How far is Chelmsford, MA from Worcester, MA?

The driving distance from Chelmsford, MA to Worcester, MA is about 37.7 miles (60.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 32.2 miles (51.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 18m 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
37.68 mi
00h 39m
Flight
32.17 mi
51.78 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chelmsford.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
32.17 mi
Kilometers
51.78 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
37.68 mi
Kilometers
60.64 km
Drive Time
00h 39m

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 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Worcester
Wed, Apr 15, 11:33 PM EDT
Return by in Chelmsford
Thu, Apr 16, 12:12 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chelmsford
2026-04-15T22:54
Arrive Worcester
Wed, Apr 15, 11:33 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 39m
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 Chelmsford
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
Bolton
MA

Town in Worcester County, Massachusetts

From Chelmsford
18.8 mi
00h 19m
To Worcester
18.9 mi
00h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
60°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 5:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph W
Destination
81°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Chelmsford and Worcester.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chelmsford and Worcester.

  1. 1

    Start on Clover Hill Drive

    961 ft · 45 sec · Clover Hill Drive

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Westford Street

    726 ft · 25 sec · Westford Street

  3. 3

    Turn straight onto Dalton Road

    2799 ft · 1 min · Dalton Road

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North Road

    87 m · 8 sec · North Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 495 South: Marlboro, Taunton

    1713 ft · 43 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    22.2 mi · 26 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 290 West: Worcester

    2148 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    12.7 mi · 15 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward Ware, Framingham

    851 ft · 21 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Lincoln Street

    1533 ft · 29 sec · Lincoln Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Lincoln Square

    48 m · 2 sec · Lincoln Square

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1 km · 1 min · Main Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Chelmsford and Worcester.

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
13 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
34.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 495 South
22.5 mi · 60%
I 290 West
13.1 mi · 35%
Main Street
0.63 mi · 2%
Dalton Road
0.53 mi · 1%
Lincoln Street
0.29 mi · 1%
Clover Hill Drive
0.18 mi
Longest Stretch

I 495 South

Merge slight left

22.2 mi · 00h 26m

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 39m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.5 mi
32.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bolton
00h 19m from Chelmsford
Leave By
7:12 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear leaving Chelmsford and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Worcester.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Chelmsford to Worcester?

The road trip is about 37.7 miles (60.6 km) and usually takes 00h 39m 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?

Bolton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.8 miles from Chelmsford and 18.9 miles from Worcester.

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

The direct path is about 32.2 miles (51.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.5 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 $5.17 one way or $10.35 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Chelmsford and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Worcester.

Stop Ideas Near Bolton

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

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

RAIL

Framingham station

23 mi away
417 Waverly St.
RAIL

Union Station

24 mi away
2 Washington Square
RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

39 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.
BUS

Nashua, NH

41 mi away
8 North Southwood Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chelmsford and Worcester. Straight-line distance: 32.17 mi (51.78 km).

Chelmsford

#1 Chelmsford

Town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States

Population35,528
Coordinates42.5998100, -71.3672800
Altitude75
CountryUnited States
Worcester

#2 Worcester

The second most populous city in Massachusetts.

Population184,570
Coordinates42.2625900, -71.8022900
Altitude147
CountryUnited States
Start: Clover Hill Drive (-71.366765, 42.599013)
End: Main Street (-71.802507, 42.262637)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 61 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.33 gal
5.03 L · about $5.17
Round trip
$10.35
2.66 gal · 10.06 L
Estimated CO2
11.8 kg one way
Round trip: 23.6 kg / 52 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $5.17 $10.35
Mid-grade $4.40 $5.85 $11.70
Premium $4.80 $6.38 $12.77
Diesel $4.49 $5.97 $11.94

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 Chelmsford and Worcester. The current time is 22:54:03.

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.