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Trip from Lincoln, MA to Worcester, MA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

52m

Distance

40 mi

64 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 49m ★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m

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

Downtown Lincoln, MA, MA

Lincoln, MA

S.A. Bond

Downtown Worcester, MA, MA

Worcester, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick excursion from Lincoln to Worcester, you are looking at a manageable 40-mile journey that typically takes about 52 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via the Massachusetts Turnpike, the Yankee Division Highway, and Grafton Street. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $6, this route is an incredibly cost-effective way to transition between these two Massachusetts hubs. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a change of scenery, the straightforward nature of this drive makes it a reliable choice for any traveler.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

20 miles from Lincoln, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 65% of your travel time will be spent on major roads. The most significant portion of your journey involves a 26.1-mile stretch along the Massachusetts Turnpike, which provides the bulk of your momentum. While the drive starts with high-speed highway segments, you will eventually transition into local navigation as you approach your destination. The route balances efficiency with a practical road layout, shifting from fast-paced transit to the more localized flow of Grafton Street. You will find that the road maintains a steady, functional pace throughout the entire 40-mile distance.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Massachusetts Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 26.1 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

483 ft 97 ft

Total Climb

476 ft

Total Descent

245 ft

Highest Point

483 ft

~40 mi in

Elevation Range

386 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Yankee Division Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Lincoln Road.

Route Complexity 8/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 40 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Lincoln Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (I 95; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Lincoln Road

Turn left onto Lincoln Road

Navigation decision point

5
2.8 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 95; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway

Merge onto I 95; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
7.4 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the exit toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 39B Toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
6
7.8 mi into trip | ~12m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Albany New York

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Al...
6
34.6 mi into trip | ~44m in

Take the exit toward MA 122: Millbury, Worcester

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 96 Toward MA 122: Millbury, Worcester

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Lincoln, MA and Worcester, MA, road signs point toward Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York and Mass Pike West: Warcester.

Mass Pike: Boston

7.4 mi in | ~11m

Albany New York

7.4 mi in | ~11m

Mass Pike West: Warcester

7.8 mi in | ~12m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Massachusetts Turnpike 26.1 mi 30m
Yankee Division Highway 4.6 mi 6m
Grafton Street 3.6 mi 4m
Trapelo Road 2.5 mi 4m
Grafton Road 0.4 mi <1m
Foster Street 0.4 mi <1m
Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
Front Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Massachusetts Turnpike — 26.1 mi, about 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lincoln, MA and Worcester, MA.

1

Start on Sandy Pond Road

106 ft · 12 sec · Sandy Pond Road
2

Continue on Sandy Pond Road

124 ft · 13 sec · Sandy Pond Road
3

Turn left onto Lincoln Road

74 ft · 1 sec · Lincoln Road
4

Turn right onto Trapelo Road

2.5 mi · 4 min · Trapelo Road
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Toward I 95 South: Providence Rhode Island
6

Merge onto I 95; MA 128

4.6 mi · 6 min · Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Exit 39B Toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork

240 ft · 5 sec
Toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Albany New York
9

Continue on this road

393 ft · 9 sec · this road
Toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Albany New York
10

Continue on this road

0.6 mi · 1 min · this road
11

Merge onto I 90

26 mi · 30 min · Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 96 Toward MA 122: Millbury, Worcester
13

Keep slight left at fork

173 ft · 10 sec
14

Turn left onto MA 122

0.4 mi · 53 sec · Grafton Road
15

Continue on MA 122

2.9 mi · 3 min · Grafton Street
16

Enter roundabout onto MA 122

123 ft · 1 sec · Grafton Street
17

Continue on MA 122

0.5 mi · 39 sec · Grafton Street
18

Continue on MA 122

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Grafton Street
19

Enter roundabout onto Front Street

277 ft · 4 sec · Front Street
20

Continue on Front Street

427 ft · 11 sec · Front Street
21

Turn right onto Foster Street

0.4 mi · 44 sec · Foster Street
22

Turn left onto Main Street

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Main Street
23

Arrive at destination

Main Street

Trip Plan

Because this is a short, 52-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your scheduling to avoid peak traffic hours. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops given the brief duration of the drive. Keep your $6 fuel budget in mind when filling up, as you will likely only need a small amount of gas to complete the round trip. Since the longest uninterrupted stretch is 26.1 miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike, make sure you are comfortable with highway driving before you depart Lincoln. A pro tip for this route: keep a close eye on your GPS as you exit the highway system to navigate the final approach via Grafton Street smoothly.

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 20 miles from Lincoln, MA, or about 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.1 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 40 miles or 52m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 20 miles or 27m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 43m

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

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Lincoln, MA.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Lincoln, MA

This is one driving day of about 40 miles and 52m.

At 40 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Massachusetts Turnpike for about 26.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 20 mi from Lincoln, MA · 27m into the drive

census-designated place in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cordaville, MA

20 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

Auburn, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Framingham, MA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20 miles from Lincoln, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Worcester, MA

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Worcester, MA if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.40 one way

$12.80 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $6.98 $13.96
premium $4.82 $7.60 $15.19
diesel $5.61 $8.83 $17.66

Estimated Tolls: $1.56

Massachusetts Turnpike (26.1 mi) $1.56

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

$6

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$33–$58

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12 0 $4.20 $1.92
Efficient EV 10 0 $3.50 $1.60
EV Truck/SUV 16 0 $5.60 $2.56

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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 13, 2026

Origin

Lincoln, MA

Night in Lincoln on Wednesday

Local time

10:38 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Worcester, MA

Night in Worcester on Wednesday

Local time

10:38 PM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Chance Rain Showers

S 7 to 10 mph 40% chance 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

14 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

52m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Lincoln, MA to Worcester, MA covers 40 miles and takes about 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Massachusetts Turnpike, Yankee Division Highway, Grafton Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20 miles from Lincoln, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.40 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 is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 40 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Lincoln Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (I 95; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Lincoln, MA and Worcester, MA, road signs point toward Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York and Mass Pike West: Warcester.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 97 ft to 483 ft elevation with about 476 ft of total climbing.

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