The drive from North Eastham, MA to New Bedford, MA covers 72.9 miles and takes about 1h 44m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Mid Cape Highway, I 195, MA 25 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.1 miles on Mid Cape Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.67 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.
Midpoint
36.5 miles from North Eastham, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 72.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from North Eastham, MA to New Bedford, MA covers 72.9 miles and takes about 1h 44m, 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 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Mid Cape Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 36.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in near US 6 / Mid Cape Highway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.9 miles you will encounter 16 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 5.7 miles (US 6 / Mid Cape Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.8 miles (MA 6A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.3 miles (Sandwich Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
5.7 mi into trip|~11m in|US 6 / Mid Cape Highway
Enter roundabout onto US 6 / Mid Cape Highway toward Hyannis, Boston
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Hyannis, Boston
7
41.8 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|MA 6A
Take the exit onto MA 6A toward MA 6A: Sagamore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 55
Toward MA 6A: Sagamore
7
42.3 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|Sandwich Road
At end of road, turn left onto Sandwich Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
72.3 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward US 6: Dartmouth, Fairhaven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 6: Dartmouth, Fairhaven
8
72.4 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 6 West: Dartmouth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 6 West: Dartmouth
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between North Eastham, MA and New Bedford, MA, road signs point toward Hyannis, Boston and Providence Rhode Island.
Hyannis
5.7 mi in|~11m|via US 6
Boston
5.7 mi in|~11m|via US 6
Providence Rhode Island
55.5 mi in|~1h 21m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Mid Cape Highway
36.1 mi
51m
I 195
14.5 mi
17m
MA 25
9.1 mi
10m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
3.1 mi
6m
Sandwich Road
3 mi
5m
Massasoit Road
1.4 mi
2m
MA 28
1 mi
1m
John F. Kennedy Highway
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Mid Cape Highway
— 36.1 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Eastham, MA and New Bedford, MA.
1
Start on Devon Lane
0.1 mi·36 sec·Devon Lane
2
Turn left onto Aspinet Road
0.2 mi·1 min·Aspinet Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto Massasoit Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Massasoit Road
4
Merge onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·State Highway
5
Continue on US 6
3.1 mi·6 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
6
Enter roundabout onto US 6
404 ft·13 sec·Mid Cape Highway
Toward Hyannis, Boston
7
Continue on US 6
36 mi·50 min·Mid Cape Highway
Toward Hyannis, Boston
8
Continue on US 6
0.3 mi·20 sec·Mid Cape Highway
9
Take the exit onto MA 6A
0.5 mi·1 min·MA 6A
Exit 55Toward MA 6A: SagamoreUse the straight lane.
10
At end of road, turn left onto Sandwich Road
2.8 mi·4 min·Sandwich Road
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on Sandwich Road
0.2 mi·30 sec·Sandwich Road
12
Enter roundabout onto MA 28
22 ft·0 sec·MA 28
13
Continue on MA 28
1.0 mi·1 min·MA 28
14
Continue on MA 25
9.1 mi·10 min·MA 25
15
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1Toward I 195 West: New Bedford, Providence Rhode Island
16
Continue on I 195
15 mi·17 min·I 195
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Exit 26Toward MA 18 South: Downtown New Bedford
18
Merge onto MA 18
0.9 mi·1 min·John F. Kennedy Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 6: Dartmouth, FairhavenUse the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward US 6 West: DartmouthUse the slight right lane.
21
Turn straight onto US 6
186 ft·8 sec·US 6
22
Turn left onto Sixth Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·Sixth Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Turn left onto Market Street
237 ft·15 sec·Market Street
24
Turn left onto Pleasant Street
172 ft·3 sec·Pleasant Street
25
Arrive at destination
Pleasant 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 36.5 miles from North Eastham, MA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.1 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 16 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.5 miles or 55m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Bedford, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North Eastham, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from North Eastham, MA
This is one driving day of about 72.9 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from North Eastham, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Mid Cape Highway for about 36.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.5 mi from North Eastham, MA
· 55m into the drive
The midpoint is around 36.5 miles from North Eastham, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in New Bedford, MA
The final approach into New Bedford, MA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
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 Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
National Historical Park
"The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in, in all New England..nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses, parks and gardens more opulent, than in New Bedford…all t...
The great Outer Beach described by Thoreau in the 1800s is protected within the national seashore. Forty miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds, and uplands support diverse species. Lighthouses...
The Blackstone River powered America's entry into the Age of Industry. The success of Samuel Slater's cotton spinning mill in Pawtucket, RI touched off a chain reaction that changed how people worked...
29 mi from route
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 70.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.67 one way
$23.33 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$12.72
$25.45
premium
$4.82
$13.84
$27.68
diesel
$5.61
$16.10
$32.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.9
0
$7.65
$3.50
Efficient EV
18.2
0
$6.38
$2.92
EV Truck/SUV
29.2
0
$10.21
$4.67
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 Jun 21, 2022
Origin
North Eastham, MA
Night
in North Eastham on Friday
Local time
10:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Destination
New Bedford, MA
Night
in New Bedford on Friday
Local time
10:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
42°F
Sandwich, MA
36 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.
Road read
1h 44m 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 North Eastham, MA to New Bedford, MA covers 72.9 miles and takes about 1h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Mid Cape Highway, I 195, MA 25. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.5 miles from North Eastham, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.67 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 72.9 miles you will encounter 16 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 5.7 miles (US 6 / Mid Cape Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.8 miles (MA 6A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.3 miles (Sandwich Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Between North Eastham, MA and New Bedford, MA, road signs point toward Hyannis, Boston and Providence Rhode Island.
Yes. Nearby national parks include New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, Cape Cod National Seashore and Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
