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Trip from New Salem, MA to Worcester, MA

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

1h 6m

Distance

40.1 mi

65 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 1m ★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 3m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Worcester, MA, MA

Worcester, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from New Salem, MA to Worcester, MA covers 40.1 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Pleasant Street, Worcester Road, Barre Paxton Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7 miles on Pleasant Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.42 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

20.1 miles from New Salem, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 6m drive with frequent turns across 40.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pleasant Street is the longest continuous segment at about 7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near MA 122 / Petersham Road.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from New Salem, MA to Worcester, MA is easy. At 1h 6m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (MA 122 / Petersham Road): Navigation decision point; at 36.9 miles (MA 122 / Chandler Street): Navigation decision point; at 39.9 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

3 of 3 key points

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

3
3.1 mi into trip | ~5m in | MA 122 / Petersham Road

Turn right onto MA 122 / Petersham Road

Navigation decision point

3
36.9 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in | MA 122 / Chandler Street

Turn right onto MA 122 / Chandler Street

Navigation decision point

3
39.9 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | Main Street

Turn left onto Main Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pleasant Street 7 mi 12m
Worcester Road 6.1 mi 11m
Barre Paxton Road 4.5 mi 6m
New Salem Road 4.3 mi 6m
West Street 3.8 mi 6m
Petersham Road 3.7 mi 5m
Barre Road 3.3 mi 5m
Daniel Shays Highway 3.1 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Pleasant Street — 7 mi, about 12m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Main Street

275 ft · 12 sec · North Main Street
2

Turn right onto US 202

3.1 mi · 4 min · Daniel Shays Highway
3

Turn right onto MA 122

3.7 mi · 5 min · Petersham Road
4

Continue on MA 122

4.3 mi · 6 min · New Salem Road
5

Continue on MA 32; MA 122

3.3 mi · 5 min · Barre Road
6

Continue on MA 32; MA 122

3.8 mi · 6 min · West Street
7

Turn right onto MA 32; MA 122

0.2 mi · 14 sec · Pleasant Street
8

Continue on MA 32; MA 122

1.2 mi · 1 min · Summer Street
9

Continue on MA 122

6.1 mi · 11 min · Worcester Road
10

Continue on MA 122

0.9 mi · 1 min · Barre Paxton Road
11

Continue on MA 122

3.6 mi · 5 min · Barre Paxton Road
12

Continue on MA 122

6.8 mi · 12 min · Pleasant Street
13

Turn right onto MA 122

3.0 mi · 4 min · Chandler Street
14

Turn left onto Main Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Main Street
15

Arrive at destination

Main 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 20.1 miles from New Salem, MA, or about 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7 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 40.1 miles or 1h 6m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 20.1 miles or 32m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 56m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Worcester, 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 40.1 miles and 1h 6m.

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 Pleasant Street for about 7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 20.1 mi from New Salem, MA · 32m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Albany, NY

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

Brookhaven, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Albany, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20.1 miles from New Salem, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Worcester, MA

The final approach into Worcester, 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 Worcester, MA.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

New England National Scenic Trail

New England National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

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...

18 mi from route ~44 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Minute Man National Historical Park

Minute Man National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

29 mi from route ~72 min detour Free near mile 40.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.42 one way

$12.84 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $7.00 $14.00
premium $4.82 $7.61 $15.23
diesel $5.61 $8.85 $17.71

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

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 $4.21 $1.92
Efficient EV 10 0 $3.51 $1.60
EV Truck/SUV 16 0 $5.61 $2.57

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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

New Salem, MA

Evening in New Salem on Tuesday

Local time

5:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Worcester, MA

Evening in Worcester on Tuesday

Local time

5:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

77°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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 6m 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 Worcester, MA covers 40.1 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pleasant Street, Worcester Road, Barre Paxton Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.1 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 $6.42 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.
The drive from New Salem, MA to Worcester, MA is easy. At 1h 6m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (MA 122 / Petersham Road): Navigation decision point; at 36.9 miles (MA 122 / Chandler Street): Navigation decision point; at 39.9 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from New Salem, MA to Worcester, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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