Origin
Amherst, MA
Afternoon in Amherst on Sunday
Local time
3:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Amherst, MA to New Bedford, MA
Drive Time
2h 39m
Distance
118.7 mi
191 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 29m
★
6 AM
2h 40m
8 AM
3h 1m
10 AM
2h 47m
12 PM
2h 45m
3 PM
2h 48m
5 PM
3h 0m
8 PM
2h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Amherst, MA
Phil Evenden
New Bedford, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
The drive from Amherst, MA to New Bedford, MA covers 118.7 miles and takes about 2h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Massachusetts Turnpike, East Providence Expressway, I 195 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.4 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.89 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
59.4 miles from Amherst, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 39m highway drive covering 118.7 miles, with most of the trip on Massachusetts Turnpike and East Providence Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 30.4 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 47 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Massachusetts Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 30.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and East Providence Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.9 miles in near US 20 / Thorndike Street.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 118.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.9 miles (US 20 / Thorndike Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 51.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
19.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
US 20 / Thorndike Street
Turn left onto US 20 / Thorndike Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
51.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward MA 146, US 20: Worcester, Providence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 94
Toward MA 146, US 20: Worcester, Providence
8
88 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m 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
91.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 5m 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 none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 6: Pawtucket Avenue, Seekonk MA
7
116.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 36m 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
Towns Along This Route
Between Amherst, MA and New Bedford, MA, road signs point toward Providence, Cape Cod and Seekonk.
Providence
51.8 mi in
|
~1h 15m
Cape Cod
88 mi in
|
~1h 59m
|
via US 6
Seekonk
91.3 mi in
|
~2h 5m
|
via I 195; US 1A; US 6
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 30.4 mi | 35m |
| 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 |
| Federal Street | 5.6 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 30.4 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Amherst, MA and New Bedford, MA.
1
Start on Depot Road
449 ft
·
20 sec
·
Depot Road
2
Turn right onto MA 116
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Pleasant Street
3
Turn right onto MA 9
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
College Street
4
Continue on MA 9
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Belchertown Road
Use the none lane.
5
Continue on MA 9
391 ft
·
6 sec
·
USMC League Highway
6
Continue on MA 9
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Federal Street
7
Continue on Federal Street
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Federal Street
8
At end of road, turn right onto MA 9
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Federal Street
9
Turn right onto US 202
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto North Washington Street
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Washington Street
11
Continue on North Liberty Street
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
North Liberty Street
12
Continue on Belchertown Street
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Belchertown Street
13
Continue on Bridge Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Bridge Street
14
Turn left onto Palmer Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Palmer Road
15
Turn right onto MA 181
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Sykes Street
16
Continue on MA 181
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
17
Continue on US 20
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
18
Turn left onto US 20
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Thorndike Street
Use the left lane.
19
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Use the left lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
308 ft
·
7 sec
21
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
this road
22
Merge onto I 90
30 mi
·
35 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the none lane.
23
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 94
Toward MA 146, US 20: Worcester, Providence
24
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
this road
Toward MA 146, US 20
25
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward MA 146
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward MA 146 South
27
Merge onto MA 122A; MA 146
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Worcester-Providence Turnpike
28
Continue on MA 146
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Purple Heart Highway
29
Continue on MA 146
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Worcester Providence Turnpike
30
Continue on MA 146
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Purple Heart Highway
31
Continue on MA 146
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Providence Pike
32
Continue on MA 146
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Purple Heart Highway
33
Continue on RI 146
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
North Smithfield Expressway
Use the none lane.
34
Continue on RI 146
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Eddie Dowling Highway
Use the none lane.
35
Continue on RI 146
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Louisquisset Pike
Use the none lane.
36
Merge onto I 95
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
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.
38
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 none / straight / slight right lanes.
39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 195
10 mi
·
12 min
·
I 195
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
40
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 25
Toward Penniman Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Continue on Penniman Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Penniman Street
42
At end of road, turn right onto Purchase Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Purchase Street
43
Continue on Pleasant Street
432 ft
·
10 sec
·
Pleasant Street
44
Continue on Sixth Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Sixth Street
45
Turn left onto Market Street
237 ft
·
15 sec
·
Market Street
46
Turn left onto Pleasant Street
172 ft
·
3 sec
·
Pleasant Street
47
Arrive at destination
Pleasant Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 59.4 miles from Amherst, MA, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.4 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Bedford, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Amherst, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Amherst, MA
This is one driving day of about 118.7 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Amherst, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Massachusetts Turnpike for about 30.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.4 mi from Amherst, MA · 1h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 59.4 miles from Amherst, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in New Bedford, MA
The final approach into New Bedford, MA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around New Bedford, MA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.89 one way
$37.79 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $20.55 | $41.10 |
| premium | $4.80 | $22.43 | $44.85 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $26.37 | $52.74 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.43
Massachusetts Turnpike
(30.4 mi)
$1.83
Worcester Providence Turnpike
(7 mi)
$0.49
Worcester-Providence Turnpike
(1.6 mi)
$0.11
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.6 | 0 | $12.46 | $5.70 |
| Efficient EV | 29.7 | 0 | $10.39 | $4.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.5 | 0 | $16.62 | $7.60 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
New Bedford, MA
Afternoon in New Bedford on Sunday
Local time
3:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
49°F
Brookhaven, NY
59 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
18 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
2h 39m 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 Amherst, MA to New Bedford, MA covers 118.7 miles and takes about 2h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Massachusetts Turnpike, East Providence Expressway, I 195. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.4 miles from Amherst, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.89 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 118.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.9 miles (US 20 / Thorndike Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 51.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Amherst, MA and New Bedford, MA, road signs point toward Providence, Cape Cod and Seekonk.
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