The drive from Haverhill, MA to Sturbridge, MA covers 80 miles and takes about 1h 40m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 495, I 290, Massachusetts Turnpike for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40.1 miles on I 495.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.80 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.
Midpoint
40 miles from Haverhill, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 80 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 40m highway drive covering 80 miles, with most of the trip on I 495 and I 290. The longest continuous stretch is about 40.1 miles on I 495.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 495 is the longest continuous segment at about 40.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and I 290. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near I 495.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80 miles you will encounter 22 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 3.1 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
3.1 mi into trip|~5m in|I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
19.8 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the exit toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 89C-B-A
Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
7
20 mi into trip|~25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
9
77 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|I 84 / Wilbur Cross Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84 / Wilbur Cross Highway toward I 84: Hartford, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 78
Toward I 84: Hartford, New York City
6
78.6 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West: Sturbridge, Palmer
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 6B
Toward US 20 West: Sturbridge, Palmer
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 Haverhill, MA to Sturbridge, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Nashua New Hampshire along the way.
Nashua New Hampshire
19.8 mi in|~24m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 495
40.1 mi
46m
I 290
19.6 mi
24m
Massachusetts Turnpike
11.2 mi
12m
River Street
2.1 mi
3m
Wilbur Cross Highway
1.6 mi
2m
Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
Charlton Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Merrimack Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 40.1 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Haverhill, MA and Sturbridge, MA.
1
Start on MA 125
442 ft·14 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto MA 113
0.3 mi·33 sec·Merrimack Street
3
Continue on MA 110; MA 113
0.2 mi·19 sec·Washington Street
4
Continue on MA 110; MA 113
218 ft·5 sec·Washington Street
5
Continue on MA 110; MA 113
2.1 mi·3 min·River Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 495 South: Lawrence
7
Merge onto I 495
17 mi·19 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Exit 89C-B-AToward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New HampshireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·17 sec
Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·25 sec
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·33 sec
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
12
Merge onto I 495
23 mi·27 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 65BToward I 290 West: Worcester
14
Merge onto I 290
20 mi·24 min·I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·22 sec
Exit 12BToward MA 12 South: Webster
16
Turn left onto Oxford Street
466 ft·10 sec·Oxford Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto MA 12
446 ft·9 sec·Southbridge Street
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 90
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West
20
Merge onto I 90
11 mi·12 min·Massachusetts Turnpike
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
1.6 mi·2 min·Wilbur Cross Highway
Exit 78Toward I 84: Hartford, New York CityUse the slight right lane.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 6BToward US 20 West: Sturbridge, Palmer
23
Merge onto US 20
436 ft·8 sec·Charlton Road
24
Take the exit
392 ft·14 sec
25
Continue on US 20
0.3 mi·37 sec·Charlton Road
26
Take the exit
297 ft·12 sec
27
Turn straight onto MA 131
0.5 mi·53 sec·Main Street
28
Turn left onto Charlton Street
387 ft·17 sec·Charlton Street
29
Arrive at destination
Charlton Street
Trip Plan
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 40 miles from Haverhill, MA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.1 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40 miles or 48m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sturbridge, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Haverhill, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Haverhill, MA
This is one driving day of about 80 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Haverhill, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 495 for about 40.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40 mi from Haverhill, MA
· 48m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Lowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Lowell’s water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation – including immigrant families and early female factory workers – into an uncertain new industrial era. Nearly 200 years later, the changes t...
At Minute Man National Historical Park the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and structures associated with April 19, 1775, and witness the Ameri...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 27.6
Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the...
Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 16.6
From the Sound to the summits: the New England Trail covers 235 miles from Long Island Sound across long ridges to scenic mountain summits in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail offers panoramic...
. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach o...
27 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 13.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.80 one way
$25.61 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$13.96
$27.92
premium
$4.82
$15.19
$30.38
diesel
$5.61
$17.66
$35.33
Estimated Tolls: $0.67
Massachusetts Turnpike
(11.2 mi)$0.67
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24
0
$8.40
$3.84
Efficient EV
20
0
$7.00
$3.20
EV Truck/SUV
32
0
$11.20
$5.12
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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 as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Haverhill, MA
Late night
in Haverhill on Friday
Local time
3:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sturbridge, MA
Late night
in Sturbridge on Friday
Local time
3:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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 40m 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 Haverhill, MA to Sturbridge, MA covers 80 miles and takes about 1h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 495, I 290, Massachusetts Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40 miles from Haverhill, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.80 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 80 miles you will encounter 22 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 3.1 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Haverhill, MA to Sturbridge, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Nashua New Hampshire along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Lowell National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Salem Maritime National Historical Park. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the
methodology page.
