Origin
Rochester, MA
Morning in Rochester on Friday
Local time
7:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rochester, MA to Cambridge, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
58.6 mi
94 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rochester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Rochester, MA to Cambridge, MA covers 58.6 miles and takes about 1h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Amvets Highway, I 495, I 93 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.5 miles on Amvets Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.38 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 58.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Rochester, MA to Cambridge, MA covers 58.6 miles and takes about 1h 22m, 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 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Amvets Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 17.5 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 6.7 miles in near I 495.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.6 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 6.7 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
6.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
41.3 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 41A
Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
6
56.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Stat...
8
56.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway
6
56.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
Cambridge Street
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Amvets Highway | 17.5 mi | 20m |
| I 495 | 16.1 mi | 18m |
| I 93 | 11.5 mi | 15m |
| Marys Pond Road | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| County Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Cambridge Street | 1.4 mi | 4m |
| MA 3 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Amvets Highway
— 17.5 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rochester, MA and Cambridge, MA.
1
Start on New Bedford Road
404 ft
·
7 sec
·
New Bedford Road
2
Keep slight left at fork onto Marys Pond Road
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Marys Pond Road
3
Turn left onto County Road
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road
4
Continue on MA 58
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
MA 58
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 495 North
6
Merge onto I 495
16 mi
·
18 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19A
Toward MA 24 North: Boston
8
Merge onto MA 24
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Amvets Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 41A
Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 93; US 1
12 mi
·
15 min
·
I 93; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto MA 3
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
MA 3
Exit 18
Toward Storrow Drive
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Station
14
Keep slight left at fork
213 ft
·
9 sec
Toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on MA 28
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Charles River Dam Road
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on MA 28
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Monsignor O'Brien Highway
Toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway, Somerville
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
1.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Cambridge Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn right onto Line Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Line Street
19
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
460 ft
·
19 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Leonard Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29.3 mi from Rochester, MA · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.3 miles from Rochester, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cambridge, MA
The final approach into Cambridge, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.38 one way
$18.76 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $10.23 | $20.45 |
| premium | $4.82 | $11.13 | $22.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.94 | $25.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
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 | $6.15 | $2.81 |
| Efficient EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.13 | $2.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.20 | $3.75 |
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.
Destination
Cambridge, MA
Morning in Cambridge on Friday
Local time
7:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
19 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 22m 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 Rochester, MA to Cambridge, MA covers 58.6 miles and takes about 1h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Amvets Highway, I 495, I 93. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.3 miles from Rochester, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.38 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 58.6 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 6.7 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Rochester, MA to Cambridge, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Cambridge, MA
More from Rochester, MA
More trips to Cambridge, MA
Explore more options from Rochester, MA or browse trips ending in Cambridge, MA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MA road trips.