Drive Time
48m
Distance
30.2 mi
49 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
Photo: TUBARONES PHOTOGRAPHY
The drive from Worcester, MA to Ashburnham, MA covers 30.2 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 I 190, Fitchburg Road, Redemption Rock Trail for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 8.4 miles on I 190. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.81 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
15.1 miles from Worcester, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .
The drive from Worcester, MA to Ashburnham, MA covers 30.2 miles and takes about 48m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,086 ft
Total Descent
575 ft
Highest Point
1,018 ft
~30.2 mi in
Elevation Range
573 ft
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 30.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward I 290 East: Marlboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward I 190 North, MA 70: Sterling, Leominster, Burncoat Street, Lincoln Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 190 North: Sterling, Leominster
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MA 140: West Boylston, Princeton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto MA 101 / Water Street
Navigation decision point
Between Worcester, MA and Ashburnham, MA, road signs point toward Leominster and Princeton.
Leominster
Princeton
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 190 | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| Fitchburg Road | 5 mi | 8m |
| Redemption Rock Trail | 4.8 mi | 7m |
| Ashburnham State Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Redemption Rock Trail North | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Princeton Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Ashburnham Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Worcester, MA and Ashburnham, MA.
Start on Main Street
Turn right onto MA 9
Turn left onto MA 70
Take the exit
Merge onto I 290
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 190
Take the exit
Turn left onto MA 140
Continue on MA 140
Enter roundabout onto MA 31; MA 140
Continue on MA 31; MA 140
Turn slight right onto MA 31
Continue on MA 31
Turn right onto MA 2A; MA 31
Turn left onto Sanborn Street
At end of road, turn left onto MA 12
Continue on MA 12
Continue on MA 12
Continue on MA 12
Turn right onto MA 101
Arrive at destination
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.
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 30.2 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.1 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ashburnham, MA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Worcester, 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 Worcester, MA
This is one driving day of about 30.2 miles and 48m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.1 mi from Worcester, MA · 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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.
The final approach into Ashburnham, 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 Ashburnham, MA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$4.81 one way
$9.61 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $5.23 | $10.46 |
| premium | $4.80 | $5.71 | $11.41 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.71 | $13.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.17 | $1.45 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.64 | $1.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Worcester on Saturday
Local time
7:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Ashburnham on Saturday
Local time
7:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
54°F
Acton, MA
15 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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