Trip from Quincy, MA to Athol, MA

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

Distance

77.9 mi

125 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min

4 AM

1h 51m ★

6 AM

2h 0m

8 AM

2h 17m

10 AM

2h 6m

12 PM

2h 4m

3 PM

2h 7m

5 PM

2h 17m

8 PM

1h 55m

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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city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States

Quincy, MA

Wikimedia Commons

town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States

Athol, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Quincy, MA to Athol, MA covers 77.9 miles and takes about 2h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Concord Turnpike, Captain Isaac Davis Highway, Massachusetts Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33.7 miles on Concord Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.47 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

39 miles from Quincy, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .

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Drive Character

The drive from Quincy, MA to Athol, MA covers 77.9 miles and takes about 2h, using a mix of highways and local roads.

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

There are about 40 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 33.7 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 0.1 miles in near Hancock Street.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 77.9 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 0.1 miles (Hancock Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 23 key points

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

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Hancock Street

Turn right onto Hancock Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

10.2 mi into trip | ~18m in | I 93

Keep slight right at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 North: Concord NH

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward I 93 North: Concord NH

11.8 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit toward MA 28, MA 38: Somerville, Medford

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 21 Toward MA 28, MA 38: Somerville, Medford

11.9 mi into trip | ~20m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MA 28 South, MA 38 North: Somerville, Medford

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward MA 28 South, MA 38 North: Somerville, Me...

15 mi into trip | ~26m in | MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway

At end of road, turn left onto MA 16 / Alewife Brook Parkway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

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 Quincy, MA to Athol, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Medford along the way.

Medford

11.8 mi in | ~20m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Concord Turnpike	33.7 mi	47m
Captain Isaac Davis Highway	11.2 mi	15m
Massachusetts Avenue	6.2 mi	9m
Cambridge Turnpike	3.3 mi	5m
Southeast Expressway	3.3 mi	4m
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway	3.2 mi	5m
Concord Highway	2.9 mi	3m
Newport Avenue	2.3 mi	4m

Longest stretch: Concord Turnpike — 33.7 mi, about 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Quincy, MA and Athol, MA.

Start on Faxon Avenue

362 ft · 17 sec · Faxon Avenue

Turn right onto Coddington Street

265 ft · 7 sec · Coddington Street

Turn right onto Hancock Street

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Hancock Street

Use the right lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto Adams Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Adams Street

Turn right onto Newport Avenue

2.3 mi · 4 min · Newport Avenue

Use the right lane.

Turn slight left onto MA 3A

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Hancock Street

Continue on MA 3A

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Neponset Avenue

Merge onto MA 3A

247 ft · 6 sec · William T. Morrissey Boulevard

Use the straight / left lanes.

Take the exit onto MA 3A

0.3 mi · 34 sec · MA 3A

Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston

Merge onto I 93; US 1; MA 3

3.3 mi · 4 min · Southeast Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3

3.2 mi · 5 min · John F. Fitzgerald Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 93

1.6 mi · 2 min · I 93

Toward I 93 North: Concord NH Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec

Exit 21 Toward MA 28, MA 38: Somerville, Medford Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Toward MA 28 South, MA 38 North: Somerville, Medford Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto MA 38

1.2 mi · 2 min · Mystic Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto Harvard Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Harvard Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on Warner Street

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Warner Street

Enter roundabout onto Powder House Boulevard

127 ft · 2 sec · Powder House Boulevard

Continue on Powder House Boulevard

0.9 mi · 1 min · Powder House Boulevard

At end of road, turn left onto MA 16

1.0 mi · 2 min · Alewife Brook Parkway

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto MA 2

4.1 mi · 5 min · Concord Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on MA 2

2.9 mi · 3 min · Concord Highway

Continue on MA 2

3.3 mi · 5 min · Cambridge Turnpike

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on MA 2; MA 2A

3.9 mi · 6 min · Concord Turnpike

Continue on MA 2; MA 2A

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Elm Street

Enter roundabout onto MA 2; MA 111

407 ft · 5 sec · Union Turnpike

Continue on MA 2; MA 111

0.6 mi · 39 sec · Union Turnpike

Continue on MA 2; MA 111

6.2 mi · 9 min · Massachusetts Avenue

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Continue on MA 2

0.3 mi · 21 sec · George W Stanton Highway

Continue on MA 2

11 mi · 15 min · Captain Isaac Davis Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2

26 mi · 35 min · Concord Turnpike

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 57 sec

Exit 77 Toward MA 2A: Athol, Phillipston

Turn left onto MA 2A

1.2 mi · 2 min · Templeton Road

Continue on MA 2A; MA 32

1.4 mi · 3 min · Main Street

Turn right onto MA 32

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Chestnut Hill Avenue

Turn left onto MA 32

269 ft · 5 sec · Bridge Street

Turn straight onto MA 32

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Crescent Street

Turn sharp right onto Fish Street

89 ft · 5 sec · Fish Street

Turn right

43 ft · 3 sec

Arrive at destination

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 39 miles from Quincy, MA, or about 1h 3m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.7 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 77.9 miles or 2h in

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

Halfway reset

Around 39 miles or 1h 3m 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 40m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Quincy, 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 Quincy, MA

This is one driving day of about 77.9 miles and 2h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Quincy, 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 33.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 39 mi from Quincy, MA · 1h 3m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brookhaven, NY

39 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 77.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brookhaven, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39 miles from Quincy, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Athol, MA

The final approach into Athol, 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 Athol, 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.

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...

1 mi from route ~1 min detour $15

Park Closure: Historic Homes Closed for Season

View on nps.gov

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.

1 mi from route ~3 min detour Free near mile 10.7

View on nps.gov

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...

2 mi from route ~4 min detour Free near mile 24.2

View on nps.gov

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...

5 mi from route ~13 min detour Free

View on nps.gov

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...

13 mi from route ~32 min detour Free near mile 34.9

View on nps.gov

Salem Maritime National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the...

14 mi from route ~34 min detour Free near mile 13.4

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.47 one way

$24.93 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$13.60	$27.19
premium	$4.82	$14.79	$29.58
diesel	$5.61	$17.20	$34.40

Estimated Tolls: $2.63

Concord Turnpike (29.8 mi) $2.09

Concord Turnpike (3.9 mi) $0.27

Cambridge Turnpike (3.3 mi) $0.23

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

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	23.4	$8.18	$3.74
Efficient EV	19.5	$6.82	$3.12
EV Truck/SUV	31.2	$10.91	$4.99

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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

Quincy, MA

Evening in Quincy on Tuesday

Local time

5:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Athol, MA

Evening in Athol on Tuesday

Local time

5:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Brookhaven, NY

39 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

4 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

2h 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 Quincy, MA to Athol, MA covers 77.9 miles and takes about 2h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Concord Turnpike, Captain Isaac Davis Highway, Massachusetts Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 39 miles from Quincy, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.47 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.

On the drive from Quincy, MA to Athol, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Medford along the way.

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Trip from Quincy, MA to Athol, MA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Athol, MA

National Parks Near This Route

Adams National Historical Park

Boston National Historical Park

Minute Man National Historical Park

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

Lowell National Historical Park

Salem Maritime National Historical Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Quincy, MA

Athol, MA

Same local time

4 degrees cooler at arrival

2h on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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