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Trip from Newton, MA to Amherst, MA

Data updated 5 hours ago

Drive Time

1h 57m

Distance

85.9 mi

138 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 49m ★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 14m
10 AM
2h 3m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 4m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 52m

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 Newton, MA, MA

Newton, MA

Wikimedia Commons

town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States

Amherst, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 85.9-mile journey from Newton, MA, to Amherst, MA, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 57 minutes. The route primarily utilizes the Massachusetts Turnpike, offering a highway-focused experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, this drive is quite economical. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, keeping the scenery consistent. This is a straightforward drive, ideal for those looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without significant detours.

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

42.9 miles from Newton, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for about 70% of this trip. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the Massachusetts Turnpike, including a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 59.9 miles. While the majority of the route emphasizes speed and directness, the final segments will involve navigating local streets like Federal Street and South Liberty Street as you approach Amherst. This blend means you get the efficiency of the highway for most of the distance, transitioning to a more local feel near your destination.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 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 59.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Federal Street. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near MA 30 / Commonwealth Avenue.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.9 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (MA 30 / Commonwealth Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | MA 30 / Commonwealth Avenue

Turn left onto MA 30 / Commonwealth Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
3.4 mi into trip | ~5m in

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

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
7
3.6 mi into trip | ~5m 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
48.2 mi into trip | ~58m in | I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
64.3 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Take the exit toward MA 32: Palmer, Ware

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

Exit 63 Toward MA 32: Palmer, Ware

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 Newton, MA to Amherst, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Ware along the way.

Ware

64.3 mi in | ~1h 16m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Massachusetts Turnpike 59.9 mi 1h 9m
Federal Street 5.6 mi 10m
South Liberty Street 4.1 mi 7m
Commonwealth Avenue 3.1 mi 4m
North Washington Street 2.1 mi 3m
Belchertown Road 2.1 mi 3m
North Main Street 1.4 mi 2m
South Main Street 1.2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Massachusetts Turnpike — 59.9 mi, about 1h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Newton, MA and Amherst, MA.

1

Start on Homer Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Homer Street
2

Turn left onto MA 30

1.6 mi · 2 min · Commonwealth Avenue
Use the left lane.
3

Continue on MA 30

1.5 mi · 2 min · Commonwealth Avenue
4

Continue on MA 30

0.1 mi · 15 sec · South Avenue
5

Turn right onto River Road

463 ft · 14 sec · River Road
Toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
7

Keep slight right at fork

240 ft · 5 sec
Toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Albany New York
8

Continue on this road

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

Continue on this road

0.6 mi · 1 min · this road
10

Merge onto I 90

44 mi · 50 min · Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

16 mi · 18 min · Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
12

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 2 min
Exit 63 Toward MA 32: Palmer, Ware
13

Turn right onto MA 32

0.8 mi · 1 min · Thorndike Street
Use the right lane.
14

At end of road, turn right onto US 20

0.8 mi · 59 sec · North Main Street
15

Continue on MA 181

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Main Street
16

Continue on MA 181

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Sykes Street
17

Turn left onto Palmer Street

192 ft · 5 sec · Palmer Street
18

Continue on Palmer Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · Palmer Road
19

Turn right onto Bridge Street

0.3 mi · 34 sec · Bridge Street
20

Continue on Belchertown Street

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Belchertown Street
21

Continue on South Liberty Street

4.1 mi · 7 min · South Liberty Street
22

Continue on North Washington Street

2.1 mi · 3 min · North Washington Street
23

Turn straight onto MA 181

1.2 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
24

Turn left onto MA 9

1.3 mi · 2 min · Federal Street
Use the left lane.
25

Continue on Federal Street

4.3 mi · 7 min · Federal Street
26

Continue on MA 9

391 ft · 6 sec · USMC League Highway
27

Continue on MA 9

2.0 mi · 3 min · Belchertown Road
28

Continue on MA 9

378 ft · 12 sec · Belchertown Road
29

Continue on MA 9

1.0 mi · 2 min · College Street
30

Turn left onto MA 116

0.4 mi · 50 sec · South Pleasant Street
31

Turn left onto Depot Road

449 ft · 19 sec · Depot Road
32

Arrive at destination

Depot Road

Trip Plan

Given the 1-hour and 57-minute duration, this trip is perfect for a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Leaving in the morning can help you avoid potential afternoon traffic. While there are no mandatory stops noted, consider a brief break if needed, especially during the longest stretch on the Massachusetts Turnpike. The fuel cost is estimated at just $14, so keeping your tank topped up won't be a major concern. A specific tip for this route: familiarize yourself with the turns onto Federal Street and South Liberty Street as you get closer to Amherst, as these are the primary local roads you'll use to reach your final destination.

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 42.9 miles from Newton, MA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.9 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 80 miles or 1h 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 42.9 miles or 52m 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 32m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Newton, 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 Newton, MA

This is one driving day of about 85.9 miles and 1h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Newton, 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 Massachusetts Turnpike for about 59.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 42.9 mi from Newton, MA · 52m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brookhaven, NY

43 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

Albany, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brookhaven, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.9 miles from Newton, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Amherst, MA

The final approach into Amherst, 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 Amherst, 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...

5 mi from route ~12 min detour Free near mile 80
View on nps.gov
Boston National Historical Park

Boston National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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.

8 mi from route ~20 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...

8 mi from route ~20 min detour Free near mile 3
View on nps.gov
Adams National Historical Park

Adams National Historical Park

National Historical Park

From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penn’s Hill to the gentleman’s country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of “heroes, statesmen, philosophers…and learned wome...

12 mi from route ~29 min detour $15
View on nps.gov
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

. . . 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...

14 mi from route ~35 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Lowell National Historical Park

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...

21 mi from route ~52 min detour Free near mile 3
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.75 one way

$27.49 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $14.99 $29.98
premium $4.82 $16.31 $32.62
diesel $5.61 $18.97 $37.93

Estimated Tolls: $3.60

Massachusetts Turnpike (59.9 mi) $3.60

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

$14

Tolls

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.8 0 $9.02 $4.12
Efficient EV 21.5 0 $7.52 $3.44
EV Truck/SUV 34.4 0 $12.03 $5.50

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (67% 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 4 days ago

Origin

Newton, MA

Evening in Newton on Tuesday

Local time

7:40 PM

EDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Amherst, MA

Evening in Amherst on Tuesday

Local time

7:40 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Brookhaven, NY

43 mi in

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

19 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 57m 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 Newton, MA to Amherst, MA covers 85.9 miles and takes about 1h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Massachusetts Turnpike, Federal Street, South Liberty 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 42.9 miles from Newton, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.75 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 85.9 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (MA 30 / Commonwealth Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Newton, MA to Amherst, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Ware along the way.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Amherst, MA to Newton, MA

Plan the drive back the other way.

85.7 mi 1h 57m

Continue From Amherst, MA

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