Origin
Worcester, MA
Afternoon in Worcester on Friday
Local time
12:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Worcester, MA to Swampscott, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
56.6 mi
91 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Worcester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Swampscott, MA
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
The drive from Worcester, MA to Swampscott, MA covers 56.6 miles and takes about 1h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Massachusetts Turnpike, Grafton Street, North Shore Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40.1 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.06 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 56.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 16m highway drive covering 56.6 miles, with most of the trip on Massachusetts Turnpike and Grafton Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 40.1 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Massachusetts Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 40.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and Grafton Street. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.6 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 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 5.5 miles (I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.6 miles (MA 1A / Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese 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
5
5.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
49.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
MA 1A / Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
Enter roundabout onto MA 1A / Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
56.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
Monument Avenue
Turn left onto Monument Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
56.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
Elmwood Road
Enter roundabout onto Elmwood Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 40.1 mi | 49m |
| Grafton Street | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| North Shore Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Lynnway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Ted Williams Tunnel | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Lynn Shore Drive | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| McClellan Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Lee Burbank Highway | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 40.1 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Worcester, MA and Swampscott, 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
39 mi
·
48 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on I 90
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Ted Williams Tunnel
13
Continue on I 90
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto MA 1A
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Boston Expressway
15
Continue on MA 1A
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
McClellan Highway
16
Continue on MA 1A
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Lee Burbank Highway
17
Take the exit onto MA 1A
366 ft
·
11 sec
·
MA 1A
18
Enter roundabout onto MA 1A
7 ft
·
0 sec
·
Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
19
Continue on MA 1A
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
20
Enter roundabout onto MA 1A
375 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Shore Road
21
Continue on MA 1A
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Shore Road
22
Continue on MA 1A
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Lynnway
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Enter roundabout onto Lynn Shore Drive
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
Lynn Shore Drive
24
Continue on Lynn Shore Drive
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Lynn Shore Drive
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on MA 129
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Humphrey Street
26
Turn left onto Monument Avenue
415 ft
·
13 sec
·
Monument Avenue
Use the left lane.
27
Enter roundabout onto Elmwood Road
176 ft
·
6 sec
·
Elmwood Road
28
Continue on Elmwood Road
413 ft
·
19 sec
·
Elmwood Road
29
Turn right onto Hardy Road
419 ft
·
18 sec
·
Hardy Road
30
Arrive at destination
Hardy Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.3 mi from Worcester, MA · 37m 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.3 miles from Worcester, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Swampscott, MA
The final approach into Swampscott, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.06 one way
$18.12 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.88 | $19.76 |
| premium | $4.82 | $10.75 | $21.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.50 | $24.99 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.40
Massachusetts Turnpike
(40.1 mi)
$2.40
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: 19.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17 | 0 | $5.94 | $2.72 |
| Efficient EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.95 | $2.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.92 | $3.62 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Swampscott, MA
Afternoon in Swampscott on Friday
Local time
12:20 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
2 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 16m 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 Swampscott, MA covers 56.6 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Massachusetts Turnpike, Grafton Street, North Shore Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.3 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 $9.06 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.6 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 5.5 miles (I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.6 miles (MA 1A / Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Worcester, MA to Swampscott, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Boston National Historical Park, Salem Maritime 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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