How far is Leicester, MA from Cambridge, MA?

The driving distance from Leicester, MA to Cambridge, MA is about 50.8 miles (81.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 42 miles (67.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 04m 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
50.75 mi
01h 02m
Flight
41.99 mi
67.58 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Leicester.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
41.99 mi
Kilometers
67.58 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
50.75 mi
Kilometers
81.67 km
Drive Time
01h 02m

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 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cambridge
Sun, May 31, 2:40 AM EDT
Return by in Leicester
Sun, May 31, 3:42 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Leicester
2026-05-31T01:38
Arrive Cambridge
Sun, May 31, 2:40 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:02 AM to 11:02 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:26 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Leicester
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
Cordaville
MA

Census-designated place in Worcester County, Massachusetts

From Leicester
24 mi
00h 31m
To Cambridge
26.7 mi
00h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph NW
Destination
71°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    14 m · 6 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Main Street

    6.1 mi · 12 min · Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Myrtle Street

    1167 ft · 25 sec · Myrtle Street

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left onto McGrath Boulevard

    848 ft · 29 sec · McGrath Boulevard

  5. 5

    Continue on Foster Street

    31 m · 3 sec · Foster Street

  6. 6

    Turn slight right onto Franklin Street

    688 ft · 20 sec · Franklin Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Harding Street

    590 ft · 17 sec · Harding Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Winter Street

    100 m · 9 sec · Winter Street

  9. 9

    Continue on Grafton Street

    2603 ft · 42 sec · Grafton Street

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Grafton Street

    12 m · 1 sec · Grafton Street

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout onto Grafton Street

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Grafton Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Grafton Road

    2091 ft · 59 sec · Grafton Road

  13. 13

    Take the exit right

    2318 ft · 57 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    2974 ft · 1 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Massachusetts Turnpike

    34 mi · 41 min · Massachusetts Turnpike

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight left toward Allston-Brighton, Cambridge, Fenway Park

    2628 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Cambridge, Somerville, Fenway Park

    872 ft · 23 sec

  18. 18

    Turn slight right onto Cambridge Street

    55 m · 6 sec · Cambridge Street

  19. 19

    Continue on River Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · River Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Prospect Street

    2916 ft · 2 min · Prospect Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Hampshire Street

    749 ft · 34 sec · Hampshire Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Cambridge Street

    614 ft · 30 sec · Cambridge Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Line Street

    1062 ft · 52 sec · Line Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Leonard Avenue

    140 m · 20 sec · Leonard Avenue

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Leonard Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
25 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
49.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Massachusetts Turnpike
34 mi · 67%
Main Street
6.06 mi · 12%
Grafton Street
3.4 mi · 7%
Grafton Road
1.4 mi · 3%
River Street
0.75 mi · 1%
Allston-Brighton
0.66 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Massachusetts Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Massachusetts Turnpike

34 mi · 00h 41m

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 02m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.8 mi
42 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cordaville
00h 31m from Leicester
Leave By
4:26 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 50.8 miles (81.7 km) and usually takes 01h 02m 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?

Cordaville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 24 miles from Leicester and 26.7 miles from Cambridge.

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

The direct path is about 42 miles (67.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.8 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 4:26 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.96 one way or $13.93 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Cordaville

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

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

RAIL

Framingham station

9 mi away
417 Waverly St.
RAIL

Union Station

22 mi away
2 Washington Square
RAIL

Route 128 station

32 mi away
50 University Ave
RAIL

Back Bay station

38 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Leicester and Cambridge. Straight-line distance: 41.99 mi (67.58 km).

Leicester

#1 Leicester

Town in Worcester County, Massachusetts

Population11,272
Coordinates42.2459300, -71.9086800
Altitude298
CountryUnited States
Cambridge

#2 Cambridge

The most populous city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Population119,192
Coordinates42.3751000, -71.1056100
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Start: (-71.908711, 42.245928)
End: Leonard Avenue (-71.105735, 42.375115)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 82 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 00m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.79 gal
6.78 L · about $6.96
Round trip
$13.93
3.58 gal · 13.56 L
Estimated CO2
15.9 kg one way
Round trip: 31.8 kg / 70 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $6.96 $13.93
Mid-grade $4.40 $7.87 $15.74
Premium $4.80 $8.59 $17.18
Diesel $4.49 $8.03 $16.07

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Leicester and Cambridge. The current time is 01:38:26.

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.