How far is Boston, MA from Arlington, MA?
The driving distance from Boston, MA to Arlington, MA is about 8 miles (12.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 17m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 6.3 miles (10.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 35m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
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.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 17m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
A city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Isolated Rain Showers then Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Boston and Arlington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boston and Arlington.
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1
Start on Tremont Street
70 m · 11 sec · Tremont Street
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2
Turn right onto Beacon Street
92 m · 11 sec · Beacon Street
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3
Turn right onto Somerset Street
104 m · 13 sec · Somerset Street
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4
Turn left onto Ashburton Place
64 m · 7 sec · Ashburton Place
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5
Keep slight right to continue on Ashburton Place
77 m · 9 sec · Ashburton Place
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6
Turn straight onto Bowdoin Street
574 ft · 24 sec · Bowdoin Street
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7
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
134 m · 22 sec · Cambridge Street
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8
Turn left onto Sudbury Street
1490 ft · 1 min · Sudbury Street
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9
Take the ramp left toward I 93 North: Concord NH
1.1 mi · 2 min
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10
Merge slight left
1.3 mi · 2 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward MA 28, MA 38: Somerville, Medford
780 ft · 20 sec
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12
Keep slight left to continue on MA 28 South, MA 38 North: Somerville, Medford
668 ft · 18 sec
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13
Turn straight onto Mystic Avenue
1.2 mi · 2 min · Mystic Avenue
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14
Turn left onto Harvard Street
1.1 km · 1 min · Harvard Street
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15
Continue on Warner Street
927 ft · 20 sec · Warner Street
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16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Powder House Square
39 m · 3 sec · Powder House Boulevard
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17
Exit the rotary onto Powder House Boulevard
1.3 km · 2 min · Powder House Boulevard
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18
Turn left onto North Street
628 ft · 20 sec · North Street
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19
At the end of the road, turn right onto Broadway
1.2 mi · 3 min · Broadway
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20
At the end of the road, turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue
1820 ft · 53 sec · Massachusetts Avenue
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21
Turn left onto Academy Street
97 m · 18 sec · Academy Street
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22
Turn left
62 m · 15 sec
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23
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Boston and Arlington.
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.
I 93 North
Merge slight left
1.28 mi · 00h 02m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Isolated Rain Showers then Sunny leaving Boston and Sunny near Arlington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Boston to Arlington?
The road trip is about 8 miles (12.9 km) and usually takes 00h 17m 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?
Somerville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 4 miles from Boston and 4 miles from Arlington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 6.3 miles (10.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.7 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 7:54 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.09 one way or $2.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 2.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Isolated Rain Showers then Sunny around Boston and Sunny near Arlington.
Stop Ideas Near Somerville
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Cocobeet - Boston
Boston's Old City Hall
Salem City Hall
City Hall Plaza
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Somerville.
North Station
South Station
Back Bay station
Anderson Regional Transportation Center
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Boston and Arlington. Straight-line distance: 6.31 mi (10.15 km).
#1 Boston
The twenty-first most populous city in the United States and the center of the Boston metropolitan area.
| Population | 691,531 |
| Coordinates | 42.3584300, -71.0597700 |
| Altitude | 14 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Arlington
Town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
| Population | 45,169 |
| Coordinates | 42.4153700, -71.1564400 |
| Altitude | 20 |
| Country | United States |
End: Arlington (-71.15644, 42.41537)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 13 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 16m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 12m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 09m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 08m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 06m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 06m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.89 | $1.09 | $2.18 |
| Mid-grade | $4.40 | $1.23 | $2.46 |
| Premium | $4.80 | $1.34 | $2.69 |
| Diesel | $4.49 | $1.26 | $2.51 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.