How far is Cambridge, MA from Merrimac, MA?

The driving distance from Cambridge, MA to Merrimac, MA is about 40.8 miles (65.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 31.9 miles (51.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 50m 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
40.78 mi
00h 55m
Flight
31.91 mi
51.36 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
31.91 mi
Kilometers
51.36 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
40.78 mi
Kilometers
65.63 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 Merrimac
Sun, May 31, 9:56 PM EDT
Return by in Cambridge
Sun, May 31, 10:51 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cambridge
2026-05-31T21:01
Arrive Merrimac
Sun, May 31, 9:56 PM 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
8:55 AM to 10:55 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:40 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
Andover
MA

Town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States

From Cambridge
20.4 mi
00h 27m
To Merrimac
20.4 mi
00h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph NW
Destination
69°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    740 ft · 36 sec · Cambridge Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Prospect Street

    2519 ft · 1 min · Prospect Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Washington Street

    1265 ft · 33 sec · Washington Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto McGrath Highway

    1.4 km · 2 min · McGrath Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 93, MA 38: Medford, Boston

    63 m · 6 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 93 North, MA 38 North: Medford, Concord New Hampshire

    1509 ft · 49 sec

  9. 9

    Turn straight onto Mystic Avenue

    2646 ft · 57 sec · Mystic Avenue

  10. 10

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 93 North: Lawrence, Concord New Hampshire

    2113 ft · 52 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    18.8 mi · 22 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 495 North: Lawrence

    2420 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    17.5 mi · 21 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Merrimac, Merrimacport

    1087 ft · 37 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Broad St, Merrimac, Merrimacport

    40 m · 10 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Broad Street

    1916 ft · 47 sec · Broad Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Mill Street

    19 m · 3 sec · Mill Street

  18. 18

    Turn slight right onto Bartlett Street

    736 ft · 34 sec · Bartlett Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto School Street

    5 m · 7 sec · School Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Pleasant Street

    120 m · 17 sec · Pleasant Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Pleasant Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
21 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
51.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 93 North
19.5 mi · 48%
I 495 North
18.1 mi · 44%
McGrath Highway
0.87 mi · 2%
Mystic Avenue
0.5 mi · 1%
Prospect Street
0.48 mi · 1%
Cambridge Street
0.4 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 93 North

Merge slight left

18.8 mi · 00h 22m

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 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.9 mi
31.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Andover
00h 27m from Cambridge
Leave By
4:40 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Cambridge and Mostly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers near Merrimac.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 40.8 miles (65.6 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?

Andover is a useful midpoint, sitting about 20.4 miles from Cambridge and 20.4 miles from Merrimac.

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

The direct path is about 31.9 miles (51.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.9 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 4:40 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.60 one way or $11.20 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Cambridge and Mostly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers near Merrimac.

Stop Ideas Near Andover

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

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

RAIL

Haverhill station

13 mi away
Washington Street at Railroad Square
RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

16 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.
BUS

Newburyport, Massachusetts

25 mi away
90 Storey Avenue
BUS

Nashua, NH

33 mi away
8 North Southwood Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cambridge and Merrimac. Straight-line distance: 31.91 mi (51.36 km).

Cambridge

#1 Cambridge

The most populous city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

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

#2 Merrimac

Town in Massachusetts, United States

Population6,972
Coordinates42.8306500, -71.0022800
Altitude31
CountryUnited States
Start: Cambridge (-71.10561, 42.3751)
End: Merrimac (-71.00228, 42.83065)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 66 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.44 gal
5.45 L · about $5.60
Round trip
$11.20
2.88 gal · 10.9 L
Estimated CO2
12.8 kg one way
Round trip: 25.6 kg / 56 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $5.60 $11.20
Mid-grade $4.40 $6.33 $12.66
Premium $4.80 $6.91 $13.82
Diesel $4.49 $6.46 $12.93

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 · Jun 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Cambridge and Merrimac. The current time is 21:01:03.

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.