 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1 toward US 1 North: Tobin Bridge, Revere
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 19
Toward US 1 North: Tobin Bridge, Revere
6
48.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward Fourth Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Fourth Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.78 one way
$15.56 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.48 | $16.96 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.23 | $18.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.73 | $21.46 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.26
Massachusetts Turnpike
(37.7 mi)
$2.26
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.10 | $2.33 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.25 | $1.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.80 | $3.11 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Chelsea, MA
Late night in Chelsea on Sunday
Local time
12:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°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 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 4m 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 is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 87% of the journey on faster roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Massachusetts Turnpike, including one stretch that lasts for 37.7 miles without interruption. While the majority of the route involves higher speeds and more direct travel, you will also encounter sections on Grafton Street and US 1, which may offer a slightly different driving experience. Overall, anticipate a predominantly high-speed journey designed for efficient transit.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.7 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 43.2 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 48.6 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 43.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.4 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 Worcester, MA and Chelsea, MA, road signs point toward Concord New Hampshire, Quincy and Revere.
Concord New Hampshire
43.2 mi in
|
~54m
Quincy
43.2 mi in
|
~54m
Revere
45.6 mi in
|
~59m
|
via US 1
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.
Arriving in Chelsea, MA
Full guide →Everett is a city in Massachusetts with a population of 49,000 (2020). Chelsea is a city with a population of 41,000 (2020).
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 4m. Total distance: 48.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.7 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.26 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 Chelsea, 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 43.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Adams 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 Chelsea, 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 Chelsea, MA
Explore more options from Worcester, MA or browse trips ending in Chelsea, MA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MA road trips.