Trip from Billerica, MA to Cambridge, MA

Drive Time

34m

Distance

19.5 mi

31 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min

4 AM

0h 31m ★

6 AM

0h 34m

8 AM

0h 40m

10 AM

0h 36m

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.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Billerica, MA

Italo Melo

Cambridge, MA

Phil Evenden

Trip Overview

Traveling from Billerica to Cambridge covers a concise 21.8-mile distance that typically takes about 34 minutes to complete. Because this route is a quick local transit, you can easily handle it as a straightforward day trip without needing any overnight stops. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $3, it is an economical way to navigate between these two Massachusetts locations. You will stay entirely within the Northeast region, making for a familiar and predictable travel experience. Whether you are heading into the city for work or a visit, this short journey is efficient and requires minimal planning. It serves as a practical connection for anyone looking to bridge the gap between suburban Billerica and the urban environment of Cambridge.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

9.7 miles from Billerica, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will navigate via a combination of Concord Road, US 3 South, and I 95 North to reach your destination. Interestingly, the highway share for this route is 0%, meaning you will spend the entirety of your time on local roads and surface streets. Because the longest stretch on Concord Road is 0 miles, the drive is characterized by frequent transitions and turns rather than long, uninterrupted segments. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that keeps you active behind the wheel as you navigate the local infrastructure.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 3 is the longest continuous segment at about 6.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 19.5 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 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 7 miles (US 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.3 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

1.8 mi into trip | ~4m in

Turn left toward US 3 South: Burlington

Navigation decision point

Toward US 3 South: Burlington

7 mi into trip | ~10m in | US 3

Keep slight left at fork onto US 3 toward I 95 North, US 3 South: Boston, Peabody

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 72A Toward I 95 North, US 3 South: Boston, Peabody

9.3 mi into trip | ~14m in | US 3

Take the exit onto US 3 toward US 3 South: Winchester

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 51A Toward US 3 South: Winchester

9.5 mi into trip | ~15m in | US 3 / Cambridge Street

Merge onto US 3 / Cambridge Street

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

19.3 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 Along This Route

On the drive from Billerica, MA to Cambridge, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Peabody along the way.

Peabody

7 mi in | ~10m | via US 3

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 3	6.5 mi	9m
Cambridge Street	2.4 mi	2m
Cambridge Road	2 mi	2m
Concord Road	1.7 mi	3m
Mystic Street	1.4 mi	1m
Massachusetts Avenue	1.2 mi	3m
Beacon Street	1 mi	3m
Yankee Division Highway	0.9 mi	1m

Longest stretch: US 3 — 6.5 mi, about 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Billerica, MA and Cambridge, MA.

Start on MA 3A

314 ft · 8 sec · Boston Road

Continue on MA 3A

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Concord Road

Continue on Concord Road

1.6 mi · 3 min · Concord Road

Turn left

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Toward US 3 South: Burlington

Merge onto US 3

5.0 mi · 5 min · US 3

Keep slight left at fork onto US 3

1.0 mi · 2 min · US 3

Exit 72A Toward I 95 North, US 3 South: Boston, Peabody Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 3

0.3 mi · 43 sec · US 3

Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128

0.9 mi · 1 min · Yankee Division Highway

Take the exit onto US 3

0.2 mi · 31 sec · US 3

Exit 51A Toward US 3 South: Winchester Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto US 3

0.4 mi · 34 sec · Cambridge Street

Use the left / straight lanes.

Continue on US 3

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cambridge Road

Continue on US 3

1.9 mi · 2 min · Cambridge Street

Continue on US 3

1.4 mi · 1 min · Mystic Street

Turn left onto MA 60

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Chestnut Street

Turn right onto Warren Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Warren Street

Turn straight onto Broadway

0.5 mi · 51 sec · Broadway

Turn right onto MA 16

0.4 mi · 1 min · Alewife Brook Parkway

Turn left onto MA 2A

1.2 mi · 3 min · Massachusetts Avenue

Toward MA 2A East: Cambridge Use the left lane.

Turn left onto Somerville Avenue

0.2 mi · 54 sec · Somerville Avenue

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn right onto Beacon Street

1.0 mi · 3 min · Beacon Street

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto Cooney Street

295 ft · 12 sec · Cooney Street

At end of road, turn right onto Line Street

294 ft · 19 sec · Line Street

Turn left onto Leonard Avenue

460 ft · 19 sec · Leonard Avenue

Arrive at destination

Leonard Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a short 34-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though you should account for local traffic patterns common in this part of Massachusetts. You will not need to plan for any stops along the way, allowing you to head straight to your destination without interruption. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, keep your GPS active to ensure you stay on the correct path through the various local road transitions. Budgeting $3 for fuel should be more than sufficient for this 21.8-mile transit. Use this compact drive to your advantage by planning your arrival to coincide with your specific schedule, as the lack of required stops makes your timing highly predictable.

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 9.7 miles from Billerica, MA, or about 15m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.5 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 19.5 miles or 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 9.7 miles or 15m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 25m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cambridge, MA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Billerica, 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 Billerica, MA

This is one driving day of about 19.5 miles and 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Billerica, MA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on US 3 for about 6.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 9.7 mi from Billerica, MA · 15m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brookhaven, NY

10 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

Brookhaven, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brookhaven, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 9.7 miles from Billerica, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Cambridge, MA

The final approach into Cambridge, 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 Cambridge, 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

$3.10 one way

$6.21 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.40	$3.38	$6.75
premium	$4.80	$3.68	$7.37
diesel	$5.64	$4.33	$8.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$28–$53

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	5.9	$2.05	$0.94
Efficient EV	4.9	$1.71	$0.78
EV Truck/SUV	7.8	$2.73	$1.25

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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Billerica, MA

Night in Billerica on Sunday

Local time

11:01 PM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cambridge, MA

Night in Cambridge on Sunday

Local time

11:01 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

49°F

Brookhaven, NY

10 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

2 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

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 Billerica, MA to Cambridge, MA covers 19.5 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 3, Cambridge Street, Cambridge Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 9.7 miles from Billerica, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.10 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.

On the drive from Billerica, MA to Cambridge, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Peabody along the way.

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Trip from Billerica, MA to Cambridge, MA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Cambridge, MA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Billerica, MA

Cambridge, MA

Same local time

2 degrees cooler at arrival

34m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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