Origin
Sterling, MA
Afternoon in Sterling on Saturday
Local time
3:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sterling, MA to Quincy, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
59.5 mi
96 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sterling, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Quincy, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sterling, MA to Quincy, MA covers 59.5 miles and takes about 1h 24m 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 495, Southeast Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.7 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.52 one way before food or hotel costs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 27.7 mi | 34m |
| I 495 | 11.7 mi | 13m |
| Southeast Expressway | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Wattaquadock Hill Road | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Clinton Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Sterling Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Newport Avenue Extension | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| Water Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 27.7 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sterling, MA and Quincy, MA.
1
Start on Meetinghouse Hill Road
288 ft
·
10 sec
·
Meetinghouse Hill Road
2
Turn right onto Park Street
253 ft
·
11 sec
·
Park Street
3
Turn slight left onto MA 12; MA 62
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Main Street
4
Continue on MA 62
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Clinton Road
5
Continue on MA 62
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Sterling Street
6
Continue on MA 110
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Water Street
7
Continue on Bolton Road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Bolton Road
8
Continue on Wattaquadock Hill Road
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Wattaquadock Hill Road
9
Turn right onto MA 117
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 495 South: Marlborough
11
Merge onto I 495
12 mi
·
13 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 58
Toward I 90: Albany New York, Boston
13
Merge onto I 90
28 mi
·
34 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
512 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 134C-B-A
Toward I 93: South Station, Concord New Hampshire, Quincy
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
453 ft
·
10 sec
Exit 134C-B
Toward I 93 South, I 93 North: Quincy, Concord New Hampshire
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 134C
Toward I 93 South: Quincy
Use the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto I 93; US 1; MA 3
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Southeast Expressway
19
Take the exit onto MA 3A
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
MA 3A
Exit 12
Toward MA 3A South: Neponset, Quincy
Use the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto MA 3A
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
Gallivan Boulevard
21
Take the exit onto MA 3A
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
MA 3A
22
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 3A
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Hancock Street
Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn slight right onto Newport Avenue Extension
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Newport Avenue Extension
Use the right lane.
24
Turn left onto Adams Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Adams Street
25
Turn straight onto Hancock Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Hancock Street
26
Turn left onto Coddington Street
265 ft
·
8 sec
·
Coddington Street
Use the left lane.
27
Turn left onto Faxon Avenue
362 ft
·
15 sec
·
Faxon Avenue
Use the left lane.
28
Arrive at destination
Faxon Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 29.8 miles from Sterling, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 50.5 and 56.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
50.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward I 93: South Station, Concord New Hampshire, Quincy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 134C-B-A
Toward I 93: South Station, Concord New Hampshi...
8
50.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 93 South, I 93 North: Quincy, Concord New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 134C-B
Toward I 93 South, I 93 North: Quincy, Concord...
8
50.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 93 South: Quincy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 134C
Toward I 93 South: Quincy
8
55.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
MA 3A
Take the exit onto MA 3A toward MA 3A South: Neponset, Quincy
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 12
Toward MA 3A South: Neponset, Quincy
7
56.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
MA 3A / Hancock Street
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 3A / Hancock Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.52 one way
$19.04 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $10.38 | $20.77 |
| premium | $4.82 | $11.30 | $22.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.14 | $26.27 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.66
Massachusetts Turnpike
(27.7 mi)
$1.66
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$2
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.8 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 | 17.8 | 0 | $6.25 | $2.86 |
| Efficient EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.21 | $2.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.33 | $3.81 |
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
Quincy, MA
Afternoon in Quincy on Saturday
Local time
3:38 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
8 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 24m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
59.5 mi in 1h 24m, mostly highway — 27.7 mi of that is on Massachusetts Turnpike.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.7 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and I 495. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 50.5 miles in.
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 59.5 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 50.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sterling, MA and Quincy, MA, road signs point toward Boston and Concord New Hampshire.
Boston
22.1 mi in
|
~32m
Concord New Hampshire
50.5 mi in
|
~1h 8m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 59.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.7 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.66 in tolls one way, starting with Massachusetts Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Quincy, MA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 50.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Adams National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park and Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Quincy, MA before heading back.
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.
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