Origin
Worcester, MA
Evening in Worcester on Tuesday
Local time
6:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Worcester, MA to New Salem, MA
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
40.1 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
New Salem, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
The drive from Worcester, MA to New Salem, MA covers 40.1 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pleasant Street, Worcester Road, Barre Paxton Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 6.9 miles on Pleasant Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.42 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
20.1 miles from Worcester, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 6m drive with frequent turns across 40.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pleasant Street is the longest continuous segment at about 6.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near MA 122; MA 122A / Chandler Street.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Worcester, MA to New Salem, MA is easy. At 1h 6m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (MA 122; MA 122A / Chandler Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (MA 122 / Pleasant Street): Navigation decision point; at 37 miles (US 202 / Daniel Shays Highway): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
3 of 3 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MA 122; MA 122A / Chandler Street
Turn right onto MA 122; MA 122A / Chandler Street
Navigation decision point
3
3.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
MA 122 / Pleasant Street
Turn left onto MA 122 / Pleasant Street
Navigation decision point
4
37 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
US 202 / Daniel Shays Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 202 / Daniel Shays Highway
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Street | 6.9 mi | 12m |
| Worcester Road | 6.1 mi | 11m |
| Barre Paxton Road | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| New Salem Road | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| West Street | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Petersham Road | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Barre Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Daniel Shays Highway | 3.1 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Pleasant Street
— 6.9 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Worcester, MA and New Salem, MA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto MA 122; MA 122A
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Chandler Street
3
Turn left onto MA 122
6.8 mi
·
12 min
·
Pleasant Street
4
Continue on MA 122
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Barre Paxton Road
5
Continue on MA 122
6.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Worcester Road
6
Continue on MA 32; MA 122
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Summer Street
7
Continue on MA 32; MA 122
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Pleasant Street
8
Turn left onto MA 32; MA 122
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
West Street
9
Continue on MA 32; MA 122
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Barre Road
10
Continue on MA 32A; MA 122
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
New Salem Road
11
Continue on MA 122
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Petersham Road
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 202
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Daniel Shays Highway
13
Turn left onto North Main Street
275 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
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 20.1 miles from Worcester, MA, or about 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.9 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 40.1 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 20.1 miles or 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Salem, 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 40.1 miles and 1h 6m.
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 Pleasant Street for about 6.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.1 mi from Worcester, MA · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.1 miles from Worcester, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in New Salem, MA
The final approach into New Salem, 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 New Salem, 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
$6.42 one way
$12.84 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $7.00 | $14.00 |
| premium | $4.82 | $7.61 | $15.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.85 | $17.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.92 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.51 | $1.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.57 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
New Salem, MA
Evening in New Salem on Tuesday
Local time
6:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°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
24 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
1h 6m 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 New Salem, MA covers 40.1 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pleasant Street, Worcester Road, Barre Paxton Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.1 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 $6.42 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.
The drive from Worcester, MA to New Salem, MA is easy. At 1h 6m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (MA 122; MA 122A / Chandler Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (MA 122 / Pleasant Street): Navigation decision point; at 37 miles (US 202 / Daniel Shays Highway): Navigation decision point.
The route from Worcester, MA to New Salem, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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