Origin
Freetown, MA
Morning in Freetown on Saturday
Local time
8:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Freetown, MA to Cambridge, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
49.1 mi
79 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Freetown, MA
Tappiah Sesay
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Freetown to Cambridge is 49.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 11 minutes via Amvets Highway and I-93, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Massachusetts, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. The drive offers a mixed experience, generally straightforward for a single-day journey. Plan for a relatively quick transit, making it ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without a significant time commitment.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 49.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This is a mixed drive, with about 30% of the route on highways. You'll encounter stretches on Amvets Highway, including the longest uninterrupted segment of 28.1 miles. The drive will transition to the faster pace of I-93 and the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway as you approach your destination. Expect a blend of more open road driving and sections that feel more urbanized as you get closer to Cambridge.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Amvets Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 28.1 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 around 3.7 miles in near MA 24 / Amvets Highway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 3.7 miles (MA 24 / Amvets Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
3.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
MA 24 / Amvets Highway
Merge onto MA 24 / Amvets Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
31.7 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 41A
Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
6
46.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Stat...
8
46.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m 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
47.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
Cambridge Street
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
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 Freetown, MA to Cambridge, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Boston along the way.
Boston
3.4 mi in
|
~8m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Amvets Highway | 28.1 mi | 32m |
| I 93 | 11.5 mi | 15m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Slab Bridge Road | 2.2 mi | 5m |
| Cambridge Street | 1.4 mi | 4m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| MA 3 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Elm Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Amvets Highway
— 28.1 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Freetown, MA and Cambridge, MA.
1
Start on this road
272 ft
·
24 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Slab Bridge Road
2.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Slab Bridge Road
3
Continue on Elm Street
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Elm Street
4
Continue on MA 79
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Mill Street
5
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward MA 24 North: Taunton, Boston
7
Merge onto MA 24
28 mi
·
32 min
·
Amvets Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 41A
Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 93; US 1
12 mi
·
15 min
·
I 93; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto MA 3
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
MA 3
Exit 18
Toward Storrow Drive
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Station
13
Keep slight left at fork
213 ft
·
9 sec
Toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on MA 28
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Charles River Dam Road
Use the straight lane.
15
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.
16
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
1.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Cambridge Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Turn right onto Line Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Line Street
18
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
460 ft
·
19 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Leonard Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.5 mi from Freetown, MA · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from Freetown, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.86 one way
$15.72 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.57 | $17.14 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.32 | $18.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.84 | $21.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.16 | $2.36 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.30 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.87 | $3.14 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Cambridge, MA
Morning in Cambridge on Saturday
Local time
8:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
3 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 11m 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 Freetown, MA to Cambridge, MA covers 49.1 miles and takes about 1h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Amvets Highway, I 93, John F. Fitzgerald Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.5 miles from Freetown, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.86 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 49.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 3.7 miles (MA 24 / Amvets Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Freetown, MA to Cambridge, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Boston along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Adams National Historical Park, Boston 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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