Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
55 mi
88 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
South Hadley, MA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Worcester, MA to South Hadley, MA covers 55 miles and takes about 1h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Massachusetts Turnpike, I 290, Memorial Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40.9 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.80 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 55 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 1h 13m highway drive covering 55 miles, with most of the trip on Massachusetts Turnpike and I 290. The longest continuous stretch is about 40.9 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and I 290. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 6.1 miles (Oxford Street): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MA 12 South: Webster
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn left onto Oxford Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto MA 12 / Southbridge Street
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 40.9 mi | 47m |
| I 290 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| Memorial Drive | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| College Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Lyman Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Newton Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Willimansett Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Green Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Worcester, MA and South Hadley, MA.
Start on Main Street
Turn left onto Franklin Street
Continue on Green Street
Enter roundabout onto MA 122A
Continue on MA 122A
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 290
Take the exit
Turn left onto Oxford Street
At end of road, turn right onto MA 12
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto MA 33
Continue on MA 33
Continue on MA 33
Turn right onto MA 116
Continue on MA 116
Turn right onto Church Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.5 mi from Worcester, MA · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.5 miles from Worcester, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into South Hadley, MA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$8.80 one way
$17.60 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.60 | $19.20 |
| premium | $4.82 | $10.44 | $20.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.14 | $24.29 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.45
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$2
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.81 | $2.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22 | 0 | $7.70 | $3.52 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Worcester on Saturday
Local time
11:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in South Hadley on Saturday
Local time
11:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Partly Sunny
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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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