How far is Boston, MA from Harvard, MA?

The driving distance from Boston, MA to Harvard, MA is about 32.2 miles (51.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 28.4 miles (45.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 51m 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
32.22 mi
00h 55m
Flight
28.42 mi
45.73 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Boston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
28.42 mi
Kilometers
45.73 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
32.22 mi
Kilometers
51.86 km
Drive Time
00h 55m

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 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Harvard
Thu, Apr 23, 2:07 AM EDT
Return by in Boston
Thu, Apr 23, 3:02 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Boston
2026-04-23T01:11
Arrive Harvard
Thu, Apr 23, 2:07 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:56 AM to 10:56 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:38 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Boston
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
Lincoln
MA

Town in Massachusetts

From Boston
16.1 mi
00h 27m
To Harvard
16.2 mi
00h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph NW
Destination
62°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 3 toward Concord Rotary

    124 m · 5 sec · Union Turnpike

  25. 25

    Exit the rotary onto Union Turnpike

    3035 ft · 39 sec · Union Turnpike

  26. 26

    Continue on Massachusetts Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Massachusetts Avenue

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight left toward MA 111 North: West Acton

    7.9 mi · 15 min

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Massachusetts Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
1 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
87 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Concord Turnpike
7.97 mi · 25%
MA 111 North
7.87 mi · 24%
Cambridge Turnpike
3.33 mi · 10%
Concord Highway
2.88 mi · 9%
I 93 North
2.42 mi · 7%
Massachusetts Avenue
1.84 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

MA 111 North

Take the exit slight left toward MA 111 North: West Acton

7.87 mi · 00h 15m

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 55m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.8 mi
28.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lincoln
00h 27m from Boston
Leave By
4:38 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Boston and Partly Sunny near Harvard.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 32.2 miles (51.9 km) and usually takes 00h 55m 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?

Lincoln is a useful midpoint, sitting about 16.1 miles from Boston and 16.2 miles from Harvard.

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

The direct path is about 28.4 miles (45.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.8 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 4:38 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.43 one way or $8.87 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Boston and Partly Sunny near Harvard.

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 13.5 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 13.5 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 11.1 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 10.8 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 Boston and Harvard. Straight-line distance: 28.42 mi (45.73 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
Harvard

#2 Harvard

Town in Worcester County, Massachusetts

Population6,618
Coordinates42.5000900, -71.5828400
Altitude127
CountryUnited States
Start: Boston (-71.05977, 42.35843)
End: Harvard (-71.58284, 42.50009)

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
1.14 gal
4.3 L · about $4.43
Round trip
$8.87
2.28 gal · 8.6 L
Estimated CO2
10.1 kg one way
Round trip: 20.3 kg / 45 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $4.43 $8.87
Mid-grade $4.40 $5.01 $10.03
Premium $4.80 $5.47 $10.94
Diesel $4.49 $5.12 $10.23

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 Boston and Harvard. The current time is 01:11:11.

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.