Origin
Waltham, MA
Evening in Waltham on Sunday
Local time
5:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waltham, MA to Grafton, MA
Drive Time
48m
Distance
34.5 mi
56 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waltham, MA
Pixabay
Grafton, MA
Mathias Reding
Trip Overview
The drive from Waltham, MA to Grafton, MA covers 34.5 miles and takes about 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Massachusetts Turnpike, Worcester Street, South Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 26.1 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.49 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
17.3 miles from Waltham, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 48m highway drive covering 34.5 miles, with most of the trip on Massachusetts Turnpike and Worcester Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 26.1 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 26.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Worcester Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 20 / Main Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 34.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 20 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 20 / Main Street
Depart onto US 20 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight lanes.
6
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
9
3.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Albany New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none lane.
Toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Al...
5
4.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
30.3 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward MA 122: Millbury, Worcester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 96
Toward MA 122: Millbury, Worcester
Towns Along This Route
Between Waltham, MA and Grafton, MA, road signs point toward Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York, Mass Pike West: Warcester and Worcester.
Mass Pike: Boston
3.2 mi in
|
~6m
Albany New York
3.2 mi in
|
~6m
Mass Pike West: Warcester
3.4 mi in
|
~6m
Worcester
30.3 mi in
|
~38m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 26.1 mi | 30m |
| Worcester Street | 3.2 mi | 7m |
| South Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| River Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Grafton Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Weston Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 26.1 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waltham, MA and Grafton, MA.
1
Start on US 20
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
Use the none / straight lanes.
2
Turn left onto US 20
178 ft
·
3 sec
·
Weston Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto South Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Street
Use the none lane.
4
Continue on River Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
River Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 90, Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York
6
Keep slight right at fork
240 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Albany New York
Use the none lane.
7
Continue on this road
393 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
Toward I 90 West, Mass Pike West: Warcester, Albany New York
8
Continue on this road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
9
Merge onto I 90
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the none lane.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 96
Toward MA 122: Millbury, Worcester
11
Keep slight right at fork
214 ft
·
7 sec
12
Turn slight right onto MA 122
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Grafton Road
13
Continue on MA 122
3.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Worcester Street
14
Arrive at destination
MA 140
Trip Plan
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 17.3 miles from Waltham, MA, or about 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.1 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 34.5 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 17.3 miles or 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grafton, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Waltham, 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 Waltham, MA
This is one driving day of about 34.5 miles and 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Waltham, 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 Massachusetts Turnpike for about 26.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.3 mi from Waltham, MA · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.3 miles from Waltham, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Grafton, MA
The final approach into Grafton, 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 Grafton, 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
$5.49 one way
$10.98 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $5.97 | $11.94 |
| premium | $4.80 | $6.52 | $13.04 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.66 | $15.33 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.56
Massachusetts Turnpike
(26.1 mi)
$1.56
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
$5
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.62 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Grafton, MA
Evening in Grafton on Sunday
Local time
5:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
49°F
Brookhaven, NY
17 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
21 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
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 Waltham, MA to Grafton, MA covers 34.5 miles and takes about 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Massachusetts Turnpike, Worcester Street, South 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 17.3 miles from Waltham, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.49 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 is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 34.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 20 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Waltham, MA and Grafton, MA, road signs point toward Mass Pike: Boston, Albany New York, Mass Pike West: Warcester and Worcester.
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