Origin
Cambridge, MA
Afternoon in Cambridge on Friday
Local time
12:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cambridge, MA to North Andover, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
38m
Distance
26.9 mi
43 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
North Andover, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cambridge, MA to North Andover, MA covers 26.9 miles and takes about 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 93, I 495, McGrath Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.8 miles on I 93. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.31 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 26.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 38m highway drive covering 26.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 93 and I 495. The longest continuous stretch is about 18.8 miles on I 93.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 93 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 93 and I 495. 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 Cambridge Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 26.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 38m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Cambridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Cambridge Street
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
2.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 93 North, MA 38 North: Medford, Concord New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 93 North, MA 38 North: Medford, Concor...
7
22 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40A
Toward I 495 North: Lawrence
7
26 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward North Andover
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 101
Toward North Andover
7
26.2 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Massachusetts Avenue, North Andover
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Massachusetts Avenue, North Andover
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cambridge, MA and North Andover, MA, road signs point toward Boston and Concord New Hampshire.
Boston
2 mi in
|
~5m
Concord New Hampshire
2.1 mi in
|
~5m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 93 | 18.8 mi | 22m |
| I 495 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| McGrath Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Mystic Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Prospect Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Cambridge Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Waverley Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Massachusetts Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 93
— 18.8 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cambridge, MA and North Andover, MA.
1
Start on Leonard Avenue
267 ft
·
16 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
2
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Cambridge Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on Cambridge Street
0.1 mi
·
36 sec
·
Cambridge Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto Prospect Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Prospect Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto McGrath Highway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
McGrath Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit
206 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 93, MA 38: Medford, Boston
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 93 North, MA 38 North: Medford, Concord New Hampshire
9
Turn straight onto MA 38
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Mystic Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 93 North: Lawrence, Concord New Hampshire
11
Merge onto I 93
19 mi
·
22 min
·
I 93
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 40A
Toward I 495 North: Lawrence
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 495
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
I 495
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 101
Toward North Andover
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
205 ft
·
4 sec
Toward Massachusetts Avenue, North Andover
16
Turn straight onto Massachusetts Avenue
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Massachusetts Avenue
17
Turn sharp left onto Waverley Road
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Waverley Road
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Middlesex Street
142 ft
·
8 sec
·
Middlesex Street
19
Turn right
61 ft
·
4 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.31 one way
$8.61 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.69 | $9.39 |
| premium | $4.82 | $5.11 | $10.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.94 | $11.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.82 | $1.29 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.35 | $1.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
North Andover, MA
Afternoon in North Andover on Friday
Local time
12:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
38m 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 North Andover, MA covers 26.9 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 93, I 495, McGrath Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.4 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 $4.31 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 short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 26.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 38m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Cambridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Cambridge, MA and North Andover, MA, road signs point toward Boston and Concord New Hampshire.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Boston National Historical Park, Lowell National Historical Park and Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. 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.
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