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Trip from Cambridge, MA to Amherst Center, MA

Data updated 3 hours ago

Drive Time

2h 6m

Distance

91.4 mi

147 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 58m ★
6 AM
2h 7m
8 AM
2h 25m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 24m
8 PM
2h 1m

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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city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States of America

Cambridge, MA

Wikimedia Commons

census-designated place in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States

Amherst Center, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Cambridge, MA to Amherst Center, MA covers 91.4 miles and takes about 2h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Massachusetts Turnpike, Federal Street, South Liberty Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 67.9 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.63 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

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

45.7 miles from Cambridge, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 2h 6m highway drive covering 91.4 miles, with most of the trip on Massachusetts Turnpike and Federal Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 67.9 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 35 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 67.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Federal Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near US 3; MA 2 / Memorial Drive.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 91.4 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 miles (US 3; MA 2 / Memorial Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 54 miles (I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 key points

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

6
1 mi into trip | ~3m in | US 3; MA 2 / Memorial Drive

At end of road, turn left onto US 3; MA 2 / Memorial Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
1.8 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 West: Worcester

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 90 West: Worcester
6
54 mi into trip | ~1h 8m in | I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
70.1 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in

Take the exit toward MA 32: Palmer, Ware

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

Exit 63 Toward MA 32: Palmer, Ware
6
91.1 mi into trip | ~2h 5m in | Main Street

At end of road, turn left onto Main 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.

On the drive from Cambridge, MA to Amherst Center, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Ware along the way.

Ware

70.1 mi in | ~1h 26m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Massachusetts Turnpike 67.9 mi 1h 19m
Federal Street 5.6 mi 10m
South Liberty Street 4.1 mi 7m
North Washington Street 2.1 mi 3m
Belchertown Road 2.1 mi 3m
North Main Street 1.4 mi 2m
South Main Street 1.2 mi 2m
Palmer Road 1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Massachusetts Turnpike — 67.9 mi, about 1h 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Leonard Avenue

267 ft · 13 sec · Leonard Avenue
2

Turn right onto Cambridge Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Cambridge Street
3

Turn left onto Ellery Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Ellery Street
4

Turn right onto Harvard Street

0.2 mi · 59 sec · Harvard Street
5

Turn left onto Bow Street

475 ft · 20 sec · Bow Street
6

Continue on DeWolfe Street

0.2 mi · 41 sec · DeWolfe Street
Use the straight lane.
7

At end of road, turn left onto US 3; MA 2

0.3 mi · 47 sec · Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
8

Turn right onto Western Avenue

478 ft · 18 sec · Western Avenue
Toward I 90: Western Avenue, Mass Pike
9

Turn left onto Soldiers Field Road

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Soldiers Field Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 90: Mass Pike
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Toward I 90 West: Worcester Use the slight right lane.
12

Merge onto I 90

52 mi · 1 hr 1 min · Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

16 mi · 18 min · Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
14

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 2 min
Exit 63 Toward MA 32: Palmer, Ware
15

Turn right onto MA 32

0.8 mi · 1 min · Thorndike Street
Use the right lane.
16

At end of road, turn right onto US 20

0.8 mi · 59 sec · North Main Street
17

Continue on MA 181

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Main Street
18

Continue on MA 181

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Sykes Street
19

Turn left onto Palmer Street

192 ft · 5 sec · Palmer Street
20

Continue on Palmer Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · Palmer Road
21

Turn right onto Bridge Street

0.3 mi · 34 sec · Bridge Street
22

Continue on Belchertown Street

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Belchertown Street
23

Continue on South Liberty Street

4.1 mi · 7 min · South Liberty Street
24

Continue on North Washington Street

2.1 mi · 3 min · North Washington Street
25

Turn straight onto MA 181

1.2 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
26

Turn left onto MA 9

1.3 mi · 2 min · Federal Street
Use the left lane.
27

Continue on Federal Street

4.3 mi · 7 min · Federal Street
28

Continue on MA 9

391 ft · 6 sec · USMC League Highway
29

Continue on MA 9

2.0 mi · 3 min · Belchertown Road
30

Continue on MA 9

378 ft · 12 sec · Belchertown Road
31

Continue on MA 9

0.6 mi · 1 min · College Street
32

Turn right onto Dickinson Street

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Dickinson Street
33

At end of road, turn left onto Main Street

0.3 mi · 48 sec · Main Street
34

Turn left onto Boltwood Avenue

117 ft · 5 sec · Boltwood Avenue
35

Arrive at destination

Boltwood Avenue

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45.7 miles from Cambridge, MA, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.9 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 44m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 45.7 miles or 58m 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 35m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Cambridge, 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 Cambridge, MA

This is one driving day of about 91.4 miles and 2h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cambridge, 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 Massachusetts Turnpike for about 67.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 45.7 mi from Cambridge, MA · 58m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brookhaven, NY

46 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

Albany, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brookhaven, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 45.7 miles from Cambridge, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Massachusetts Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.9 miles.

Arriving in Amherst Center, MA

The final approach into Amherst Center, 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 Amherst Center, MA.

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.

Boston National Historical Park

Boston National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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.

3 mi from route ~6 min detour Free
Park Closure: Dorchester Heights Temporary Public Access Restrictions
View on nps.gov
New England National Scenic Trail

New England National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

From the Sound to the summits: the New England Trail covers 235 miles from Long Island Sound across long ridges to scenic mountain summits in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail offers panoramic...

5 mi from route ~12 min detour Free near mile 85.1
View on nps.gov
Minute Man National Historical Park

Minute Man National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

8 mi from route ~21 min detour Free near mile 9.5
View on nps.gov
Adams National Historical Park

Adams National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

10 mi from route ~24 min detour $15
View on nps.gov
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

. . . 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...

10 mi from route ~24 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Salem Maritime National Historical Park

Salem Maritime National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the...

15 mi from route ~38 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.63 one way

$29.26 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $15.95 $31.90
premium $4.82 $17.36 $34.71
diesel $5.61 $20.18 $40.36

Estimated Tolls: $4.07

Massachusetts Turnpike (67.9 mi) $4.07

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

$15

Tolls

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 32 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 27.4 0 $9.60 $4.39
Efficient EV 22.9 0 $8.00 $3.66
EV Truck/SUV 36.6 0 $12.80 $5.85

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (66% 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 4 days ago

Origin

Cambridge, MA

Night in Cambridge on Tuesday

Local time

10:48 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Amherst Center, MA

Night in Amherst Center on Tuesday

Local time

10:48 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Brookhaven, NY

46 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

6 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 6m 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 Cambridge, MA to Amherst Center, MA covers 91.4 miles and takes about 2h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Massachusetts Turnpike, Federal Street, South Liberty Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 45.7 miles from Cambridge, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.63 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 is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 91.4 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 1 miles (US 3; MA 2 / Memorial Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 54 miles (I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Cambridge, MA to Amherst Center, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Ware along the way.

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