Trip from Worcester, MA to East Dennis, MA

Drive Time

2h 26m

Distance

113.5 mi

183 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 16m ★
6 AM
2h 26m
8 AM
2h 46m
10 AM
2h 33m
12 PM
2h 31m
3 PM
2h 34m
5 PM
2h 45m
8 PM
2h 20m

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

Downtown East Dennis, MA, MA

East Dennis, MA

David Kanigan

Trip Overview

Traveling from Worcester to East Dennis covers 113.5 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 26 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a relatively quick trek across Massachusetts, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach the coast without needing an overnight stay. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-495, MA-25, and the Mid Cape Highway, making this a very efficient transit between the city and the shore. With fuel costs estimated at approximately $18, it is a budget-friendly way to swap the inland landscape for a coastal destination. Whether you are heading out for a weekend getaway or a quick change of scenery, the route is designed for speed and convenience rather than leisurely exploration.

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

56.8 miles from Worcester, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .

Drive Character

This journey is a highway-focused drive, with 68% of your time spent on major interstates and expressways. You should prepare for a consistent, steady pace, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 57 miles along I-495. As you transition from the Worcester area toward the Mid Cape Highway, the road feels like a standard interstate grind, prioritizing direct movement over technical curves or local scenery. Because the route relies so heavily on high-speed transit, you will find the driving experience to be functional and predictable. Expect to maintain highway speeds for the majority of the trip, ensuring a reliable arrival time as you move toward the coast.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 495 is the longest continuous segment at about 57 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and Mid Cape Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 113.5 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: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 15 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

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

5
4.5 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

8
15 mi into trip | ~19m in

Take the exit toward I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Taunton

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 106 Toward I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Taunton
6
15.2 mi into trip | ~20m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 495 South: Taunton, Cape Cod

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 495 South: Taunton, Cape Cod
5
15.9 mi into trip | ~22m in | I 495

Merge onto I 495

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

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
5
87 mi into trip | ~1h 46m in | Mid-Cape Connector

Turn right onto Mid-Cape Connector

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

Towns Along This Route

Between Worcester, MA and East Dennis, MA, road signs point toward Taunton and Cape Cod.

Taunton

15 mi in | ~19m

Cape Cod

15.2 mi in | ~20m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 495 57 mi 1h 5m
Mid Cape Highway 22.3 mi 30m
MA 25 10.1 mi 11m
Massachusetts Turnpike 9.5 mi 10m
Grafton Street 3.6 mi 4m
East West Dennis Road 3.2 mi 6m
Sandwich Road Connector 3.2 mi 5m
MA 28 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 495 — 57 mi, about 1h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Main Street

293 ft · 12 sec · Main Street
2

Turn right onto Front Street

0.4 mi · 50 sec · Front Street
3

Enter roundabout onto Grafton Street

24 ft · 0 sec · Grafton Street
4

Continue on Grafton Street

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Grafton Street
5

Continue on MA 122

0.5 mi · 41 sec · Grafton Street
6

Enter roundabout onto MA 122

39 ft · 0 sec · Grafton Street
7

Continue on MA 122

2.9 mi · 3 min · Grafton Street
8

Continue on MA 122

0.4 mi · 59 sec · Grafton Road
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
11

Merge onto I 90

9.5 mi · 10 min · Massachusetts Turnpike
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 38 sec
Exit 106 Toward I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Taunton Use the slight right lane.
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward I 495 South: Taunton, Cape Cod
14

Merge onto I 495

57 mi · 1 hr 5 min · I 495
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on MA 25

10 mi · 11 min · MA 25
16

Continue on MA 28

0.8 mi · 1 min · MA 28
17

Enter roundabout onto Sandwich Road Connector

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Sandwich Road Connector
18

Continue on Sandwich Road Connector

3.0 mi · 5 min · Sandwich Road Connector
19

Turn right onto Mid-Cape Connector

0.3 mi · 26 sec · Mid-Cape Connector
Use the left / straight lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
21

Merge onto US 6

22 mi · 30 min · Mid Cape Highway
Use the none / slight right lanes.
22

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 1 min
Exit 78B Toward MA 134 North: Dennis
23

Turn straight onto MA 134

3.2 mi · 6 min · East West Dennis Road
Use the none lane.
24

Turn left onto MA 6A

135 ft · 11 sec · Cranberry Highway
25

Turn left

49 ft · 3 sec
26

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 2-hour and 26-minute drive, try to time your departure to avoid peak weekday traffic on the major interchanges. Since you have no mandatory stops scheduled, you have the flexibility to power through the entire 113.5 miles in one go or pull off the highway if you need a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the Mid Cape Highway, as gas prices can vary once you enter the Cape region. Given the highway-heavy nature of this trip, cruise control will be your best friend for maintaining a comfortable, steady speed during the long stretches on I-495. Planning your arrival for the early morning or mid-afternoon will help you maintain a stress-free pace throughout the duration of your trip.

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 56.8 miles from Worcester, MA, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57 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 80 miles or 1h 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 56.8 miles or 1h 9m 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 55m

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

Before You Leave

+

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 113.5 miles and 2h 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Worcester, 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 495 for about 57 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 56.8 mi from Worcester, MA · 1h 9m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brookhaven, NY

57 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

Boston, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brookhaven, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 56.8 miles from Worcester, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in East Dennis, MA

The final approach into East Dennis, 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 East Dennis, 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

$18.07 one way

$36.13 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $19.65 $39.30
premium $4.80 $21.44 $42.89
diesel $5.64 $25.22 $50.43

Estimated Tolls: $0.57

Massachusetts Turnpike (9.5 mi) $0.57

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

$18

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 39.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 34.1 0 $11.92 $5.45
Efficient EV 28.4 0 $9.93 $4.54
EV Truck/SUV 45.4 0 $15.89 $7.26

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Worcester, MA

Afternoon in Worcester on Sunday

Local time

3:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

East Dennis, MA

Afternoon in East Dennis on Sunday

Local time

3:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

37°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

49°F

Brookhaven, NY

57 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

40 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

2h 26m 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 Worcester, MA to East Dennis, MA covers 113.5 miles and takes about 2h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 495, Mid Cape Highway, MA 25. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.8 miles from Worcester, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.07 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 17 significant decision points across 113.5 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: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 15 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Worcester, MA and East Dennis, MA, road signs point toward Taunton and Cape Cod.

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Return Trip

East Dennis, MA to Worcester, MA

Plan the drive back the other way.

112.8 mi 2h 27m

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