How far is Boston, MA from Acton, MA?

The driving distance from Boston, MA to Acton, MA is about 24.2 miles (39 km), with a travel time of about 00h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 20.9 miles (33.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 24m 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
24.2 mi
00h 42m
Flight
20.95 mi
33.71 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Boston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
20.95 mi
Kilometers
33.71 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
24.2 mi
Kilometers
38.95 km
Drive Time
00h 42m

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 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Acton
Sat, Apr 11, 8:17 PM EDT
Return by in Boston
Sat, Apr 11, 8:59 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Boston
2026-04-11T19:34
Arrive Acton
Sat, Apr 11, 8:17 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:42 AM to 7:42 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:06 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Boston
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
Kingston
MA

Coastal town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States

From Boston
12.1 mi
00h 21m
To Acton
12.1 mi
00h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
60°F
Saturday

Isolated Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
12 to 15 mph NW
Destination
58°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Tremont Street

    70 m · 11 sec · Tremont Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Beacon Street

    92 m · 11 sec · Beacon Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Somerset Street

    104 m · 13 sec · Somerset Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Ashburton Place

    64 m · 7 sec · Ashburton Place

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on Ashburton Place

    77 m · 9 sec · Ashburton Place

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Bowdoin Street

    574 ft · 24 sec · Bowdoin Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Cambridge Street

    134 m · 22 sec · Cambridge Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Sudbury Street

    1490 ft · 1 min · Sudbury Street

  9. 9

    Take the ramp left toward I 93 North: Concord NH

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    1.3 mi · 2 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward MA 28, MA 38: Somerville, Medford

    780 ft · 20 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on MA 28 South, MA 38 North: Somerville, Medford

    668 ft · 18 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto Mystic Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Mystic Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Harvard Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Harvard Street

  15. 15

    Continue on Warner Street

    927 ft · 20 sec · Warner Street

  16. 16

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Powder House Square

    39 m · 3 sec · Powder House Boulevard

  17. 17

    Exit the rotary onto Powder House Boulevard

    1.5 km · 2 min · Powder House Boulevard

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Alewife Brook Parkway

    1.6 km · 3 min · Alewife Brook Parkway

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Concord Turnpike

    4.1 mi · 6 min · Concord Turnpike

  20. 20

    Continue on Concord Highway

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Concord Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on Cambridge Turnpike

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Cambridge Turnpike

  22. 22

    Continue on Concord Turnpike

    3.9 mi · 6 min · Concord Turnpike

  23. 23

    Continue on Elm Street

    1635 ft · 35 sec · Elm Street

  24. 24

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Concord Rotary

    69 m · 3 sec · Elm Street

  25. 25

    Exit the rotary onto Elm Street

    3128 ft · 60 sec · Elm Street

  26. 26

    Continue on Great Road

    2622 ft · 57 sec · Great Road

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Concord Road

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Concord Road

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Concord Road

Car Route Details

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

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
28 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
115.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Concord Turnpike
7.97 mi · 33%
Cambridge Turnpike
3.33 mi · 14%
Concord Highway
2.88 mi · 12%
I 93 North
2.42 mi · 10%
Mystic Avenue
1.22 mi · 5%
Concord Road
1.21 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Concord Turnpike

Turn right onto Concord Turnpike

4.07 mi · 00h 06m

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 42m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.3 mi
20.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kingston
00h 21m from Boston
Leave By
7:06 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Isolated Rain Showers then Sunny leaving Boston and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near Acton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 24.2 miles (39 km) and usually takes 00h 42m 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?

Kingston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 12.1 miles from Boston and 12.1 miles from Acton.

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

The direct path is about 20.9 miles (33.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.3 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:06 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.31 one way or $6.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Isolated Rain Showers then Sunny around Boston and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near Acton.

Stop Ideas Near Kingston

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 Kingston and the surrounding midpoint area.
Cocobeet - Boston
Food stop 9.6 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 9.6 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 7.2 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 11.9 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 Kingston.

RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

14 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.
RAIL

Back Bay station

16 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.
RAIL

North Station

16 mi away
100 Legends Way
RAIL

South Station

17 mi away
2 South Station

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Boston and Acton. Straight-line distance: 20.95 mi (33.71 km).

Boston

#1 Boston

The twenty-first most populous city in the United States and the center of the Boston metropolitan area.

Population691,531
Coordinates42.3584300, -71.0597700
Altitude14
CountryUnited States
Acton

#2 Acton

Town in Massachusetts, United States

Population23,503
Coordinates42.4850900, -71.4328400
Altitude81
CountryUnited States
Start: Boston (-71.05977, 42.35843)
End: Acton (-71.43284, 42.48509)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 39 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 36m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.85 gal
3.23 L · about $3.31
Round trip
$6.61
1.7 gal · 6.46 L
Estimated CO2
7.6 kg one way
Round trip: 15.1 kg / 33 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $3.31 $6.61
Mid-grade $4.40 $3.74 $7.47
Premium $4.80 $4.08 $8.16
Diesel $4.49 $3.81 $7.63

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 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Boston and Acton. The current time is 19:34:56.

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.