Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
36.1 mi
58 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Waltham, MA
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking to get from Worcester to Waltham, this 36.1-mile journey is an efficient trip that typically takes about 48 minutes. It is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you will not need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend roughly $6 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly commute or quick getaway within the Northeast region. By utilizing the Massachusetts Turnpike for the majority of the trip, you will find a straightforward path connecting these two Massachusetts hubs. Whether you are heading out for business or a visit, this direct route provides a reliable way to navigate between these cities without unnecessary complications.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 26.1 mi | 30m |
| Grafton Street | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Moody Street | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Lexington Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Commonwealth Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Front Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Grafton Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Worcester, MA and Waltham, MA.
Start on Main Street
Turn right onto Front Street
Enter roundabout onto Grafton Street
Continue on Grafton Street
Continue on MA 122
Enter roundabout onto MA 122
Continue on MA 122
Continue on MA 122
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Continue on this road
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn slight right onto MA 30
Turn left onto Lexington Street
Continue on Moody Street
Turn right onto US 20
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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.
A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 18 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 31.6 and 33.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 95: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Providence Rhode Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Waltham, Portsmouth New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 30: Newton, Weston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 30 East: Newton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Lexington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$5.78 one way
$11.55 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.30 | $12.60 |
| premium | $4.82 | $6.85 | $13.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.97 | $15.94 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.57
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 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 | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Worcester on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Partly Cloudy then Areas Of Fog
Destination
Late night in Waltham on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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.
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 72% of your travel spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a consistent rhythm during the longest stretch of the drive, which covers 26.1 miles along the Massachusetts Turnpike. The experience transitions from the local feel of Grafton Street in Worcester to the more structured environment of the interstate, eventually concluding near the Moody Street area in Waltham. Expect a steady, functional pace rather than a winding scenic tour. Because the majority of the drive is spent on major thoroughfares, you can anticipate a predictable journey that prioritizes speed and efficiency over technical driving.
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 31.6 miles in.
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 13 decision points packed into just 36.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 31.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Worcester, MA and Waltham, MA, road signs point toward Providence Rhode Island, Portsmouth New Hampshire and Weston.
Providence Rhode Island
Portsmouth New Hampshire
Weston
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 48m. Total distance: 36.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). 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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