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Trip from North Reading, MA to Plymouth, MA

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

1h 20m

Distance

58.7 mi

94 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 14m ★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m

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

Downtown North Reading, MA, MA

North Reading, MA

Phil Evenden

Downtown Plymouth, MA, MA

Plymouth, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from North Reading, MA to Plymouth, MA covers 58.7 miles and takes about 1h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on MA 3, I 93, Southeast Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.2 miles on MA 3. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.39 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

29.3 miles from North Reading, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 41m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 1h 20m highway drive covering 58.7 miles, with most of the trip on MA 3 and I 93. The longest continuous stretch is about 28.2 miles on MA 3.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MA 3 is the longest continuous segment at about 28.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MA 3 and I 93. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.2 miles in near I 93.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 58.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4.2 miles (I 93): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles (I 93 / Interstate 93 HOV lane): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles (I 93; US 1 / John F. Fitzgerald Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

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

5
4.2 mi into trip | ~8m in | I 93

Merge onto I 93

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
15.7 mi into trip | ~22m in | I 93 / Interstate 93 HOV lane

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93 / Interstate 93 HOV lane

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
5
18.2 mi into trip | ~25m in | I 93; US 1 / John F. Fitzgerald Expressway

Merge onto I 93; US 1 / John F. Fitzgerald Expressway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
29.1 mi into trip | ~40m in | MA 3

Keep slight left at fork onto MA 3 toward MA 3 South: Cape Cod

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Exit 7 Toward MA 3 South: Cape Cod
6
57.3 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Take the exit toward US 44 West: Samoset Street, Carver

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

Exit 15B Toward US 44 West: Samoset Street, Carver

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
MA 3 28.2 mi 35m
I 93 11.5 mi 13m
Southeast Expressway 8 mi 10m
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway 3 mi 4m
Interstate 93 HOV lane 2.5 mi 3m
Park Street 2.3 mi 4m
Concord Street 1.5 mi 2m
Samoset Street 0.9 mi 2m
Longest stretch: MA 3 — 28.2 mi, about 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between North Reading, MA and Plymouth, MA.

1

Start on Haverhill Street

427 ft · 13 sec · Haverhill Street
2

Turn right onto MA 62

1.1 mi · 2 min · Park Street
3

Continue on Park Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · Park Street
4

Turn left onto Concord Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · Concord Street
5

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 46 sec
Toward I 93 South: Boston
6

Merge onto I 93

11 mi · 13 min · I 93
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93

1.7 mi · 1 min · Interstate 93 HOV lane
Use the slight left lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93

0.8 mi · 1 min · Interstate 93 HOV lane
9

Merge onto I 93; US 1

3.0 mi · 4 min · John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3

8.0 mi · 10 min · Southeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto MA 3

28 mi · 35 min · MA 3
Exit 7 Toward MA 3 South: Cape Cod Use the slight left lane.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 46 sec
Exit 15B Toward US 44 West: Samoset Street, Carver
13

Turn straight onto Samoset Street

254 ft · 9 sec · Samoset Street
14

Continue on Samoset Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · Samoset Street
15

Turn right onto MA 3A

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Court Street
Use the right lane.
16

Arrive at destination

MA 3A

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 29.3 miles from North Reading, MA, or about 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.2 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 58.7 miles or 1h 20m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 29.3 miles or 41m 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 7m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving North Reading, 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 North Reading, MA

This is one driving day of about 58.7 miles and 1h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from North Reading, 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 MA 3 for about 28.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 29.3 mi from North Reading, MA · 41m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brookhaven, NY

29 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

Boston, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 58.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brookhaven, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.3 miles from North Reading, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Plymouth, MA

The final approach into Plymouth, 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 Plymouth, 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

$9.39 one way

$18.79 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $10.24 $20.49
premium $4.82 $11.15 $22.29
diesel $5.61 $12.96 $25.92

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.6 0 $6.16 $2.82
Efficient EV 14.7 0 $5.14 $2.35
EV Truck/SUV 23.5 0 $8.22 $3.76

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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

North Reading, MA

Night in North Reading on Tuesday

Local time

9:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Plymouth, MA

Night in Plymouth on Tuesday

Local time

9:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Brookhaven, NY

29 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

26 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 20m 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 Reading, MA to Plymouth, MA covers 58.7 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MA 3, I 93, Southeast Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.3 miles from North Reading, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.39 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 is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 58.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.2 miles (I 93): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles (I 93 / Interstate 93 HOV lane): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles (I 93; US 1 / John F. Fitzgerald Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from North Reading, MA to Plymouth, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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