Trip from Worcester, MA to Three Rivers, MA

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are Massachusetts Turnpike, I 290, North Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 19.5 miles from Worcester, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.24 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Q: Are there national parks near the route from Worcester, MA to Three Rivers, MA?

Yes. Nearby national parks include New England National Scenic Trail and Minute Man National Historical Park.

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

52m

Distance

39 mi

63 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min

4 AM

0h 48m ★

6 AM

0h 52m

8 AM

1h 1m

10 AM

0h 55m

12 PM

0h 54m

3 PM

0h 56m

5 PM

1h 0m

8 PM

0h 50m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Worcester, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Three Rivers, MA

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Worcester, MA to Three Rivers, MA covers 39 miles and takes about 52m 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, North Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.4 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.24 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 39 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

52m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 52m highway drive covering 39 miles, with most of the trip on Massachusetts Turnpike and I 290. The longest continuous stretch is about 27.4 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 21 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 27.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Driving Effort 9/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 39 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.

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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

0.7 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

6 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit toward MA 12 South: Webster

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 12B Toward MA 12 South: Webster

6.1 mi into trip | ~9m in | Oxford Street

Turn left onto Oxford Street

Navigation decision point

18.5 mi into trip | ~24m in | I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

34.6 mi into trip | ~43m in

Take the exit toward MA 32: Palmer, Ware

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

Exit 63 Toward MA 32: Palmer, Ware

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Worcester, MA to Three Rivers, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Ware along the way.

Ware

34.6 mi in | ~43m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Massachusetts Turnpike	27.4 mi	31m
I 290	5.1 mi	6m
North Main Street	1.4 mi	2m
Thorndike Street	0.8 mi	1m
Bourne Street	0.7 mi	2m
Sykes Street	0.7 mi	1m
Green Street	0.3 mi	<1m
Franklin Street	0.3 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Massachusetts Turnpike — 27.4 mi, about 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Worcester, MA and Three Rivers, MA.

Start on Main Street

135 ft · 8 sec · Main Street

Turn left onto Franklin Street

0.3 mi · 45 sec · Franklin Street

Continue on Green Street

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Green Street

Enter roundabout onto MA 122A

244 ft · 3 sec · Vernon Street

Continue on MA 122A

148 ft · 2 sec · Vernon Street

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Use the right lane.

Merge onto I 290

5.1 mi · 6 min · I 290

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 22 sec

Exit 12B Toward MA 12 South: Webster

Turn left onto Oxford Street

466 ft · 10 sec · Oxford Street

At end of road, turn right onto MA 12

446 ft · 9 sec · Southbridge Street

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min

Toward I 90

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 90 West

Merge onto I 90

11 mi · 12 min · Massachusetts Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

16 mi · 18 min · Massachusetts Turnpike

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 2 min

Exit 63 Toward MA 32: Palmer, Ware

Turn right onto MA 32

0.8 mi · 1 min · Thorndike Street

Use the right lane.

At end of road, turn right onto US 20

0.8 mi · 59 sec · North Main Street

Continue on MA 181

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Main Street

Continue on MA 181

0.7 mi · 1 min · Sykes Street

Turn slight left onto Bourne Street

0.7 mi · 2 min · Bourne Street

Arrive at destination

Bourne Street

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 19.5 mi from Worcester, MA · 25m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sturbridge, MA

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

Palmer, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sturbridge, MA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.5 miles from Worcester, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Three Rivers, MA

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Three Rivers, MA if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.24 one way

$12.48 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$6.81	$13.61
premium	$4.82	$7.41	$14.81
diesel	$5.61	$8.61	$17.22

Estimated Tolls: $1.64

Massachusetts Turnpike (27.4 mi) $1.64

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

Tolls

Total

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	11.7	$4.10	$1.87
Efficient EV	9.8	$3.41	$1.56
EV Truck/SUV	15.6	$5.46	$2.50

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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Worcester, MA

Afternoon in Worcester on Thursday

Local time

4:23 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Three Rivers, MA

Afternoon in Three Rivers on Thursday

Local time

4:23 PM

EDT

Current temp

75°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

11 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

52m 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 Three Rivers, MA covers 39 miles and takes about 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Massachusetts Turnpike, I 290, North Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 19.5 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 $6.24 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 short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 39 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.

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.

On the drive from Worcester, MA to Three Rivers, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Ware along the way.

Yes. Nearby national parks include New England National Scenic Trail and Minute Man National Historical Park.

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