Drive Time
57m
Distance
34.5 mi
55 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
Photo: Mathias Reding
The drive from Grafton, MA to Gardner, MA covers 34.5 miles and takes about 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Worcester Street, Grafton Road, Grafton Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.49 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
17.2 miles from Grafton, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28m into the drive .
Expect a 57m drive with frequent turns across 34.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Grafton, MA to Gardner, MA is easy. At 57m 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 Grafton, MA to Gardner, MA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grafton Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grafton Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 290 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 190 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MA 140 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Redemption Rock Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Grafton, MA and Gardner, MA.
Start on Worcester Street
Continue on Worcester Street
Keep slight left to continue on Worcester Street
Continue on Grafton Road
Continue on Grafton Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Grafton Street
Exit the roundabout onto Grafton Street
Take the exit slight right toward I 290 East: Shrewsbury, Marlboro
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I 190 North, MA 70: Sterling, Leominster, Burncoat Street, Lincoln Street
Keep slight left to continue on I 190 North: Sterling, Leominster
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward MA 140: West Boylston, Princeton
Turn left onto Redemption Rock Trail
Continue on Main Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Redemption Rock Trail North
Exit the roundabout onto Redemption Rock Trail North
Continue on Worcester Road
Continue on Hager Park Road
Continue on State Road East
Take the ramp left
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward MA 68: Gardner, Hubbardston
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward American Legion Circle
Exit the rotary onto Timpany Boulevard
Continue on Donlan Street
Keep slight left to continue on Donlon Street
Turn straight onto Main Street
Turn left onto City Hall Avenue
At the end of the road, turn right onto Nichols Street
Turn right
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 34.5 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 17.2 miles or 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gardner, MA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Grafton, 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 Grafton, MA
This is one driving day of about 34.5 miles and 57m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.2 mi from Grafton, MA · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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.
A short stop after about 34.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.2 miles from Grafton, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Gardner, 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 Gardner, MA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$5.49 one way
$10.98 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $5.97 | $11.94 |
| premium | $4.80 | $6.52 | $13.04 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.66 | $15.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.62 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Grafton on Sunday
Local time
3:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Gardner on Sunday
Local time
3:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
49°F
Brookhaven, NY
17 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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