Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
26.9 mi
43 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Harvard, MA
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a quick excursion from Worcester to Harvard, you will find this 26.9-mile journey to be a highly efficient trip. Covering the distance in roughly 36 minutes, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you will not need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend approximately $4 on fuel for the trek, making it a budget-friendly option for travelers. The drive stays entirely within the Northeast region, transitioning you from the city environment of Worcester to the town of Harvard. Since there are no required stops, you have the flexibility to complete the drive in one go. It is an ideal route for those who prefer a straightforward, short-distance commute over a long-haul road trip.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 | 11.5 mi | 13m |
| I 495 | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| Massachusetts Avenue | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Lincoln Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Lincoln Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Worcester, MA and Harvard, MA.
Start on Main Street
Turn right onto MA 9
Turn left onto MA 70
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 70
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 290
Take the exit
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn right onto MA 111
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 23.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto MA 9 / Lincoln Square
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 70 / Lincoln Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the ramp toward I 290: Marlboro
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward MA 111: Boxboro, Harvard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$4.31 one way
$8.61 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.69 | $9.39 |
| premium | $4.82 | $5.11 | $10.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.94 | $11.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.82 | $1.29 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.35 | $1.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Harvard on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate through local thoroughfares, starting from Lincoln Square and following Lincoln Street before transitioning onto I-290. Because the entire route relies on local roads, you should remain attentive to constant turns and changing street conditions. There is no long, uninterrupted highway stretch here, so the pace remains consistent with local traffic patterns. Behind the wheel, you will feel the shift from the dense urban grid of Worcester into the more localized road network leading toward Harvard.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 290 and I 495. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near MA 9 / Lincoln Square.
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 26.9 miles you will encounter 7 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 0.6 miles (MA 9 / Lincoln Square): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (MA 70 / Lincoln Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2.2 miles: 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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 26.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m 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.
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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