How far is Ayer, MA from Cambridge, MA?

The driving distance from Ayer, MA to Cambridge, MA is about 32.1 miles (51.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 27.8 miles (44.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 38m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
32.09 mi
00h 49m
Flight
27.82 mi
44.78 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ayer.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
27.82 mi
Kilometers
44.78 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
32.09 mi
Kilometers
51.65 km
Drive Time
00h 49m

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 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cambridge
Wed, Apr 15, 11:29 PM EDT
Return by in Ayer
Thu, Apr 16, 12:18 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ayer
2026-04-15T22:40
Arrive Cambridge
Wed, Apr 15, 11:29 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:49 AM to 10:49 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:52 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ayer
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Concord
MA

Town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States

From Ayer
15.6 mi
00h 24m
To Cambridge
16.5 mi
00h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
This Afternoon

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 4:00 PM EDT
Wind
6 mph S
Destination
77°F
Today

Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 9:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ayer and Cambridge.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ayer and Cambridge.

  1. 1

    Start on Park Street

    121 m · 12 sec · Park Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · West Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Harvard Road

    1158 ft · 20 sec · Harvard Road

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Littleton Road

    129 m · 7 sec · Littleton Road

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto Littleton Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Littleton Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Ayer Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Ayer Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto King Street

    715 ft · 18 sec · King Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Taylor Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Taylor Street

  9. 9

    Take the ramp slight right toward MA 2 East: Concord, Boston

    1201 ft · 30 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto George W Stanton Highway

    2864 ft · 44 sec · George W Stanton Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Captain Isaac Davis Highway

    6.3 mi · 9 min · Captain Isaac Davis Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Union Turnpike

    3019 ft · 2 min · Union Turnpike

  13. 13

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Concord Rotary

    100 m · 4 sec · Elm Street

  14. 14

    Exit the rotary onto Elm Street

    1635 ft · 35 sec · Elm Street

  15. 15

    Continue on Concord Turnpike

    3.7 mi · 5 min · Concord Turnpike

  16. 16

    Continue on Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2

  17. 17

    Continue on Concord Highway

    3.4 mi · 5 min · Concord Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Concord Turnpike

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Concord Turnpike

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight left toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn

    144 m · 14 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight right onto Alewife Brook Parkway

    1781 ft · 51 sec · Alewife Brook Parkway

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Massachusetts Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Somerville Avenue

    1177 ft · 54 sec · Somerville Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Beacon Street

    1.6 km · 3 min · Beacon Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Cooney Street

    90 m · 13 sec · Cooney Street

  25. 25

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Line Street

    90 m · 19 sec · Line Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Leonard Avenue

    140 m · 20 sec · Leonard Avenue

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Leonard Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ayer and Cambridge.

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
27 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
84.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Concord Turnpike
7.19 mi · 22%
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
6.26 mi · 20%
Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2
3.51 mi · 11%
Concord Highway
3.43 mi · 11%
Littleton Road
1.93 mi · 6%
Ayer Road
1.76 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Captain Isaac Davis Highway

Continue on Captain Isaac Davis Highway

6.26 mi · 00h 09m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 49m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.3 mi
27.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Concord
00h 24m from Ayer
Leave By
4:52 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Ayer and Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers near Cambridge.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ayer to Cambridge?

The road trip is about 32.1 miles (51.6 km) and usually takes 00h 49m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Concord is a useful midpoint, sitting about 15.6 miles from Ayer and 16.5 miles from Cambridge.

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

The direct path is about 27.8 miles (44.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:52 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.40 one way or $8.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Ayer and Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers near Cambridge.

Stop Ideas Near Concord

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Concord, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

18 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.
RAIL

Framingham station

21 mi away
417 Waverly St.
RAIL

Back Bay station

26 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.
RAIL

North Station

26 mi away
100 Legends Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ayer and Cambridge. Straight-line distance: 27.82 mi (44.78 km).

Ayer

#1 Ayer

City in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States of America

Population8,211
Coordinates42.5612000, -71.5897900
Altitude73
CountryUnited States
Cambridge

#2 Cambridge

The most populous city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Population119,192
Coordinates42.3751000, -71.1056100
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Start: (-71.589287, 42.561257)
End: Leonard Avenue (-71.105735, 42.375115)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 52 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.13 gal
4.29 L · about $4.40
Round trip
$8.79
2.26 gal · 8.58 L
Estimated CO2
10 kg one way
Round trip: 20.1 kg / 44 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $4.40 $8.79
Mid-grade $4.40 $4.97 $9.94
Premium $4.80 $5.42 $10.85
Diesel $4.49 $5.07 $10.14

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Ayer and Cambridge. The current time is 22:40:06.

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.