Origin
Whitman, MA
Afternoon in Whitman on Friday
Local time
12:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Whitman, MA to Cambridge, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
44m
Distance
26.6 mi
43 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Whitman, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Cambridge, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 26.6-mile drive from Whitman to Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a manageable one-day trip, typically taking around 44 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate MA 3 and Pilgrims Highway, with a portion on Main Street, offering a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, this route is very budget-friendly for a short excursion within the Northeast region. It’s a straightforward journey that doesn't necessitate an overnight stay, making it ideal for a quick visit or commute.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 44m. Total distance: 26.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a drive that’s about 43% highway, blending faster-paced travel with more local road segments. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 8.9 miles on MA 3, providing a period of consistent speed before you transition onto other main roads. This route offers a mixed drive profile, meaning you'll experience varying traffic conditions and speed limits as you progress from Whitman towards Cambridge.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MA 3 is the longest continuous segment at about 8.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.7 miles in near MA 3 / Pilgrims Highway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 26.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 44m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.7 miles (MA 3 / Pilgrims Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.8 miles (MA 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 24.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
8.7 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
MA 3 / Pilgrims Highway
Merge onto MA 3 / Pilgrims Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
23.8 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
MA 3
Take the exit onto MA 3 toward Storrow Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 18
Toward Storrow Drive
6
24.2 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Stat...
8
24.4 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway
6
24.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
Cambridge Street
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Whitman, MA and Cambridge, MA, road signs point toward Station and Somerville.
Station
24.2 mi in
|
~36m
Somerville
24.7 mi in
|
~37m
|
via MA 28
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MA 3 | 8.9 mi | 12m |
| Pilgrims Highway | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Main Street | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Bedford Street | 3 mi | 4m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Washington Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Cambridge Street | 1.4 mi | 4m |
| Charles River Dam Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
MA 3
— 8.9 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Whitman, MA and Cambridge, MA.
1
Start on Central Street
46 ft
·
7 sec
·
Central Street
2
Turn left onto MA 27
433 ft
·
16 sec
·
South Avenue
3
Turn right onto Washington Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Washington Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto MA 18
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
Washington Street
5
Continue on MA 18
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Bedford Street
6
Continue on MA 18
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on MA 18
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Main Street
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward MA 3 North: Boston
9
Merge onto MA 3
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Pilgrims Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on MA 3
8.4 mi
·
11 min
·
MA 3
Exit 43B
Toward I 93 North: Boston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto MA 3
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
MA 3
Exit 18
Toward Storrow Drive
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward MA 28 North: Leverett Circle, North Station
14
Keep slight left at fork
213 ft
·
9 sec
Toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on MA 28
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Charles River Dam Road
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on MA 28
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Monsignor O'Brien Highway
Toward MA 28 North: O'Brien Highway, Somerville
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
1.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Cambridge Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn right onto Line Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Line Street
19
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
460 ft
·
19 sec
·
Leonard Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Leonard Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.26 one way
$8.51 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.64 | $9.28 |
| premium | $4.82 | $5.05 | $10.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.87 | $11.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8 | 0 | $2.79 | $1.28 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.33 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.72 | $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.
Destination
Cambridge, MA
Afternoon in Cambridge on Friday
Local time
12:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
23 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
44m 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 Whitman, MA to Cambridge, MA covers 26.6 miles and takes about 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MA 3, Pilgrims Highway, Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.3 miles from Whitman, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.26 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 short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 26.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 44m.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.7 miles (MA 3 / Pilgrims Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.8 miles (MA 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 24.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Whitman, MA and Cambridge, MA, road signs point toward Station and Somerville.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Boston National Historical Park, Adams 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.
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