Andover, MA to New Bedford, MA is 81.2 miles and takes about 1h 46m via Amvets Highway and I-93, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive will take you south through the Northeast region, staying within Massachusetts for the entire trip. It's a straightforward journey, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a direct route between these two points without extensive planning. Consider this drive for its efficiency, especially if you're aiming to reach your destination quickly.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.6 miles from Andover, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 81.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route leans heavily towards highway travel, with 61% of the drive on major roads like Amvets Highway and I-93. You'll experience stretches of consistent speed, including a notable 23.3-mile segment on Amvets Highway where you can maintain momentum. The profile suggests a generally faster-paced journey, allowing for steady progress. Expect a driving experience characterized by efficient travel on well-maintained roadways, rather than winding scenic byways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Amvets Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 23.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Amvets Highway and I 93. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Elm Street.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.2 miles you will encounter 18 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 0.1 miles (Elm Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (Dascomb Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Elm Street
Turn left onto Elm Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
1.8 mi into trip|~4m in|Dascomb Road
Keep slight right at fork onto Dascomb Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
37.4 mi into trip|~51m in
Take the exit toward MA 24 South: Fall River
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 4
Toward MA 24 South: Fall River
7
61.4 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward MA 140 South: New Bedford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 17A
Toward MA 140 South: New Bedford
8
77.5 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward Mount Pleasant Street, Airport Road
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 4
Toward Mount Pleasant Street, Airport Road
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Amvets Highway
23.3 mi
26m
I 93
20.2 mi
24m
MA 140
15.9 mi
18m
Southeast Expressway
8 mi
10m
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
3 mi
4m
Interstate 93 HOV lane
2.5 mi
3m
Purchase Street
1.8 mi
3m
Dascomb Road
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Amvets Highway
— 23.3 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Andover, MA and New Bedford, MA.
1
Start on Summer Street
435 ft·18 sec·Summer Street
2
Turn left onto Elm Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·Elm Street
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on Central Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Central Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto Andover Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Andover Street
5
Keep slight right at fork onto Dascomb Road
1.6 mi·3 min·Dascomb Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto Frontage Road
450 ft·8 sec·Frontage Road
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 93 South: Boston
8
Merge onto I 93
17 mi·19 min·I 93
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
1.7 mi·1 min·Interstate 93 HOV lane
Use the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
0.8 mi·1 min·Interstate 93 HOV lane
11
Merge onto I 93; US 1
3.0 mi·4 min·John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
8.0 mi·10 min·Southeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93; US 1
3.4 mi·4 min·I 93; US 1
Toward I 93 South, US 1 South: Providence Rhode Island
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 4Toward MA 24 South: Fall RiverUse the slight left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on MA 24
23 mi·26 min·Amvets Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Exit 17AToward MA 140 South: New BedfordUse the right lane.
17
Turn straight onto MA 140
16 mi·18 min·MA 140
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 4Toward Mount Pleasant Street, Airport RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto Mount Pleasant Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Mount Pleasant Street
20
Turn left onto Nauset Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·Nauset Street
21
Continue on Purchase Street
1.8 mi·3 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
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under two hours, this trip is best suited for a single-day excursion. You won't need to worry about breaking up the drive with overnight stays. Aim to depart mid-morning to avoid the worst of any local rush hour traffic. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, keeping your tank topped up should be straightforward. A practical tip for this route: pay attention to the transition points between Amvets Highway and I-93, as these can sometimes be busy.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.6 miles from Andover, MA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.3 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.6 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
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 Andover, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Andover, MA
This is one driving day of about 81.2 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Andover, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Amvets Highway for about 23.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.6 mi from Andover, MA
· 55m into the drive
The midpoint is around 40.6 miles from Andover, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
National Historical Park
"The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in, in all New England..nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses, parks and gardens more opulent, than in New Bedford…all t...
From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penn’s Hill to the gentleman’s country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of “heroes, statesmen, philosophers…and learned wome...
Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach o...
Lowell’s water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation – including immigrant families and early female factory workers – into an uncertain new industrial era. Nearly 200 years later, the changes t...
At Minute Man National Historical Park the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and structures associated with April 19, 1775, and witness the Ameri...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 15.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.00 one way
$25.99 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$14.17
$28.34
premium
$4.82
$15.42
$30.84
diesel
$5.61
$17.93
$35.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.4
0
$8.53
$3.90
Efficient EV
20.3
0
$7.10
$3.25
EV Truck/SUV
32.5
0
$11.37
$5.20
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (64% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Andover, MA
Night
in Andover on Friday
Local time
11:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New Bedford, MA
Night
in New Bedford on Friday
Local time
11:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
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 46m 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 Andover, MA to New Bedford, MA covers 81.2 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Amvets Highway, I 93, MA 140. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.6 miles from Andover, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.00 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 81.2 miles you will encounter 18 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 0.1 miles (Elm Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (Dascomb Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Andover, MA to New Bedford, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, Adams National Historical Park and Boston 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.
