How far is Melrose, MA from Waltham, MA?
The driving distance from Melrose, MA to Waltham, MA is about 20.6 miles (33.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 32m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 10.3 miles (16.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 05m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
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.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 32m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
The most populous city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Melrose and Waltham.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Melrose and Waltham.
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1
Start on Myrtle Street
56 m · 10 sec · Myrtle Street
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2
Turn right onto West Emerson Street
810 ft · 29 sec · West Emerson Street
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3
Turn right onto Main Street
2.1 mi · 3 min · Main Street
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4
Turn slight right
40 m · 5 sec
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5
Turn slight right onto Florence Street
1889 ft · 58 sec · Florence Street
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6
Turn right onto Pleasant Street
1.3 km · 1 min · Pleasant Street
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7
Continue on Salem Street
1.4 km · 2 min · Salem Street
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8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Salem Street Circle
865 ft · 15 sec
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9
Exit the rotary onto I 93 South: Boston
773 ft · 19 sec
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10
Merge slight left
2635 ft · 41 sec
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11
Take the exit slight right toward MA 16 East: Everett, Revere
1089 ft · 24 sec
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12
Continue on Mystic Valley Parkway Connector
142 m · 15 sec · Mystic Valley Parkway Connector
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13
Continue on Harvard Street
1 km · 1 min · Harvard Street
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14
Continue on Warner Street
927 ft · 20 sec · Warner Street
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15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Powder House Square
39 m · 3 sec · Powder House Boulevard
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16
Exit the rotary onto Powder House Boulevard
1.3 km · 2 min · Powder House Boulevard
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17
Turn left onto North Street
628 ft · 20 sec · North Street
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18
At the end of the road, turn right onto Broadway
1962 ft · 47 sec · Broadway
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19
Turn left onto Cleveland Street
1689 ft · 1 min · Cleveland Street
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20
At the end of the road, turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue
68 m · 13 sec · Massachusetts Avenue
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21
Turn left onto Lake Street
1.2 mi · 2 min · Lake Street
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22
Turn left onto Pleasant Street
1.9 mi · 4 min · Pleasant Street
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23
Turn straight onto Trapelo Road
1419 ft · 36 sec · Trapelo Road
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24
Turn left onto Waverley Oaks Road
1.3 mi · 2 min · Waverley Oaks Road
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25
Continue on Linden Street
2172 ft · 41 sec · Linden Street
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26
Turn right onto Main Street
2834 ft · 56 sec · Main Street
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27
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Main Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Melrose and Waltham.
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.
Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
2.14 mi · 00h 03m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Melrose and Mostly Sunny near Waltham.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Melrose to Waltham?
The road trip is about 20.6 miles (33.2 km) and usually takes 00h 32m 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?
Medford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6.8 miles from Melrose and 13.8 miles from Waltham.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 10.3 miles (16.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.3 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:24 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.84 one way or $5.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Melrose and Mostly Sunny near Waltham.
Stop Ideas Near Medford
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Cocobeet - Boston
Boston's Old City Hall
Salem City Hall
City Hall Plaza
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Medford.
North Station
Back Bay station
South Station
Anderson Regional Transportation Center
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Melrose and Waltham. Straight-line distance: 10.33 mi (16.63 km).
#1 Melrose
City in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States; suburb of Boston, Massachusetts
| Population | 27,790 |
| Coordinates | 42.4584300, -71.0661600 |
| Altitude | 18 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Waltham
A city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
| Population | 62,069 |
| Coordinates | 42.3764900, -71.2356100 |
| Altitude | 20 |
| Country | United States |
End: Main Street (-71.235588, 42.376412)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 33 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 41m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 30m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 24m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 20m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 17m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 15m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.89 | $2.84 | $5.68 |
| Mid-grade | $4.40 | $3.21 | $6.42 |
| Premium | $4.80 | $3.50 | $7.01 |
| Diesel | $4.49 | $3.28 | $6.55 |
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 12, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.