Trip from Boston, MA to Ashburnham, MA

Drive Time

1h 29m

Distance

54.5 mi

88 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min

4 AM

1h 23m ★

6 AM

1h 30m

8 AM

1h 44m

10 AM

1h 35m

12 PM

1h 33m

3 PM

1h 35m

5 PM

1h 43m

8 PM

1h 26m

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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Boston, MA

Phil Evenden

Ashburnham, MA

TUBARONES PHOTOGRAPHY

Trip Overview

If you are looking to escape the city for the rolling landscapes of Ashburnham, this 54.5-mile trek from Boston is an ideal day trip. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 29 minutes behind the wheel, making it a manageable journey that does not require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $9 for fuel, keeping the trip quite affordable. Navigating through the Northeast, the route transitions from the density of Boston toward the quieter reaches of Massachusetts. It serves as a straightforward connection, perfect for a quick getaway when you want to minimize time in the car and maximize your time at the destination.

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

27.2 miles from Boston, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .

Drive Character

This drive offers a mixed-road profile, requiring you to adapt to different traffic environments as you head west. You will rely on a combination of the Concord Turnpike, Captain Isaac Davis Highway, and Massachusetts Avenue to complete the journey. With only 33% of the trip spent on highways, you will encounter a fair amount of local driving rather than a monotonous interstate grind. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is 11.7 miles along the Concord Turnpike, which provides a brief moment of consistency before the road shifts character. Prepare for a varied driving experience that moves away from high-speed corridors into more localized transit.

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

There are about 44 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 11.7 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 early in the drive near Beacon Street.

Route Complexity 9/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 54.5 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: near the start (Beacon Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (Cambridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 24 key points

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

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Beacon Street

Turn right onto Beacon Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | Cambridge Street

Turn right onto Cambridge Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

3.1 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the exit toward MA 28, MA 38: Somerville, Medford

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 21 Toward MA 28, MA 38: Somerville, Medford

3.3 mi into trip | ~7m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MA 28 South, MA 38 North: Somerville, Medford

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

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward MA 28 South, MA 38 North: Somerville, Me...

6.4 mi into trip | ~13m in | MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway

At end of road, turn left onto MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Boston, MA to Ashburnham, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Medford along the way.

Medford

3.1 mi in | ~6m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Concord Turnpike	11.7 mi	17m
Captain Isaac Davis Highway	11.2 mi	15m
Massachusetts Avenue	6.2 mi	9m
Cambridge Turnpike	3.3 mi	5m
Concord Highway	2.9 mi	3m
Ashburnham State Road	2.3 mi	4m
Fitchburg Road	1.7 mi	2m
Water Street	1.6 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Concord Turnpike — 11.7 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Boston, MA and Ashburnham, MA.

Start on Tremont Street

230 ft · 11 sec · Tremont Street

Turn right onto Beacon Street

302 ft · 11 sec · Beacon Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto Somerset Street

340 ft · 13 sec · Somerset Street

Turn left onto Ashburton Place

210 ft · 7 sec · Ashburton Place

Keep slight right at fork onto Ashburton Place

253 ft · 8 sec · Ashburton Place

Turn straight onto Bowdoin Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Bowdoin Street

Turn right onto Cambridge Street

439 ft · 21 sec · Cambridge Street

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto Sudbury Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Sudbury Street

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

1.1 mi · 2 min

Toward I 93 North: Concord NH

Merge onto I 93

1.3 mi · 1 min · I 93

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec

Exit 21 Toward MA 28, MA 38: Somerville, Medford Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Toward MA 28 South, MA 38 North: Somerville, Medford Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto MA 38

1.2 mi · 2 min · Mystic Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto Harvard Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Harvard Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on Warner Street

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Warner Street

Enter roundabout onto Powder House Boulevard

127 ft · 2 sec · Powder House Boulevard

Continue on Powder House Boulevard

0.9 mi · 1 min · Powder House Boulevard

At end of road, turn left onto MA 16

1.0 mi · 2 min · Alewife Brook Parkway

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto MA 2

4.1 mi · 5 min · Concord Turnpike

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on MA 2

2.9 mi · 3 min · Concord Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on MA 2

3.3 mi · 5 min · Cambridge Turnpike

Use the none / straight / right lanes.

