Trip from Sudbury, MA to Worcester, MA

Q: How long is the trip from Sudbury, MA to Worcester, MA?

The drive from Sudbury, MA to Worcester, MA covers 26.5 miles and takes about 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are I 290, Boston Post Road, Lincoln Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 13.2 miles from Sudbury, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.22 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Q: What towns show up on signs driving from Sudbury, MA to Worcester, MA?

The route from Sudbury, MA to Worcester, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Drive Time

37m

Distance

26.5 mi

43 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min

4 AM

0h 34m ★

6 AM

0h 37m

8 AM

0h 43m

10 AM

0h 39m

12 PM

0h 39m

3 PM

0h 40m

5 PM

0h 43m

8 PM

0h 35m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Sudbury, MA

Phil Evenden

Trip Overview

Driving from Sudbury to Worcester is a straightforward 26.5-mile journey that typically takes about 37 minutes. Because this trip is so quick, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $4 on fuel for the trek, making it a very budget-friendly trip within the Northeast region. The route utilizes a combination of I-290, Boston Post Road, and Lincoln Street to navigate between the two Massachusetts towns. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, this drive offers a practical and efficient way to travel across the state.

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

13.2 miles from Sudbury, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition between local roads and faster highway segments. With a highway share of 49 percent, you will spend roughly half your time on the interstate, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 13.1 miles on I-290. The character of the road shifts noticeably as you move from the quieter corridors of Sudbury onto the more structured flow of the interstate. It is a balanced route that avoids the monotony of a purely highway-based drive while still allowing you to make good time. You will get a feel for both the suburban layout of the start and the more urban connectivity of Worcester as the pavement changes beneath you.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 290 is the longest continuous segment at about 13.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near US 20 / Boston Post Road.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 1.8 miles (US 20 / Boston Post Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles (US 20 / Lakeside Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 10.4 miles (I 495 / Blue Star Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

1.8 mi into trip | ~3m in | US 20 / Boston Post Road

Turn right onto US 20 / Boston Post Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

9.8 mi into trip | ~15m in | US 20 / Lakeside Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto US 20 / Lakeside Avenue

Navigation decision point

10.4 mi into trip | ~16m in | I 495 / Blue Star Memorial Highway

Merge onto I 495 / Blue Star Memorial Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

11.9 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward I 290 West: Worcester

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Exit 65B Toward I 290 West: Worcester

25.4 mi into trip | ~35m in

Take the exit toward Ware, Framingham

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 21 Toward Ware, Framingham

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 290	13.1 mi	15m
Boston Post Road	6 mi	9m
Lincoln Street	1.8 mi	2m
Blue Star Memorial Highway	1.5 mi	1m
Union Avenue	1 mi	1m
Concord Road	0.6 mi	1m
Main Street	0.6 mi	1m
East Main Street	0.5 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 290 — 13.1 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sudbury, MA and Worcester, MA.

Start on MA 27

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Hudson Road

Turn right onto Concord Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Concord Road

Turn right onto Union Avenue

1.0 mi · 1 min · Union Avenue

Turn right onto US 20

6.0 mi · 9 min · Boston Post Road

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 20

0.5 mi · 43 sec · East Main Street

Continue on Lincoln Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · Lincoln Street

At end of road, turn right onto US 20

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Lakeside Avenue

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Toward I 495 North: Lowell

Merge onto I 495

1.5 mi · 1 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min

Exit 65B Toward I 290 West: Worcester Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on I 290

13 mi · 15 min · I 290

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Exit 21 Toward Ware, Framingham

Turn right onto MA 70

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Lincoln Street

Turn right onto MA 9

158 ft · 2 sec · Lincoln Square

Turn left onto Main Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Main Street

Arrive at destination

Main Street

Trip Plan

Given the short 37-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding when you decide to hit the road. There are no mandatory stops required for this 26.5-mile trip, allowing you to drive straight through without worrying about fatigue. If you want to avoid peak traffic flow, plan your departure outside of standard rush hours to maintain a consistent pace. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will hover around $4, so a quick check of your tank before leaving Sudbury is all the preparation you need. Because the route relies heavily on I-290, keep an eye on real-time traffic updates for that specific 13.1-mile stretch to ensure your arrival time remains on schedule.

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 13.2 miles from Sudbury, MA, or about 20m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.1 miles.

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 26.5 miles or 37m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 13.2 miles or 20m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 31m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Worcester, MA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Sudbury, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Sudbury, MA

This is one driving day of about 26.5 miles and 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sudbury, MA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on I 290 for about 13.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 13.2 mi from Sudbury, MA · 20m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brookhaven, NY

13 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

Brookhaven, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brookhaven, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 13.2 miles from Sudbury, 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.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Worcester, MA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.22 one way

$8.44 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.40	$4.59	$9.17
premium	$4.80	$5.01	$10.01
diesel	$5.64	$5.89	$11.77

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	7.9	$2.78	$1.27
Efficient EV	6.6	$2.32	$1.06
EV Truck/SUV	10.6	$3.71	$1.70

Gas CO2

9 kg

EV CO2

3 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Sudbury, MA

Night in Sudbury on Sunday

Local time

9:06 PM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Worcester, MA

Night in Worcester on Sunday

Local time

9:06 PM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

49°F

Brookhaven, NY

13 mi in

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

37m 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 Sudbury, MA to Worcester, MA covers 26.5 miles and takes about 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 290, Boston Post Road, Lincoln Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 13.2 miles from Sudbury, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.22 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.