Wales, MA to Lynn, MA is 80.7 miles and takes about 1h 48m via Massachusetts Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Massachusetts, traversing the Northeast region. Expect a fairly direct trip with a significant portion on a major highway. It's a straightforward journey ideal for a single-day excursion, getting you from one point to another efficiently. If you're looking for a quick and uncomplicated trip, this route fits the bill.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.3 miles from Wales, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 80.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 73% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 58 miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike. Expect a consistent driving pace for most of your journey, allowing for steady progress. The initial part of your trip will involve navigating local roads like Sturbridge Road and Main Street before merging onto the faster highway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 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 58 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Sturbridge Road. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 13 miles in near I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.7 miles you will encounter 13 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 13 miles (I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 75 miles (MA 1A / Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 79.8 miles (MA 1A): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
13 mi into trip|~21m in|I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
75 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|MA 1A / Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
Enter roundabout onto MA 1A / Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
79.8 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|MA 1A
Turn left onto MA 1A
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
80.2 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|Liberty Street
Turn right onto Liberty Street
Navigation decision point
5
80.5 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|Essex Street
Turn left onto Essex Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Massachusetts Turnpike
58 mi
1h 10m
Sturbridge Road
4 mi
5m
Main Street
3.7 mi
7m
North Shore Road
2.7 mi
4m
Wales Road
2.1 mi
3m
Lynnway
1.7 mi
2m
Ted Williams Tunnel
1.6 mi
2m
Wilbur Cross Highway
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 58 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wales, MA and Lynn, MA.
1
Start on MA 19
0.2 mi·21 sec·Main Street
2
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 19
2.0 mi·3 min·Main Street
3
Continue on MA 19
2.1 mi·3 min·Wales Road
4
Turn right onto US 20
4.0 mi·5 min·Sturbridge Road
5
Continue on US 20
1.0 mi·1 min·Brimfield Road
6
Continue on US 20
1.6 mi·3 min·Main Street
7
Continue on US 20
0.6 mi·1 min·Charlton Road
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
9
Merge onto I 84
1.4 mi·2 min·Wilbur Cross Highway
10
Merge onto I 90
57 mi·1 hr 8 min·Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on I 90
1.6 mi·2 min·Ted Williams Tunnel
12
Continue on I 90
1.1 mi·1 min·Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto MA 1A
0.3 mi·34 sec·East Boston Expressway
14
Continue on MA 1A
1.0 mi·1 min·McClellan Highway
15
Continue on MA 1A
1.0 mi·2 min·Lee Burbank Highway
16
Take the exit onto MA 1A
366 ft·11 sec·MA 1A
17
Enter roundabout onto MA 1A
7 ft·0 sec·Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
18
Continue on MA 1A
0.4 mi·34 sec·Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
19
Enter roundabout onto MA 1A
375 ft·4 sec·North Shore Road
20
Continue on MA 1A
2.6 mi·4 min·North Shore Road
21
Continue on MA 1A
1.7 mi·2 min·Lynnway
22
Turn left onto MA 1A
504 ft·12 sec·MA 1A
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on Market Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Market Street
24
Turn right onto Liberty Street
0.3 mi·43 sec·Liberty Street
25
Turn left onto Essex Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Essex Street
26
Turn right onto Rogers Avenue
66 ft·2 sec·Rogers Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
Rogers Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under two hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day. You can depart at your leisure, though an early start will allow for any unexpected delays. With only 80.7 miles and a fuel cost around $13, you won't need to worry excessively about frequent fuel stops, but it's always wise to check your gauge before heading out. The longest stretch on the Massachusetts Turnpike means you can cover a lot of ground without needing to navigate complex intersections for a significant portion of the drive.
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 40.3 miles from Wales, MA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58 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 18 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.3 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lynn, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wales, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Wales, MA
This is one driving day of about 80.7 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Wales, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Massachusetts Turnpike for about 58 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Boston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
1 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 72.3
Park Closure: Dorchester Heights Temporary Public Access Restrictions
Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 80.7
. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach o...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 69.5
From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penn’s Hill to the gentleman’s country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of “heroes, statesmen, philosophers…and learned wome...
At Minute Man National Historical Park the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and structures associated with April 19, 1775, and witness the Ameri...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 58.4
Lowell’s water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation – including immigrant families and early female factory workers – into an uncertain new industrial era. Nearly 200 years later, the changes t...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 61.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.92 one way
$25.83 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$14.08
$28.17
premium
$4.82
$15.32
$30.65
diesel
$5.61
$17.82
$35.64
Estimated Tolls: $3.47
Massachusetts Turnpike
(58 mi)$3.47
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.2
0
$8.47
$3.87
Efficient EV
20.2
0
$7.06
$3.23
EV Truck/SUV
32.3
0
$11.30
$5.16
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Wales, MA
Night
in Wales on Friday
Local time
11:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lynn, MA
Night
in Lynn on Friday
Local time
11:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
14 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 48m 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 Wales, MA to Lynn, MA covers 80.7 miles and takes about 1h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Massachusetts Turnpike, Sturbridge Road, Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.3 miles from Wales, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.92 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 80.7 miles you will encounter 13 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 13 miles (I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 75 miles (MA 1A / Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 79.8 miles (MA 1A): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Wales, MA to Lynn, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Boston National Historical Park, Salem Maritime National Historical Park and Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
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.
