How far is Cambridge, MA from Barnstable, MA?

The driving distance from Cambridge, MA to Barnstable, MA is about 73.1 miles (117.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 62.3 miles (100.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 26m 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
73.11 mi
01h 43m
Flight
62.34 mi
100.33 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
62.34 mi
Kilometers
100.33 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
73.11 mi
Kilometers
117.66 km
Drive Time
01h 43m

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 01h 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Barnstable
Sun, Apr 12, 10:14 PM EDT
Return by in Cambridge
Sun, Apr 12, 11:57 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cambridge
2026-04-12T20:31
Arrive Barnstable
Sun, Apr 12, 10:14 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:43 AM to 11:43 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:04 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
Kingston
MA

Coastal town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States

From Cambridge
36.5 mi
00h 51m
To Barnstable
36.6 mi
00h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph SW
Destination
Barnstable Weather
MA
Live fallback forecast
51°F
Sunday
Using West Barnstable as the closest live forecast in the Barnstable County weather hub.

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Leonard Avenue

    81 m · 17 sec · Leonard Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Cambridge Street

    1391 ft · 1 min · Cambridge Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Cambridge Street

    1.3 mi · 4 min · Cambridge Street

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Monsignor O'Brien Highway

    755 ft · 23 sec · Monsignor O'Brien Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Charles River Dam Road

    1832 ft · 1 min · Charles River Dam Road

  6. 6

    Take the exit straight toward I 93 South: Quincy, Logan Airport

    2427 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto John F. Fitzgerald Expressway

    2.7 mi · 4 min · John F. Fitzgerald Expressway

  8. 8

    Continue on Southeast Expressway

    8 mi · 11 min · Southeast Expressway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on MA 3 South: Cape Cod

    30.9 mi · 39 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Pilgrims Highway

    12 mi · 15 min · Pilgrims Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Pilgrim Highway

    930 ft · 20 sec · Pilgrim Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Sagamore Bridge

    2134 ft · 46 sec · Sagamore Bridge

  13. 13

    Continue on Mid Cape Highway

    12.8 mi · 18 min · Mid Cape Highway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward MA 132: Barnstable, Hyannis

    1011 ft · 29 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    93 m · 9 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight right

    544 ft · 17 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto Iyannough Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Iyannough Road

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Phinneys Lane

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Phinneys Lane

  19. 19

    Continue on Hyannis Road

    2765 ft · 57 sec · Hyannis Road

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Bow Lane

    56 m · 8 sec · Bow Lane

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Bow Lane

Car Route Details

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

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
21 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
28.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
MA 3 South
30.9 mi · 42%
Mid Cape Highway
12.8 mi · 18%
Pilgrims Highway
12 mi · 16%
Southeast Expressway
7.98 mi · 11%
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
2.67 mi · 4%
Cambridge Street
1.58 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

MA 3 South

Keep slight left to continue on MA 3 South: Cape Cod

30.9 mi · 00h 39m

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
01h 43m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.8 mi
62.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kingston
00h 51m from Cambridge
Leave By
3:04 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Cambridge and Mostly Sunny near Barnstable.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 73.1 miles (117.7 km) and usually takes 01h 43m 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?

Kingston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 36.5 miles from Cambridge and 36.6 miles from Barnstable.

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

The direct path is about 62.3 miles (100.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.8 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 3:04 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $10.04 one way or $20.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 22.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Cambridge and Mostly Sunny near Barnstable.

Stop Ideas Near Kingston

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Kingston, 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 Kingston.

RAIL

Route 128 station

42 mi away
50 University Ave
RAIL

South Station

48 mi away
2 South Station
RAIL

Back Bay station

49 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.
RAIL

North Station

50 mi away
100 Legends Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cambridge and Barnstable. Straight-line distance: 62.34 mi (100.33 km).

Cambridge

#1 Cambridge

The most populous city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

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

#2 Barnstable

A town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts.

Population44,535
Coordinates41.7001100, -70.2994700
Altitude11
CountryUnited States
Start: Cambridge (-71.10561, 42.3751)
End: Barnstable (-70.29947, 41.70011)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 118 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.58 gal
9.77 L · about $10.04
Round trip
$20.07
5.16 gal · 19.54 L
Estimated CO2
22.9 kg one way
Round trip: 45.9 kg / 101 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $10.04 $20.07
Mid-grade $4.40 $11.34 $22.69
Premium $4.80 $12.38 $24.76
Diesel $4.49 $11.58 $23.16

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 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Cambridge and Barnstable. The current time is 20:31:12.

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.