Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
52.1 mi
84 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Hadley, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from South Hadley, MA to Worcester, MA covers 52.1 miles and takes about 1h 13m 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, East Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34.7 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.34 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 52.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 1h 13m highway drive covering 52.1 miles, with most of the trip on Massachusetts Turnpike and I 290. The longest continuous stretch is about 34.7 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and I 290. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.5 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.1 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 9.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
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
Keep slight left at fork toward I 395, I 290
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto MA 122A / Vernon Street
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 34.7 mi | 39m |
| I 290 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| East Street | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Pleasant Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Fuller Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Rood Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Center Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Morgan Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between South Hadley, MA and Worcester, MA.
Start on Church Street
Turn right onto Park Street
Turn left onto Morgan Street
Continue on Pleasant Street
Turn slight left onto East Street
Turn left onto Fuller Street
Continue on Rood Street
Turn right onto MA 21
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 290
Take the exit
Turn left onto MA 122A
Enter roundabout onto Green Street
Continue on Green Street
Continue on Franklin Street
At end of road, turn right onto Main Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26 mi from South Hadley, MA · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26 miles from South Hadley, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$8.34 one way
$16.68 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.09 | $18.19 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.89 | $19.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.50 | $23.01 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.08
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 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 | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.29 | $3.33 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in South Hadley on Saturday
Local time
11:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Worcester on Saturday
Local time
11:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Cloudy
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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.
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