Origin
Acton, MA
Afternoon in Acton on Friday
Local time
4:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Acton, MA to Cambridge, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
19.9 mi
32 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Acton, MA
Italo Melo
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Acton, MA to Cambridge, MA is 19.9 miles and takes about 34 minutes via Concord Turnpike/Rte 2, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip within the Northeast region, connecting two points in Massachusetts. Given its short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a quick commute or a brief excursion. You'll primarily be on well-maintained roadways designed for efficient travel between these two locations. It’s a practical drive with minimal fuss.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 19.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This drive is a mixed bag, with 56% of the journey taking place on highways like Concord Turnpike and Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2. Expect stretches of faster-paced driving, including a continuous segment of 7.2 miles on Concord Turnpike. As you approach Cambridge, the character will likely shift from the more open highway feel to more developed, potentially urban driving conditions. The route balances efficient travel with sections that might require more attention as you get closer to your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Concord Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 7.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 16.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 19.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 16.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 miles (US 3; MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.3 miles (MA 2A / Massachusetts Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
16.8 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn
5
16.9 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
US 3; MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway
Merge onto US 3; MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway toward US 3 North, MA 16 East: Arlington, Medford
Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 3 North, MA 16 East: Arlington, Medfo...
6
17.3 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
MA 2A / Massachusetts Avenue
Turn right onto MA 2A / Massachusetts Avenue toward MA 2A East: Cambridge
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward MA 2A East: Cambridge
5
18.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
Somerville Avenue
Turn left onto Somerville Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
19.7 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
Line Street
At end of road, turn right onto Line Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Acton, MA and Cambridge, MA, road signs point toward Woburn and Medford.
Woburn
16.8 mi in
|
~25m
Medford
16.9 mi in
|
~25m
|
via US 3; MA 16
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Concord Turnpike | 7.2 mi | 9m |
| Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2 | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| Concord Highway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Concord Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Massachusetts Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Elm Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Beacon Street | 1 mi | 3m |
| Great Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Concord Turnpike
— 7.2 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Acton, MA and Cambridge, MA.
1
Start on Concord Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Concord Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto MA 2A; MA 119
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Great Road
3
Continue on MA 2A; MA 119
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
Elm Street
4
Enter roundabout onto MA 2; MA 2A
512 ft
·
6 sec
·
Elm Street
5
Continue on MA 2; MA 2A
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Elm Street
6
Continue on MA 2; MA 2A
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Concord Turnpike
7
Continue on MA 2
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2
8
Continue on MA 2
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Concord Highway
9
Continue on MA 2
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Concord Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
473 ft
·
13 sec
Toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Merge onto US 3; MA 16
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Alewife Brook Parkway
Toward US 3 North, MA 16 East: Arlington, Medford
12
Turn right onto MA 2A
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Massachusetts Avenue
Toward MA 2A East: Cambridge
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto Somerville Avenue
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
Somerville Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn right onto Beacon Street
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Beacon Street
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto Cooney Street
295 ft
·
12 sec
·
Cooney Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto Line Street
294 ft
·
19 sec
·
Line Street
17
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
460 ft
·
19 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Leonard Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.18 one way
$6.37 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $3.47 | $6.95 |
| premium | $4.82 | $3.78 | $7.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.39 | $8.79 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.75
Concord Turnpike
(3.7 mi)
$0.26
Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2
(3.5 mi)
$0.25
Concord Turnpike
(3.5 mi)
$0.24
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$1
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6 | 0 | $2.09 | $0.96 |
| Efficient EV | 5 | 0 | $1.74 | $0.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8 | 0 | $2.79 | $1.27 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Cambridge, MA
Afternoon in Cambridge on Friday
Local time
4:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
7 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
34m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Acton, MA to Cambridge, MA covers 19.9 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Concord Turnpike, Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2, Concord Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.9 miles from Acton, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.18 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 19.9 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 miles (US 3; MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.3 miles (MA 2A / Massachusetts Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Acton, MA and Cambridge, MA, road signs point toward Woburn and Medford.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Minute Man National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park and Adams National Historical Park. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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