How far is Acton, MA from Waltham, MA?

The driving distance from Acton, MA to Waltham, MA is about 15.1 miles (24.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 12.6 miles (20.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 53m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
15.09 mi
00h 26m
Flight
12.55 mi
20.2 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Acton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
12.55 mi
Kilometers
20.2 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
15.09 mi
Kilometers
24.28 km
Drive Time
00h 26m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waltham
Wed, Apr 22, 11:57 PM EDT
Return by in Acton
Thu, Apr 23, 12:24 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Acton
2026-04-22T23:30
Arrive Waltham
Wed, Apr 22, 11:57 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:27 AM to 7:27 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:36 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Acton
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Lincoln
MA

Town in Massachusetts

From Acton
7.5 mi
00h 13m
To Waltham
7.6 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
52°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 mph S
Destination
49°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Light Rain then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Acton and Waltham.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Acton and Waltham.

  1. 1

    Start on Concord Road

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Concord Road

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Great Road

    2622 ft · 56 sec · Great Road

  3. 3

    Continue on Elm Street

    3099 ft · 59 sec · Elm Street

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Concord Rotary

    156 m · 7 sec · Elm Street

  5. 5

    Exit the rotary onto Elm Street

    1635 ft · 35 sec · Elm Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Concord Turnpike

    3.7 mi · 5 min · Concord Turnpike

  7. 7

    Continue on Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2

  8. 8

    Continue on Concord Highway

    1307 ft · 25 sec · Concord Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Attleboro

    2583 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Yankee Division Highway

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Yankee Division Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Totten Pond Road, Third Avenue

    983 ft · 34 sec

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto Winter Street

    650 ft · 13 sec · Winter Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Totten Pond Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Totten Pond Road

  14. 14

    Turn slight right onto Lexington Street

    1.5 km · 3 min · Lexington Street

  15. 15

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Main Street

    13 m · 1 sec · Main Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Acton and Waltham.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
16 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
106 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Concord Turnpike
3.72 mi · 25%
Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2
3.51 mi · 23%
Yankee Division Highway
1.91 mi · 13%
Totten Pond Road
1.44 mi · 10%
Concord Road
1.21 mi · 8%
Elm Street
0.95 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Concord Turnpike

Continue on Concord Turnpike

3.72 mi · 00h 05m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 26m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.5 mi
12.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lincoln
00h 13m from Acton
Leave By
7:36 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy leaving Acton and Slight Chance Light Rain then Chance Rain Showers near Waltham.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Acton to Waltham?

The road trip is about 15.1 miles (24.3 km) and usually takes 00h 26m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lincoln is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7.5 miles from Acton and 7.6 miles from Waltham.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 12.6 miles (20.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:36 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.06 one way or $4.12 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy around Acton and Slight Chance Light Rain then Chance Rain Showers near Waltham.

Stop Ideas Near Lincoln

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Lincoln and the surrounding midpoint area.
Cocobeet - Boston
Food stop 14.1 mi away

Cocobeet - Boston

Boston , MA
100 City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA 02108
Rating 4.4/5 198 reviews Health food restaurant,Juice shop,Raw food restaurant,Vegan restaurant
Boston's Old City Hall
Scenic stop 14.1 mi away

Boston's Old City Hall

Boston , MA
45 School St, Boston, MA 02108, United States
Rating 4.6/5 346 reviews Tourist attraction,Historical landmark
Cambridge City Hall
Meeting point 11.7 mi away

Cambridge City Hall

Cambridge , MA
795 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
Rating 4.4/5 47 reviews City Hall,City government office
Shoppers World
Nearby stop 10.9 mi away

Shoppers World

Framingham , MA
1 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA 01701, United States
Rating 4.3/5 2,625 reviews Shopping mall

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lincoln.

RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

17 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.
RAIL

Framingham station

19 mi away
417 Waverly St.
RAIL

Back Bay station

21 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.
RAIL

North Station

21 mi away
100 Legends Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Acton and Waltham. Straight-line distance: 12.55 mi (20.2 km).

Acton

#1 Acton

Town in Massachusetts, United States

Population23,503
Coordinates42.4850900, -71.4328400
Altitude81
CountryUnited States
Waltham

#2 Waltham

A city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Population62,069
Coordinates42.3764900, -71.2356100
Altitude20
CountryUnited States
Start: Concord Road (-71.43292, 42.485018)
End: Main Street (-71.235588, 42.376412)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 24 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.53 gal
2.02 L · about $2.06
Round trip
$4.12
1.06 gal · 4.04 L
Estimated CO2
4.7 kg one way
Round trip: 9.4 kg / 21 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $2.06 $4.12
Mid-grade $4.40 $2.33 $4.66
Premium $4.80 $2.54 $5.09
Diesel $4.49 $2.38 $4.76

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Massachusetts · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Acton and Waltham. The current time is 23:30:48.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.