Origin
Worcester, MA
Late night in Worcester on Tuesday
Local time
5:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Worcester, MA to Shirley, MA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
26.5 mi
43 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Shirley, MA
Renata Meneses
Trip Overview
Worcester to Shirley is 26.5 miles and takes about 35m via I 190 and Concord Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Massachusetts, making it a convenient option for a quick getaway or a simple relocation. The drive is primarily highway-focused, offering a straightforward path between these two Northeast locations. Given its brevity, it's easily manageable for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 190 | 18.1 mi | 20m |
| Concord Turnpike | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Lancaster Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Shirley Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| I 290 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Lincoln Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Front Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 190
— 18.1 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Worcester, MA and Shirley, 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
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Lincoln Street
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 290 East: Marlboro
5
Merge onto I 290
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
I 290
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Exit 19; 20
Toward I 190 North, MA 70: Sterling, Leominster, Burncoat Street, Lincoln Street
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 22
Toward I 190 North: Sterling, Leominster
8
Continue on I 190
18 mi
·
20 min
·
I 190
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 19B
Toward MA 2 East: Boston
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward MA 2 East: Boston
11
Merge onto Leominster Connector
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Leominster Connector
12
Merge onto MA 2
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Concord Turnpike
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 105
Toward Shirley
14
Keep slight right at fork
184 ft
·
4 sec
15
Turn straight onto Shirley Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Shirley Road
16
Continue on Lancaster Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Lancaster Road
17
Continue on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Main Street
18
Continue on Front Street
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Front Street
19
Turn right onto Porter Street
314 ft
·
19 sec
·
Porter Street
20
Turn left onto Chapel Street
75 ft
·
3 sec
·
Chapel Street
21
Arrive at destination
Chapel Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 20.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward I 290 East: Marlboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 290 East: Marlboro
6
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 190 North, MA 70: Sterling, Leominster, Burncoat Street, Lincoln Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 19; 20
Toward I 190 North, MA 70: Sterling, Leominster...
7
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 190 North: Sterling, Leominster
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 22
Toward I 190 North: Sterling, Leominster
5
20.4 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward MA 2 East: Boston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 19B
Toward MA 2 East: Boston
5
20.6 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 2 East: Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward MA 2 East: Boston
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.24 one way
$8.48 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.62 | $9.25 |
| premium | $4.82 | $5.03 | $10.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.85 | $11.70 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.19
Concord Turnpike
(2.7 mi)
$0.19
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$0
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.3 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 | 7.9 | 0 | $2.78 | $1.27 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.32 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.70 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Shirley, MA
Late night in Shirley on Tuesday
Local time
5:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°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
22 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
35m 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 route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 81% of the journey taking place on faster roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 190, including an uninterrupted stretch of 18.1 miles. The Concord Turnpike also contributes to the high highway share. Expect a consistent pace for most of the drive, with the main roads providing a direct connection between Worcester and Shirley. The character remains largely consistent, emphasizing efficient travel.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.1 mi on I 190.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 190 and Concord Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 26.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Worcester, MA to Shirley, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Leominster along the way.
Leominster
1.8 mi in
|
~3m
About the Cities
Starting in Worcester, MA
Full guide →Founded 1848
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.
Top landmarks
- • Clark University — American private university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts
- • Cathedral of Saint Paul — church in Massachusetts, United States
- • Worcester Academy — private high school in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
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 35m. Total distance: 26.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.1 miles on I 190. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.19 in tolls one way, starting with Concord 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 Shirley, 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 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Lowell National Historical Park and Minute Man National Historical Park. 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 Shirley, 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.
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