How far is Boxford, MA from Cambridge, MA?

The driving distance from Boxford, MA to Cambridge, MA is about 29.7 miles (47.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 20.5 miles (33 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 17m 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
29.67 mi
00h 38m
Flight
20.53 mi
33.04 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Boxford.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
20.53 mi
Kilometers
33.04 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
29.67 mi
Kilometers
47.75 km
Drive Time
00h 38m

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 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cambridge
Wed, Apr 22, 9:56 PM EDT
Return by in Boxford
Wed, Apr 22, 10:34 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Boxford
2026-04-22T21:17
Arrive Cambridge
Wed, Apr 22, 9:56 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:39 AM to 7:39 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:12 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Boxford
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
Saugus
MA

Town in Massachusetts

From Boxford
12.2 mi
00h 19m
To Cambridge
17.4 mi
00h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
50°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph S
Destination
47°F
Wednesday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Topsfield Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Topsfield Road

  2. 2

    Take the ramp straight toward I 95 South: Peabody, Boston

    1978 ft · 48 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left

    7.4 mi · 9 min

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1 South: Boston

    2970 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto Newburyport Turnpike

    59 m · 3 sec · Newburyport Turnpike

  6. 6

    Continue on Newbury Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Newbury Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Broadway

    1 km · 58 sec · Broadway

  8. 8

    Continue on Newburyport Turnpike

    1561 ft · 27 sec · Newburyport Turnpike

  9. 9

    Continue on Broadway

    3.2 mi · 5 min · Broadway

  10. 10

    Continue on Newburyport Turnpike

    1.2 km · 1 min · Newburyport Turnpike

  11. 11

    Continue on Bennett Highway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Bennett Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Lynn Street, Malden

    83 m · 11 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Salem Street

    101 m · 10 sec · Salem Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Lynn Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Lynn Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Broadway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Broadway

  16. 16

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Sweetser Circle

    69 m · 4 sec · Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway

  17. 17

    Exit the rotary onto Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway

    2041 ft · 36 sec · Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway

  18. 18

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Santilli Circle

    55 m · 5 sec

  19. 19

    Exit the rotary

    556 ft · 15 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Revere Beach Parkway

    2944 ft · 58 sec · Revere Beach Parkway

  21. 21

    Take the exit straight

    94 m · 11 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight right onto Fellsway

    1.6 km · 2 min · Fellsway

  23. 23

    Continue on McGrath Highway

    1 km · 1 min · McGrath Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on McGrath Highway

    960 ft · 19 sec · McGrath Highway

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Washington Street

    1106 ft · 26 sec · Washington Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Prospect Street

    1079 ft · 38 sec · Prospect Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Concord Avenue

    673 ft · 35 sec · Concord Avenue

  28. 28

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Concord Avenue

    1429 ft · 1 min · Concord Avenue

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Beacon Street

    550 ft · 26 sec · Beacon Street

  30. 30

    Turn left onto Cooney Street

    90 m · 13 sec · Cooney Street

  31. 31

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

    90 m · 19 sec · Line Street

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Leonard Avenue

    140 m · 20 sec · Leonard Avenue

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Leonard Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Boxford 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
33 steps
18 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
3 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
111.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 95 South
7.8 mi · 26%
Broadway
5.29 mi · 18%
Lynn Street
1.68 mi · 6%
Newbury Street
1.44 mi · 5%
Bennett Highway
1.41 mi · 5%
Topsfield Road
1.09 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 95 South

Merge slight left

7.43 mi · 00h 09m

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 38m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.2 mi
20.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Saugus
00h 19m from Boxford
Leave By
7:12 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Boxford and Light Rain Likely near Cambridge.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 29.7 miles (47.8 km) and usually takes 00h 38m 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?

Saugus is a useful midpoint, sitting about 12.2 miles from Boxford and 17.4 miles from Cambridge.

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

The direct path is about 20.5 miles (33 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.2 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 7:12 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.08 one way or $8.17 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers around Boxford and Light Rain Likely near Cambridge.

Stop Ideas Near Saugus

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 Saugus and the surrounding midpoint area.
Cocobeet - Boston
Food stop 10.3 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 10.4 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
Salem City Hall
Meeting point 6.2 mi away

Salem City Hall

Salem , MA
93 Washington St, Salem, MA 01970
Rating 4.2/5 84 reviews City Hall,City government office
City Hall Plaza
Scenic stop 10.2 mi away

City Hall Plaza

Boston , MA
1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02203
Rating 4.4/5 208 reviews City park

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

North Station

12 mi away
100 Legends Way
RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

12 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.
RAIL

South Station

13 mi away
2 South Station
RAIL

Back Bay station

14 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Boxford and Cambridge. Straight-line distance: 20.53 mi (33.04 km).

Boxford

#1 Boxford

City in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States of America

Population8,331
Coordinates42.6612000, -70.9967200
Altitude31
CountryUnited States
Cambridge

#2 Cambridge

The most populous city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Population119,192
Coordinates42.3751000, -71.1056100
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Start: Topsfield Road (-70.99674, 42.660762)
End: Leonard Avenue (-71.105735, 42.375115)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 48 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 35m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.05 gal
3.96 L · about $4.08
Round trip
$8.17
2.1 gal · 7.92 L
Estimated CO2
9.3 kg one way
Round trip: 18.7 kg / 41 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $4.08 $8.17
Mid-grade $4.40 $4.62 $9.23
Premium $4.80 $5.04 $10.08
Diesel $4.49 $4.71 $9.42

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 Boxford and Cambridge. The current time is 21:17:38.

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.