Origin
New Salem, MA
Evening in New Salem on Tuesday
Local time
6:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New Salem, MA to Cambridge, MA
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
1h 48m
Distance
72.3 mi
116 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 41m
★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New Salem, MA
Phil Evenden
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from New Salem, MA to Cambridge, MA covers 72.3 miles and takes about 1h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Concord Turnpike, US 202, MA 2 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.8 miles on Concord Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.57 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
36.2 miles from New Salem, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 48m highway drive covering 72.3 miles, with most of the trip on Concord Turnpike and US 202. The longest continuous stretch is about 19.8 miles on Concord Turnpike.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 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 19.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Concord Turnpike and US 202. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 35.3 miles in near MA 2 / Concord Turnpike.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 35.3 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.4 miles (US 3; MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
35.3 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
MA 2 / Concord Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2 / Concord Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
69.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m 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
69.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m 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
69.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m 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
6
72.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
Line Street
At end of road, turn right onto Line Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Concord Turnpike | 19.8 mi | 27m |
| US 202 | 18.2 mi | 25m |
| MA 2 | 12.2 mi | 17m |
| Captain Isaac Davis Highway | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Daniel Shays Highway | 4.8 mi | 8m |
| Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2 | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| Concord Highway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Massachusetts Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Concord Turnpike
— 19.8 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Salem, MA and Cambridge, MA.
1
Start on North Main Street
275 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 202
4.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Daniel Shays Highway
3
Take the ramp onto US 202
18 mi
·
25 min
·
US 202
4
Continue on MA 2
12 mi
·
17 min
·
MA 2
5
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Concord Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on MA 2
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on MA 2; MA 111
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Union Turnpike
8
Enter roundabout onto MA 2; MA 2A
328 ft
·
4 sec
·
Elm Street
9
Continue on MA 2; MA 2A
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Elm Street
10
Continue on MA 2; MA 2A
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Concord Turnpike
11
Continue on MA 2
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2
12
Continue on MA 2
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Concord Highway
13
Continue on MA 2
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Concord Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
473 ft
·
13 sec
Toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Merge onto US 3; MA 16
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Alewife Brook Parkway
Toward US 3 North, MA 16 East: Arlington, Medford
16
Turn right onto MA 2A
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Massachusetts Avenue
Toward MA 2A East: Cambridge
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn left onto Somerville Avenue
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
Somerville Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn right onto Beacon Street
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Beacon Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn right onto Cooney Street
295 ft
·
12 sec
·
Cooney Street
20
At end of road, turn right onto Line Street
294 ft
·
19 sec
·
Line Street
21
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
460 ft
·
19 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Leonard Avenue
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 36.2 miles from New Salem, MA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.8 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 72.3 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.2 miles or 51m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cambridge, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving New Salem, 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 New Salem, MA
This is one driving day of about 72.3 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from New Salem, 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.
The longest stretch is on Concord Turnpike for about 19.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.2 mi from New Salem, MA · 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 72.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.2 miles from New Salem, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cambridge, MA
The final approach into Cambridge, 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 Cambridge, 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
$11.57 one way
$23.14 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $12.62 | $25.24 |
| premium | $4.82 | $13.73 | $27.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.96 | $31.93 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.67
Concord Turnpike
(16.1 mi)
$1.12
Concord Turnpike
(3.7 mi)
$0.26
Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2
(3.5 mi)
$0.25
Union Turnpike
(0.6 mi)
$0.04
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
$12
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 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 | 21.7 | 0 | $7.59 | $3.47 |
| Efficient EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.33 | $2.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.12 | $4.63 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Cambridge, MA
Evening in Cambridge on Tuesday
Local time
6:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°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
2 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 48m 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 New Salem, MA to Cambridge, MA covers 72.3 miles and takes about 1h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Concord Turnpike, US 202, MA 2. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.2 miles from New Salem, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.57 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 72.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 35.3 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.4 miles (US 3; MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from New Salem, MA to Cambridge, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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