Trip from Gardner, MA to Boston, MA

Drive Time

1h 11m

Distance

62.3 mi

100 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 6m ★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 8m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Gardner, MA, MA

Gardner, MA

Mathias Reding

Downtown Boston, MA, MA

Boston, MA

Phil Evenden

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Gardner to Boston, you are looking at a 62.3-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 11 minutes. This journey is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is short enough that you will not need an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $8 on fuel, making it a very budget-friendly transit within the Northeast region. Because this route avoids major highways entirely, it offers a different pace compared to typical interstate travel. It is a straightforward drive that connects you from the local roads of Gardner directly into the heart of Boston without any mandatory stops along the way.

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

31.1 miles from Gardner, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 35m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this 0% highway route relies on navigating Nichols Street, Baker Street, and Willow Street to reach your destination. You will not find any long, uninterrupted highway stretches here, as the longest segment is 0 miles on Nichols Street, meaning the road constantly shifts. The personality of this drive is defined by its local character, requiring your full attention as you transition from the Gardner area toward the city. It is a technical, winding experience that feels far more personal than a standard high-speed commute.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Nichols Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Gardner, MA to Boston, MA is easy. At 1h 11m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Gardner, MA to Boston, MA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Nichols Street Unavailable Refreshing
Baker Street Unavailable Refreshing
Willow Street Unavailable Refreshing
Main Street Unavailable Refreshing
Timpany Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing
American Legion Circle Unavailable Refreshing
Concord Turnpike Unavailable Refreshing
Captain Isaac Davis Highway Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Nichols Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gardner, MA and Boston, MA.

1

Start on the route

95 ft · 12 sec · the route
2

Turn left onto Nichols Street

0.2 mi · 41 sec · Nichols Street
3

Turn left onto Baker Street

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Baker Street
4

Continue on Willow Street

377 ft · 13 sec · Willow Street
5

Turn right onto Main Street

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Main Street
6

Continue on Timpany Boulevard

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Timpany Boulevard
7

Keep slight right to continue on Timpany Boulevard

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Timpany Boulevard
8

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward American Legion Circle

0.2 mi · 16 sec · American Legion Circle
9

Exit the rotary

0.3 mi · 40 sec
10

Merge slight left

14 mi · 20 min
11

Keep slight left to continue on Concord Turnpike

13 mi · 17 min · Concord Turnpike
12

Continue on Captain Isaac Davis Highway

6.3 mi · 9 min · Captain Isaac Davis Highway
13

Continue on Union Turnpike

0.6 mi · 1 min · Union Turnpike
14

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Concord Rotary

328 ft · 4 sec · Concord Rotary
15

Exit the rotary onto Elm Street

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Elm Street
16

Continue on Concord Turnpike

3.7 mi · 5 min · Concord Turnpike
17

Continue on Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2

3.5 mi · 5 min · Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2
18

Continue on Concord Highway

3.4 mi · 4 min · Concord Highway
19

Continue on Concord Turnpike

3.5 mi · 4 min · Concord Turnpike
20

Take the exit slight left toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn

472 ft · 14 sec · MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn
21

Merge slight right onto Alewife Brook Parkway

1.0 mi · 2 min · Alewife Brook Parkway
22

Turn right onto Powder House Boulevard

0.9 mi · 1 min · Powder House Boulevard
23

Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward Powder House Square

233 ft · 5 sec · Powder House Square
24

Exit the rotary

26 ft · 1 sec
25

Continue on Warner Street

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Warner Street
26

Continue on Harvard Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Harvard Street
27

Turn right onto Mystic Avenue

1.3 mi · 2 min · Mystic Avenue
28

Take the ramp straight toward I 93 South: Boston

0.1 mi · 18 sec · I 93 South: Boston
29

Keep slight left to continue on I 93 South: Boston

0.3 mi · 39 sec · I 93 South: Boston
30

Merge slight left

2.0 mi · 2 min
31

Take the exit slight right toward MA 1A Toll: Airport, Government Center

0.2 mi · 22 sec · MA 1A Toll: Airport, Government Center
32

Keep slight right to continue on Government Center

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Government Center
33

Turn straight onto John F. Fitzgerald Surface Road

0.1 mi · 27 sec · John F. Fitzgerald Surface Road
34

Turn right onto State Street

0.3 mi · 55 sec · State Street
35

Continue on Court Street

472 ft · 20 sec · Court Street
36

Turn left onto Tremont Street

335 ft · 12 sec · Tremont Street
37

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning for the 1 hour and 11 minute duration is essential to keep your schedule on track. Because there are no designated stops on this 62.3-mile route, make sure you are fueled up and ready to go before you leave Gardner to avoid needing to hunt for gas stations along local roads. Given the turn-heavy nature of the drive, stay alert and keep your navigation tools handy to manage the transition between Nichols, Baker, and Willow Streets. Use your $8 fuel budget to your advantage by ensuring your tank is full at the start, allowing you to enjoy the drive into Boston without any mid-trip interruptions.

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 31.1 miles from Gardner, MA, or about 35m into the drive.

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 62.3 miles or 1h 11m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 31.1 miles or 35m 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 1m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Gardner, 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 Gardner, MA

This is one driving day of about 62.3 miles and 1h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Gardner, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 31.1 mi from Gardner, MA · 35m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brookhaven, NY

31 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

Brookhaven, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 62.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brookhaven, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.1 miles from Gardner, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Boston, MA

The final approach into Boston, 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 Boston, 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

$9.92 one way

$19.83 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $10.78 $21.57
premium $4.80 $11.77 $23.54
diesel $5.64 $13.84 $27.68

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.7 0 $6.54 $2.99
Efficient EV 15.6 0 $5.45 $2.49
EV Truck/SUV 24.9 0 $8.72 $3.99

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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 3 days ago

Origin

Gardner, MA

Evening in Gardner on Sunday

Local time

6:06 PM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Boston, MA

Evening in Boston on Sunday

Local time

6:06 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

49°F

Brookhaven, NY

31 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

3 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 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 Gardner, MA to Boston, MA covers 62.3 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 Nichols Street, Baker Street, Willow Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.1 miles from Gardner, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.92 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.
The drive from Gardner, MA to Boston, MA is easy. At 1h 11m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Gardner, MA to Boston, MA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Gardner, MA to Boston, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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