Origin
Worcester, MA
Late night in Worcester on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Worcester, MA to New Bedford, 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 28m
Distance
70.1 mi
113 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
New Bedford, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Worcester to New Bedford covers 70.4 miles of Massachusetts landscape, typically taking about 1 hour and 13 minutes behind the wheel. Because the entire route consists of local roads rather than high-speed interstates, you should budget roughly $11 for fuel to complete the journey. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You will navigate through the heart of the Northeast, moving from the inland city of Worcester toward the coastal environment of New Bedford. It is a straightforward, manageable drive that offers a practical alternative to highway commuting.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Providence Expressway | 15.4 mi | 19m |
| I 195 | 10.2 mi | 12m |
| Providence Pike | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| Eddie Dowling Highway | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| Worcester Providence Turnpike | 7 mi | 8m |
| North Smithfield Expressway | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| Purple Heart Highway | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| US 6 | 3.3 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
East Providence Expressway
— 15.4 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Worcester, MA and New Bedford, MA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto Myrtle Street
263 ft
·
15 sec
·
Myrtle Street
3
Turn right onto Southbridge Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Southbridge Street
4
Turn left onto Quinsigamond Avenue
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
Quinsigamond Avenue
5
Continue on MA 146
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Purple Heart Highway
6
Continue on MA 122A; MA 146
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Worcester-Providence Turnpike
7
Continue on MA 146
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Purple Heart Highway
8
Continue on MA 146
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Worcester Providence Turnpike
9
Continue on MA 146
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Purple Heart Highway
10
Continue on MA 146
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Providence Pike
11
Continue on MA 146
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Purple Heart Highway
12
Continue on RI 146
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
North Smithfield Expressway
13
Continue on RI 146
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Eddie Dowling Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on RI 146
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Louisquisset Pike
15
Merge onto I 95
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto US 6
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
US 6
Exit 36A
Toward I 195 East, US 6 East: East Providence, Cape Cod
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 195; US 1A; US 6
15 mi
·
19 min
·
East Providence Expressway
Toward US 6: Pawtucket Avenue, Seekonk MA
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 195
10 mi
·
12 min
·
I 195
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 25
Toward Penniman Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on Penniman Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Penniman Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto Purchase Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Purchase Street
22
Continue on Pleasant Street
432 ft
·
10 sec
·
Pleasant Street
23
Continue on Sixth Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Sixth Street
24
Turn left onto Market Street
237 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
25
Turn left onto Pleasant Street
172 ft
·
3 sec
·
Pleasant Street
26
Arrive at destination
Pleasant Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.1 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 38.2 and 68.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
38.2 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
39.4 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 195 East, US 6 East: East Providence, Cape Cod
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 36A
Toward I 195 East, US 6 East: East Providence,...
8
42.7 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 195; US 1A; US 6 / East Providence Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 195; US 1A; US 6 / East Providence Expressway toward US 6: Pawtucket Avenue, Seekonk MA
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 6: Pawtucket Avenue, Seekonk MA
6
58.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
I 195
Keep slight right at fork onto I 195
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
68.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward Penniman Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 25
Toward Penniman Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.22 one way
$22.44 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $12.23 | $24.47 |
| premium | $4.82 | $13.31 | $26.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.48 | $30.95 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.64
Worcester Providence Turnpike
(7 mi)
$0.49
Worcester-Providence Turnpike
(2.1 mi)
$0.15
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$1
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21 | 0 | $7.36 | $3.36 |
| Efficient EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.13 | $2.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28 | 0 | $9.81 | $4.49 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
New Bedford, MA
Late night in New Bedford on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°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
11 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 28m 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 turn-heavy local drive as you navigate your way out of Worcester using Myrtle Street, Southbridge Street, and Quinsigamond Avenue. With a highway share of 0%, this route demands your full attention as you transition between various local arteries rather than cruising on a monotonous interstate. There are no long, uninterrupted stretches of road to zone out on, so prepare for consistent steering and speed adjustments throughout the 70.4-mile journey. The character of this drive is defined by its localized nature, requiring you to remain engaged with the road conditions from start to finish.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.4 mi on East Providence Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East Providence Expressway and I 195. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 38.2 miles in near I 95.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 38.2 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.4 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.7 miles (I 195; US 1A; US 6 / East Providence Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 New Bedford, MA, road signs point toward Cape Cod and Seekonk.
Cape Cod
39.4 mi in
|
~48m
|
via US 6
Seekonk
42.7 mi in
|
~53m
|
via I 195; US 1A; US 6
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 New Bedford, MA
Full guide →New Bedford is in Massachusetts on the southern coast. New Bedford's excellent harbor made it a natural fishing and whaling center. It was the world's premier whaling port in the 19th century, and, for a time, "the richest city in the world" and "the city that lit the world" because of whale oil production. New Bedford neighbor Acushnet is the birthplace of the Titleist golf ball.
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 28m. Total distance: 70.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.4 miles on East Providence Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.64 in tolls one way, starting with Worcester Providence 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 New Bedford, 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 38.2 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.4 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.7 miles (I 195; US 1A; US 6 / East Providence Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at New Bedford, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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