Origin
Quincy, MA
Night in Quincy on Thursday
Local time
9:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Quincy, MA to Watertown, MA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
28m
Distance
16 mi
26 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Quincy, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Watertown, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 16-mile drive from Quincy, MA to Watertown, MA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 28 minutes. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $3, it's an economical option for getting between these two Northeast locations. The route primarily utilizes major arteries like the Massachusetts Turnpike and Southeast Expressway, offering a mixed driving experience. Given its brevity, there are no recommended overnight stops, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule. This journey is about efficient travel within the greater Boston area.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 16 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 60% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the Massachusetts Turnpike, the longest of which spans 6.1 miles, providing a taste of faster-paced travel. The Southeast Expressway and Newport Avenue contribute to the varied road surfaces and traffic patterns you'll experience. This isn't a purely interstate grind; the roads will feel like a combination of efficient highway travel and more urban commuting.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 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 6.1 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 7.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 16 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles (Albany Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
7.2 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward South Station, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward South Station, Airport
7
7.7 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward South Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward South Station
7
8.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
Albany Street
At end of road, turn left onto Albany Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
14.5 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward Newton, Watertown
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 127
Toward Newton, Watertown
7
14.8 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Watertown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Watertown
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Quincy, MA and Watertown, MA, road signs point toward Station, Airport, Worcester and Newton.
Station
7.2 mi in
|
~12m
Airport
7.2 mi in
|
~12m
Worcester
8.2 mi in
|
~15m
Newton
14.5 mi in
|
~24m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Southeast Expressway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Newport Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Hancock Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Galen Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Church Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| MA 3A | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Adams Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 6.1 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Quincy, MA and Watertown, MA.
1
Start on Faxon Avenue
362 ft
·
17 sec
·
Faxon Avenue
2
Turn right onto Coddington Street
265 ft
·
7 sec
·
Coddington Street
3
Turn right onto Hancock Street
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Hancock Street
Use the right lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto Adams Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Adams Street
5
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Newport Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Turn slight left onto MA 3A
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Hancock Street
7
Continue on MA 3A
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Neponset Avenue
8
Merge onto MA 3A
247 ft
·
6 sec
·
William T. Morrissey Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Take the exit onto MA 3A
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
MA 3A
Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
10
Merge onto I 93; US 1; MA 3
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Southeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward South Station, Airport
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward South Station
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left
252 ft
·
15 sec
15
At end of road, turn left onto Albany Street
35 ft
·
1 sec
·
Albany Street
Use the left lane.
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 90 West: Mass Pike, Worcester
17
Merge onto I 90
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 127
Toward Newton, Watertown
Use the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
268 ft
·
8 sec
Toward Watertown
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Turn slight right onto Centre Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Centre Street
21
Continue on Galen Street
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Galen Street
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn sharp left onto US 20
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto Church Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Church Street
24
Turn left onto Oliver Street
428 ft
·
19 sec
·
Oliver Street
25
Arrive at destination
Oliver Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.56 one way
$5.12 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $2.79 | $5.58 |
| premium | $4.82 | $3.04 | $6.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.53 | $7.07 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.37
Massachusetts Turnpike
(6.1 mi)
$0.37
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
| Efficient EV | 4 | 0 | $1.40 | $0.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.24 | $1.02 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
Watertown, MA
Night in Watertown on Thursday
Local time
9:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
28m 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 Watertown, MA covers 16 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Massachusetts Turnpike, Southeast Expressway, Newport Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8 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 $2.56 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 short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 16 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles (Albany Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Quincy, MA and Watertown, MA, road signs point toward Station, Airport, Worcester and Newton.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Adams National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park and Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
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