How far is Cambridge, MA from Ayer, MA?

The driving distance from Cambridge, MA to Ayer, MA is about 31.1 miles (50 km), with a travel time of about 00h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 27.8 miles (44.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 44m 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
31.07 mi
00h 52m
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 Cambridge.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
31.07 mi
Kilometers
50.01 km
Drive Time
00h 52m

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 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ayer
Thu, Apr 16, 1:10 AM EDT
Return by in Cambridge
Thu, Apr 16, 2:02 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cambridge
2026-04-16T00:18
Arrive Ayer
Thu, Apr 16, 1:10 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:52 AM to 10:52 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:46 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cambridge
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 Cambridge
15.5 mi
00h 26m
To Ayer
15.5 mi
00h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Thursday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph S
Destination
77°F
Thursday

Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Leonard Avenue

    81 m · 14 sec · Leonard Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Cambridge Street

    1.1 km · 3 min · Cambridge Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Cambridge Street

    33 m · 4 sec · Cambridge Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Massachusetts Avenue

    49 m · 7 sec · Massachusetts Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Garden Street

    1679 ft · 1 min · Garden Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Concord Avenue

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Concord Avenue

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Brodette Memorial Circle

    14 m · 2 sec · Concord Avenue

  8. 8

    Exit the rotary onto Concord Avenue

    875 ft · 32 sec · Concord Avenue

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Alewife Brook Parkway

    1 km · 49 sec · Alewife Brook Parkway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Concord Turnpike

    4.1 mi · 6 min · Concord Turnpike

  11. 11

    Continue on Concord Highway

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Concord Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Cambridge Turnpike

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Cambridge Turnpike

  13. 13

    Continue on Concord Turnpike

    3.9 mi · 6 min · Concord Turnpike

  14. 14

    Continue on Elm Street

    1635 ft · 35 sec · Elm Street

  15. 15

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Concord Rotary

    124 m · 5 sec · Union Turnpike

  16. 16

    Exit the rotary onto Union Turnpike

    3035 ft · 39 sec · Union Turnpike

  17. 17

    Continue on Massachusetts Avenue

    6.2 mi · 9 min · Massachusetts Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on George W Stanton Highway

    1406 ft · 22 sec · George W Stanton Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Captain Isaac Davis Highway

    1680 ft · 26 sec · Captain Isaac Davis Highway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward Littleton

    849 ft · 18 sec

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on Littleton

    65 m · 6 sec

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Taylor Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Taylor Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto King Street

    715 ft · 22 sec · King Street

  24. 24

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Ayer Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Ayer Road

  25. 25

    Continue on Littleton Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Littleton Road

  26. 26

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Main Street

    69 m · 4 sec · East Main Street

  27. 27

    Exit the roundabout onto East Main Street

    1 mi · 2 min · East Main Street

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Park Street

    128 m · 7 sec · Park Street

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Park Street

Car Route Details

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

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
29 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
0 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
93.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Concord Turnpike
8.01 mi · 26%
Massachusetts Avenue
6.27 mi · 20%
Cambridge Turnpike
3.33 mi · 11%
Concord Highway
2.88 mi · 9%
Littleton Road
1.85 mi · 6%
Ayer Road
1.76 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Massachusetts Avenue

Continue on Massachusetts Avenue

6.24 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 52m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.3 mi
27.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Concord
00h 26m from Cambridge
Leave By
4:46 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Cambridge and Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Ayer.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 31.1 miles (50 km) and usually takes 00h 52m 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 15.5 miles from Cambridge and 15.5 miles from Ayer.

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 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:46 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.28 one way or $8.56 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Cambridge and Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Ayer.

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 Cambridge and Ayer. Straight-line distance: 27.82 mi (44.78 km).

Cambridge

#1 Cambridge

The most populous city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Population119,192
Coordinates42.3751000, -71.1056100
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Ayer

#2 Ayer

City in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States of America

Population8,211
Coordinates42.5612000, -71.5897900
Altitude73
CountryUnited States
Start: Cambridge (-71.10561, 42.3751)
End: Ayer (-71.58979, 42.5612)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 50 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 37m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.1 gal
4.15 L · about $4.28
Round trip
$8.56
2.2 gal · 8.3 L
Estimated CO2
9.8 kg one way
Round trip: 19.6 kg / 43 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $4.28 $8.56
Mid-grade $4.40 $4.84 $9.67
Premium $4.80 $5.28 $10.56
Diesel $4.49 $4.94 $9.87

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 Cambridge and Ayer. The current time is 00:18:20.

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.