Origin
Cambridge, MA
Night in Cambridge on Thursday
Local time
11:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cambridge, MA to Southbridge, MA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
56.9 mi
92 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Southbridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cambridge, MA to Southbridge, MA covers 56.9 miles and takes about 1h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Massachusetts Turnpike, Southbridge Road, Worcester Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40.2 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.11 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 56.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 19m highway drive covering 56.9 miles, with most of the trip on Massachusetts Turnpike and Southbridge Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 40.2 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 25 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 40.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Southbridge Road. 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
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.9 miles you will encounter 17 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 (Cambridge Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 3; MA 2 / Memorial Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (Western Avenue): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Cambridge Street
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
Navigation decision point
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.
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Western Avenue
Turn right onto Western Avenue toward I 90: Western Avenue, Mass Pike
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90: Western Avenue, Mass Pike
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
8
42.5 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester
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 90
Toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester
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 Southbridge, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Worcester along the way.
Worcester
42.5 mi in
|
~54m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 40.2 mi | 47m |
| Southbridge Road | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| Worcester Road | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Worcester Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Southbridge Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Memorial Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Central Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Ellery Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 40.2 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cambridge, MA and Southbridge, 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
40 mi
·
47 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 90
Toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward MA 12 South
15
Turn straight onto MA 12
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Southbridge Street
16
Continue on US 20
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Southbridge Road
17
Enter roundabout onto US 20
123 ft
·
4 sec
·
Southbridge Road
18
Continue on US 20
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
Southbridge Road
19
Continue on US 20
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Worcester Road
Use the left / uturn / straight lanes.
20
Turn left onto MA 169
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Southbridge Road
21
Continue on MA 169
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Worcester Street
22
Continue on Central Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Central Street
23
Turn left
56 ft
·
5 sec
24
Turn right
115 ft
·
8 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.5 mi from Cambridge, MA · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.5 miles from Cambridge, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Southbridge, MA
The final approach into Southbridge, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.11 one way
$18.21 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.93 | $19.86 |
| premium | $4.82 | $10.80 | $21.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.56 | $25.13 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.41
Massachusetts Turnpike
(40.2 mi)
$2.41
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$2
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.97 | $2.73 |
| Efficient EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.97 | $3.64 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Southbridge, MA
Night in Southbridge on Thursday
Local time
11:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°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
23 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
1h 19m 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 Southbridge, MA covers 56.9 miles and takes about 1h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Massachusetts Turnpike, Southbridge Road, Worcester Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.5 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 $9.11 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 56.9 miles you will encounter 17 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 (Cambridge Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 3; MA 2 / Memorial Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (Western Avenue): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Cambridge, MA to Southbridge, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Worcester along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Boston National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Adams National Historical Park. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Southbridge, MA
Explore more options from Cambridge, MA or browse trips ending in Southbridge, MA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MA road trips.
Explore maps for Cambridge, MA or Southbridge, MA on MapSof.net.