Origin
East Dennis, MA
Afternoon in East Dennis on Sunday
Local time
4:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Dennis, MA to Cambridge, MA
Drive Time
1h 56m
Distance
82.5 mi
133 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 48m
★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 13m
10 AM
2h 2m
12 PM
2h 1m
3 PM
2h 3m
5 PM
2h 12m
8 PM
1h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Dennis, MA
David Kanigan
Cambridge, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
Traveling from East Dennis to Cambridge covers 82.5 miles of Northeast terrain, typically taking about 1 hour and 56 minutes to complete. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it connects the Cape Cod area to the Greater Boston region without requiring an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $13 for fuel for the journey. Because the distance is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to head out whenever it suits your plans. It is a straightforward transit between two distinct parts of Massachusetts that avoids the need for complex multi-day logistics.
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
41.2 miles from East Dennis, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that transitions through several different road types as you head north. While 14% of your journey is spent on major highways, the majority of the trip involves navigating local roads that demand your full attention. You will spend your longest uninterrupted period on the Pilgrims Highway, which spans 42.3 miles of the total distance. The route relies on a mix of the Mid Cape Highway and MA 3 to bridge the gap between your starting point and the destination. Be prepared for a shift in pace as you move from the coastal atmosphere of East Dennis into the denser traffic patterns near Cambridge.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pilgrims Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 42.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 79.6 miles in near MA 3.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 79.6 miles (MA 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 80.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
79.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
MA 3
Take the exit onto MA 3 toward Storrow Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 18
Toward Storrow Drive
8
80.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none lane.
Toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Stat...
8
80.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway
6
80.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
|
Cambridge Street
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
82.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
|
Leonard Avenue
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pilgrims Highway | 42.3 mi | 53m |
| Mid Cape Highway | 22.3 mi | 30m |
| MA 3 | 8.9 mi | 12m |
| East West Dennis Road | 3 mi | 5m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Cambridge Street | 1.4 mi | 4m |
| Sagamore Bridge | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Charles River Dam Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Pilgrims Highway
— 42.3 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Dennis, MA and Cambridge, MA.
1
Start on this road
186 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto MA 134
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
East West Dennis Road
Use the none lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward US 6 West: Hyannis, Boston
4
Merge onto US 6
22 mi
·
30 min
·
Mid Cape Highway
5
Continue on US 6
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Sagamore Bridge
6
Continue on US 6
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
Pilgrim Highway
7
Continue on MA 3
42 mi
·
53 min
·
Pilgrims Highway
Use the none lane.
8
Continue on MA 3
8.4 mi
·
11 min
·
MA 3
Exit 43B
Toward I 93 North: Boston
Use the none lane.
9
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto MA 3
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
MA 3
Exit 18
Toward Storrow Drive
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Station
Use the none lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
213 ft
·
9 sec
Toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on MA 28
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Charles River Dam Road
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on MA 28
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Monsignor O'Brien Highway
Toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway, Somerville
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
1.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Cambridge Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Turn right onto Line Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Line Street
17
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
460 ft
·
19 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Leonard Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-two-hour drive, you can easily complete it in one go without needing planned stops for rest or refueling. Monitoring local traffic conditions is your best strategy, as the mix of highway and local roads can be sensitive to peak travel times. Keep your $13 fuel budget in mind, but remember that local road segments may impact your actual consumption compared to pure highway driving. Because there are no mandatory stops built into this 82.5-mile path, feel free to adjust your departure time to avoid the heaviest congestion on MA 3. Focus on navigating the turn-heavy sections early in your trip to ensure a smoother arrival in Cambridge.
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 41.2 miles from East Dennis, MA, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.3 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 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.2 miles or 57m 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 33m
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 East Dennis, 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 East Dennis, MA
This is one driving day of about 82.5 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from East Dennis, 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 Pilgrims Highway for about 42.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.2 mi from East Dennis, MA · 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.2 miles from East Dennis, 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
$13.13 one way
$26.26 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $14.28 | $28.56 |
| premium | $4.80 | $15.59 | $31.17 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.33 | $36.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.66 | $3.96 |
| Efficient EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.22 | $3.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33 | 0 | $11.55 | $5.28 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Cambridge, MA
Afternoon in Cambridge on Sunday
Local time
4:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
26°F
Rocky Point, NY
41 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
14 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 56m 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 East Dennis, MA to Cambridge, MA covers 82.5 miles and takes about 1h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pilgrims Highway, Mid Cape Highway, MA 3. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.2 miles from East Dennis, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.13 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 82.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 79.6 miles (MA 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 80.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from East Dennis, MA to Cambridge, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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