Origin
South Amherst, MA
Morning in South Amherst on Saturday
Local time
11:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Amherst, MA to Worcester, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
53.3 mi
86 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 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Amherst, MA
Phil Evenden
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from South Amherst, MA to Worcester, MA covers 53.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Massachusetts Turnpike, I 290, North Liberty Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 26.8 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.53 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 53.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m 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
The drive from South Amherst, MA to Worcester, MA covers 53.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m, 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 31 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 26.8 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 17.8 miles in near US 20 / Thorndike Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.3 miles you will encounter 18 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 17.8 miles (US 20 / Thorndike Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 46.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
17.8 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
US 20 / Thorndike Street
Turn left onto US 20 / Thorndike Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
46.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester
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 90
Toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester
6
46.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 395, MA 12 North, I 290
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 395, MA 12 North, I 290
7
46.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 395, I 290
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 395, I 290
6
52.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
MA 122A / Vernon Street
Turn left onto MA 122A / Vernon Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 26.8 mi | 30m |
| I 290 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| North Liberty Street | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| Bay Road | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| North Main Street | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| North Washington Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| South East Street | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| Palmer Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 26.8 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Amherst, MA and Worcester, MA.
1
Start on Pomeroy Lane
290 ft
·
9 sec
·
Pomeroy Lane
2
Turn slight right onto South East Street
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
South East Street
3
Turn left onto Bay Road
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Bay Road
4
Turn left onto Allen Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Allen Street
5
Turn right onto MA 9
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Federal Street
6
Turn right onto US 202
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto North Washington Street
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Washington Street
8
Continue on North Liberty Street
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
North Liberty Street
9
Continue on Belchertown Street
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Belchertown Street
10
Continue on Bridge Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Bridge Street
11
Turn left onto Palmer Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Palmer Road
12
Turn right onto MA 181
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Sykes Street
13
Continue on MA 181
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
14
Continue on US 20
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
15
Turn left onto US 20
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Thorndike Street
Use the left lane.
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Use the left lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
308 ft
·
7 sec
18
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
this road
19
Merge onto I 90
27 mi
·
30 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 90
Toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 395, MA 12 North, I 290
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 395, I 290
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 290
24
Continue on I 290
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
I 290
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 17
Toward MA 122A: Kelly Square
26
Turn left onto MA 122A
423 ft
·
10 sec
·
Vernon Street
Use the straight lane.
27
Enter roundabout onto Green Street
205 ft
·
3 sec
·
Green Street
28
Continue on Green Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Green Street
29
Continue on Franklin Street
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Franklin Street
30
At end of road, turn right onto Main Street
135 ft
·
2 sec
·
Main Street
31
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.6 mi from South Amherst, MA · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.6 miles from South Amherst, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Worcester, MA
The final approach into Worcester, 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
$8.53 one way
$17.06 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.30 | $18.60 |
| premium | $4.82 | $10.12 | $20.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.77 | $23.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.61
Massachusetts Turnpike
(26.8 mi)
$1.61
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.60 | $2.56 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.66 | $2.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.46 | $3.41 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Worcester, MA
Morning in Worcester on Saturday
Local time
11:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Cloudy
NE 5 to 8 mph
2% chance
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
10 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 18m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from South Amherst, MA to Worcester, MA covers 53.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Massachusetts Turnpike, I 290, North Liberty Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.6 miles from South Amherst, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.53 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 53.3 miles you will encounter 18 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 17.8 miles (US 20 / Thorndike Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 46.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from South Amherst, MA to Worcester, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include New England National Scenic Trail and Minute Man National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Worcester, MA
More from South Amherst, MA
More trips to Worcester, MA
Explore more options from South Amherst, MA or browse trips ending in Worcester, MA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MA road trips.