Origin
Somerville, MA
Evening in Somerville on Wednesday
Local time
6:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Somerville, MA to Sterling, MA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
43.2 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Somerville, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Sterling, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Somerville, MA to Sterling, MA covers 43.2 miles and takes about 1h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highland Avenue, Dover Street, Massachusetts Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.91 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
21.6 miles from Somerville, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 7m drive with frequent turns across 43.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highland Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Somerville, MA to Sterling, MA is easy. At 1h 7m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Somerville, MA to Sterling, MA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highland Avenue | — | — |
| Dover Street | — | — |
| Massachusetts Avenue | — | — |
| Alewife Brook Parkway | — | — |
| Concord Turnpike | — | — |
| Concord Highway | — | — |
| Cambridge Turnpike | — | — |
| Elm Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Highland Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Somerville, MA and Sterling, MA.
1
Start on the route
164 ft
·
14 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto Highland Avenue
1.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Highland Avenue
3
Turn left onto Dover Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Dover Street
4
Turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Massachusetts Avenue
5
Turn left onto Alewife Brook Parkway
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Alewife Brook Parkway
6
Turn right onto Concord Turnpike
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Concord Turnpike
7
Continue on Concord Highway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Concord Highway
8
Continue on Cambridge Turnpike
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Cambridge Turnpike
9
Continue on Concord Turnpike
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Concord Turnpike
10
Continue on Elm Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Elm Street
11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Concord Rotary
407 ft
·
5 sec
·
Concord Rotary
12
Exit the rotary onto Union Turnpike
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
Union Turnpike
13
Continue on Massachusetts Avenue
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Massachusetts Avenue
14
Continue on George W Stanton Highway
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
George W Stanton Highway
15
Continue on Captain Isaac Davis Highway
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
16
Keep slight right to continue on Leominster Connector
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Leominster Connector
17
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
18
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
19
Merge slight left
4.7 mi
·
5 min
20
Take the exit slight right toward MA 12: Sterling, Clinton
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
MA 12: Sterling, Clinton
21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Leominster Road
226 ft
·
4 sec
·
Leominster Road
22
Exit the roundabout onto Leominster Road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Leominster Road
23
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Leominster Road
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
Leominster Road
24
Exit the roundabout onto Leominster Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Leominster Road
25
Turn straight onto Main Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Main Street
26
Turn sharp right onto Meetinghouse Hill Road
56 ft
·
2 sec
·
Meetinghouse Hill Road
27
Arrive at your 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 21.6 miles from Somerville, MA, or about 33m into the drive.
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 10 miles or 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 21.6 miles or 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sterling, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Somerville, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Somerville, MA
This is one driving day of about 43.2 miles and 1h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 10 miles from Somerville, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.6 mi from Somerville, MA · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.6 miles from Somerville, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Sterling, MA
The final approach into Sterling, 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
$6.91 one way
$13.83 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $7.54 | $15.08 |
| premium | $4.82 | $8.20 | $16.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.54 | $19.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.07 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.78 | $1.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.05 | $2.76 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Sterling, MA
Evening in Sterling on Wednesday
Local time
6:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°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
15 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 7m 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 Somerville, MA to Sterling, MA covers 43.2 miles and takes about 1h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highland Avenue, Dover Street, Massachusetts Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.6 miles from Somerville, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.91 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.
The drive from Somerville, MA to Sterling, MA is easy. At 1h 7m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Somerville, MA to Sterling, MA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Somerville, MA to Sterling, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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