Origin
Maynard, MA
Late night in Maynard on Friday
Local time
5:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maynard, MA to Cambridge, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
20.6 mi
33 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maynard, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Maynard, MA to Cambridge, MA covers 20.6 miles and takes about 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Concord Turnpike, Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2, Concord Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 6.3 miles on Concord Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.30 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 20.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Maynard, MA to Cambridge, MA covers 20.6 miles and takes about 36m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
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.
Concord Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 6.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 17.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 20.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 17.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.7 miles (US 3; MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18 miles (MA 2A / Massachusetts Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
17.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn
5
17.7 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
US 3; MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway
Merge onto US 3; MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway toward US 3 North, MA 16 East: Arlington, Medford
Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 3 North, MA 16 East: Arlington, Medfo...
6
18 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
MA 2A / Massachusetts Avenue
Turn right onto MA 2A / Massachusetts Avenue toward MA 2A East: Cambridge
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward MA 2A East: Cambridge
5
19.2 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
Somerville Avenue
Turn left onto Somerville Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
20.5 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
Line Street
At end of road, turn right onto Line Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Maynard, MA and Cambridge, MA, road signs point toward Woburn and Medford.
Woburn
17.6 mi in
|
~27m
Medford
17.7 mi in
|
~27m
|
via US 3; MA 16
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Concord Turnpike | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2 | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| Concord Highway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Powder Mill Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Massachusetts Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Beacon Street | 1 mi | 3m |
| Alewife Brook Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Concord Turnpike
— 6.3 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maynard, MA and Cambridge, MA.
1
Start on Acton Court
216 ft
·
11 sec
·
Acton Court
2
Turn right onto MA 27
195 ft
·
16 sec
·
MA 27
3
Continue on MA 27
132 ft
·
6 sec
·
Acton Street
4
Turn left onto MA 27; MA 62
476 ft
·
16 sec
·
Waltham Street
5
Turn left onto MA 62
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Powder Mill Road
6
Continue on MA 62
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Main Street
7
Turn right onto MA 2; MA 2A
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Concord Turnpike
8
Continue on MA 2
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2
9
Continue on MA 2
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Concord Highway
10
Continue on MA 2
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Concord Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
473 ft
·
13 sec
Toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Merge onto US 3; MA 16
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Alewife Brook Parkway
Toward US 3 North, MA 16 East: Arlington, Medford
13
Turn right onto MA 2A
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Massachusetts Avenue
Toward MA 2A East: Cambridge
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto Somerville Avenue
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
Somerville Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn right onto Beacon Street
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Beacon Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto Cooney Street
295 ft
·
12 sec
·
Cooney Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto Line Street
294 ft
·
19 sec
·
Line Street
18
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
460 ft
·
19 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Leonard Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.30 one way
$6.59 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $3.60 | $7.19 |
| premium | $4.82 | $3.91 | $7.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.55 | $9.10 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.69
Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2
(3.5 mi)
$0.25
Concord Turnpike
(3.5 mi)
$0.24
Concord Turnpike
(2.8 mi)
$0.20
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$1
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.16 | $0.99 |
| Efficient EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.80 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.88 | $1.32 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Late night in Cambridge on Friday
Local time
5:46 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
7 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
36m 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 Maynard, MA to Cambridge, MA covers 20.6 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Concord Turnpike, Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2, Concord Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.3 miles from Maynard, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.30 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 20.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 17.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.7 miles (US 3; MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18 miles (MA 2A / Massachusetts Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Maynard, MA and Cambridge, MA, road signs point toward Woburn and Medford.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Minute Man National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park and Adams National Historical Park. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than 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. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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