Continue on MA 2; MA 2A

3.9 mi · 6 min · Concord Turnpike

Use the none lane.

Continue on MA 2; MA 2A

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Elm Street

Enter roundabout onto MA 2; MA 111

407 ft · 5 sec · Union Turnpike

Continue on MA 2; MA 111

0.6 mi · 39 sec · Union Turnpike

Continue on MA 2; MA 111

6.2 mi · 9 min · Massachusetts Avenue

Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.

Continue on MA 2

0.3 mi · 21 sec · George W Stanton Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on MA 2

11 mi · 15 min · Captain Isaac Davis Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2

3.8 mi · 5 min · Concord Turnpike

Turn right onto Abbott Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Abbott Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto MA 12

1.6 mi · 2 min · Water Street

Turn left onto MA 2A; MA 12

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Laurel Street

Turn slight right onto MA 2A; MA 12

1.1 mi · 1 min · Kimball Street

Enter roundabout onto MA 2A; MA 12; MA 31

71 ft · 3 sec · River Street

Continue on MA 2A; MA 12; MA 31

0.9 mi · 2 min · River Street

Turn right onto Mayland Street

0.1 mi · 33 sec · Mayland Street

Continue on Fairview Street

508 ft · 28 sec · Fairview Street

Turn left onto Westminster Hill Road

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Westminster Hill Road

Turn right onto MA 12

1.4 mi · 3 min · Ashburnham Street

Continue on MA 12

2.3 mi · 4 min · Ashburnham State Road

Continue on MA 12

1.7 mi · 2 min · Fitchburg Road

Continue on MA 12

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Main Street North

Turn right onto MA 101

136 ft · 2 sec · Water Street

Arrive at destination

MA 101

Trip Plan

Since the trip is a relatively short 1 hour and 29 minutes, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule. You won't need to worry about complex stop planning, as the entire distance can easily be covered in one go without a mandatory break. However, keep in mind that the mix of local roads and highways means travel times can fluctuate based on daily traffic patterns, so check your navigation app before heading out. Because your total fuel cost is estimated at $9, you can easily top off your tank near your starting point in Boston and arrive in Ashburnham with fuel to spare. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage by planning a direct arrival to maximize your time in the destination region.

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 27.2 miles from Boston, MA, or about 45m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11.7 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 54.5 miles or 1h 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 27.2 miles or 45m 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 13m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Boston, 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 Boston, MA

This is one driving day of about 54.5 miles and 1h 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Boston, 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 Concord Turnpike for about 11.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 27.2 mi from Boston, MA · 45m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Acton, MA

27 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

Acton, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 54.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Acton, MA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 27.2 miles from Boston, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Ashburnham, MA

The final approach into Ashburnham, 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 Ashburnham, 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

$8.67 one way

$17.35 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.40	$9.43	$18.87
premium	$4.80	$10.30	$20.59
diesel	$5.64	$12.11	$24.22

Estimated Tolls: $1.09

Concord Turnpike (7.8 mi) $0.55

Concord Turnpike (3.9 mi) $0.27

Cambridge Turnpike (3.3 mi) $0.23

Union Turnpike (0.6 mi) $0.04

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

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	16.3	$5.72	$2.62
Efficient EV	13.6	$4.77	$2.18
EV Truck/SUV	21.8	$7.63	$3.49

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (68% 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 2 days ago

Origin

Boston, MA

Afternoon in Boston on Sunday

Local time

4:41 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ashburnham, MA

Afternoon in Ashburnham on Sunday

Local time

4:41 PM

EDT

Current temp

53°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

2 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 29m 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 Boston, MA to Ashburnham, MA covers 54.5 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Concord Turnpike, Captain Isaac Davis Highway, Massachusetts Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 27.2 miles from Boston, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.67 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 Boston, MA to Ashburnham, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Medford along the way.

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Trip from Boston, MA to Ashburnham, 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 Ashburnham, MA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Boston, MA

Ashburnham, MA

Same local time

2 degrees warmer at arrival

1h 29m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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