How far is Nahant, MA from Cambridge, MA?

The driving distance from Nahant, MA to Cambridge, MA is about 16.2 miles (26 km), with a travel time of about 00h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 10.2 miles (16.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 11m 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
16.14 mi
00h 35m
Flight
10.17 mi
16.36 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Nahant.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
10.17 mi
Kilometers
16.36 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
16.14 mi
Kilometers
25.98 km
Drive Time
00h 35m

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 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cambridge
Wed, Apr 22, 11:33 PM EDT
Return by in Nahant
Thu, Apr 23, 12:09 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Nahant
2026-04-22T22:58
Arrive Cambridge
Wed, Apr 22, 11:33 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:36 AM to 7:36 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:18 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Nahant
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
Revere
MA

The most populous city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

From Nahant
8.1 mi
00h 17m
To Cambridge
8 mi
00h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
51°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph S
Destination
47°F
Wednesday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    35 m · 14 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left

    80 m · 20 sec

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Ocean Street

    91 m · 14 sec · Ocean Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Nahant Road

    2.7 mi · 6 min · Nahant Road

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Nahant Circle

    545 ft · 7 sec · Lynnway

  6. 6

    Exit the rotary onto Lynnway

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Lynnway

  7. 7

    Continue on North Shore Road

    2.6 mi · 4 min · North Shore Road

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Butler Circle

    33 m · 1 sec · Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway

  9. 9

    Exit the rotary onto Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway

    2356 ft · 36 sec · Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 6 toward Mahoney Circle

    115 m · 8 sec

  11. 11

    Exit the rotary

    66 m · 8 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Lee Burbank Highway

    16 m · 2 sec · Lee Burbank Highway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right

    1402 ft · 21 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Winthrop Avenue

    1556 ft · 38 sec · Winthrop Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Beach Street

    1342 ft · 42 sec · Beach Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Broadway

    916 ft · 16 sec · Broadway

  17. 17

    Turn right

    1282 ft · 24 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Revere Beach Parkway

    1477 ft · 36 sec · Revere Beach Parkway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1 South: Tobin Bridge, Boston

    1223 ft · 30 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Northeast Expressway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Northeast Expressway

  21. 21

    Continue on Tobin Bridge

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Tobin Bridge

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward I 93 North: Somerville, Charlestown

    2547 ft · 1 min

  23. 23

    At the end of the road, turn left onto New Rutherford Avenue

    29 m · 8 sec · New Rutherford Avenue

  24. 24

    Continue on New Rutherford Avenue

    965 ft · 18 sec · New Rutherford Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Austin Street

    1160 ft · 34 sec · Austin Street

  26. 26

    Continue on Charlestown Avenue

    1345 ft · 42 sec · Charlestown Avenue

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Monsignor O'Brien Highway

    955 ft · 35 sec · Monsignor O'Brien Highway

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Cambridge Street

    1.4 mi · 5 min · Cambridge Street

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Line Street

    1062 ft · 52 sec · Line Street

  30. 30

    Turn left onto Leonard Avenue

    140 m · 20 sec · Leonard Avenue

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Leonard Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
31 steps
19 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
3 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
192.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Nahant Road
2.66 mi · 16%
North Shore Road
2.63 mi · 16%
Lynnway
2.25 mi · 14%
Tobin Bridge
1.73 mi · 11%
Cambridge Street
1.42 mi · 9%
Northeast Expressway
1.39 mi · 9%
Longest Stretch

Nahant Road

Turn right onto Nahant Road

2.66 mi · 00h 06m

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 35m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6 mi
10.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Revere
00h 17m from Nahant
Leave By
7:18 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Nahant and Light Rain Likely near Cambridge.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 16.2 miles (26 km) and usually takes 00h 35m 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?

Revere is a useful midpoint, sitting about 8.1 miles from Nahant and 8 miles from Cambridge.

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

The direct path is about 10.2 miles (16.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 6 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 7:18 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.22 one way or $4.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers around Nahant and Light Rain Likely near Cambridge.

Stop Ideas Near Revere

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Revere and the surrounding midpoint area.
Cocobeet - Boston
Food stop 4.6 mi away

Cocobeet - Boston

Boston , MA
100 City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA 02108
Rating 4.4/5 198 reviews Health food restaurant,Juice shop,Raw food restaurant,Vegan restaurant
Boston's Old City Hall
Scenic stop 4.7 mi away

Boston's Old City Hall

Boston , MA
45 School St, Boston, MA 02108, United States
Rating 4.6/5 346 reviews Tourist attraction,Historical landmark
Salem City Hall
Meeting point 9.4 mi away

Salem City Hall

Salem , MA
93 Washington St, Salem, MA 01970
Rating 4.2/5 84 reviews City Hall,City government office
City Hall Plaza
Scenic stop 4.6 mi away

City Hall Plaza

Boston , MA
1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02203
Rating 4.4/5 208 reviews City park

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Revere.

RAIL

North Station

6 mi away
100 Legends Way
RAIL

South Station

7 mi away
2 South Station
RAIL

Back Bay station

9 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.
RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

16 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Nahant and Cambridge. Straight-line distance: 10.17 mi (16.36 km).

Nahant

#1 Nahant

Town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States

Population3,506
Coordinates42.4264900, -70.9189400
Altitude27
CountryUnited States
Cambridge

#2 Cambridge

The most populous city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Population119,192
Coordinates42.3751000, -71.1056100
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Start: (-70.918974, 42.426452)
End: Leonard Avenue (-71.105735, 42.375115)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 26 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.57 gal
2.16 L · about $2.22
Round trip
$4.43
1.14 gal · 4.32 L
Estimated CO2
5.1 kg one way
Round trip: 10.1 kg / 22 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $2.22 $4.43
Mid-grade $4.40 $2.51 $5.01
Premium $4.80 $2.74 $5.47
Diesel $4.49 $2.56 $5.12

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Nahant and Cambridge. The current time is 22:58:03.

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.