How far is Needham, MA from Boston, MA?

The driving distance from Needham, MA to Boston, MA is about 19 miles (30.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 10.3 miles (16.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 55m 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
19.04 mi
00h 27m
Flight
10.25 mi
16.49 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Needham.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
10.25 mi
Kilometers
16.49 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
19.04 mi
Kilometers
30.64 km
Drive Time
00h 27m

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 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Boston
Thu, Apr 23, 8:14 AM EDT
Return by in Needham
Thu, Apr 23, 8:41 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Needham
2026-04-23T07:46
Arrive Boston
Thu, Apr 23, 8:14 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:28 AM to 7:28 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:34 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Needham
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Brookline
MA

Town in Massachusetts, United States

From Needham
6.1 mi
00h 13m
To Boston
12.9 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph NW
Destination
58°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Needham and Boston.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Needham and Boston.

  1. 1

    Start on Warren Street

    61 m · 11 sec · Warren Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto May Street

    881 ft · 28 sec · May Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Highland Avenue

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Highland Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Needham Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Needham Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Winchester Street

    1183 ft · 22 sec · Winchester Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Centre Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · Centre Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Centre Street

    19 m · 4 sec · Centre Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Centre Street

    42 m · 2 sec · Centre Street

  9. 9

    Turn slight right

    72 m · 12 sec

  10. 10

    Turn slight right onto Beacon Street

    5.4 mi · 11 min · Beacon Street

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto Commonwealth Avenue

    1511 ft · 1 min · Commonwealth Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Charlesgate East

    158 m · 22 sec · Charlesgate East

  13. 13

    Take the ramp straight

    584 ft · 16 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Charlesgate

    907 ft · 19 sec · Charlesgate

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Storrow Drive

    1 mi · 2 min · Storrow Drive

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Government Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Emergency and Trauma Centers

    54 m · 8 sec

  17. 17

    Continue on Government Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Emergency and Trauma Centers

    629 ft · 27 sec

  18. 18

    Turn slight right onto Cambridge Street

    3274 ft · 2 min · Cambridge Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Tremont Street

    58 m · 7 sec · Tremont Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Tremont Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Needham and Boston.

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
20 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
4 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
105.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Beacon Street
5.39 mi · 28%
Highland Avenue
2.11 mi · 11%
Storrow Drive
1.02 mi · 5%
Centre Street
0.97 mi · 5%
Needham Street
0.81 mi · 4%
Cambridge Street
0.62 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Beacon Street

Turn slight right onto Beacon Street

5.39 mi · 00h 11m

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 27m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.7 mi
10.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Brookline
00h 13m from Needham
Leave By
7:34 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Needham and Partly Sunny near Boston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Needham to Boston?

The road trip is about 19 miles (30.6 km) and usually takes 00h 27m 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?

Brookline is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6.1 miles from Needham and 12.9 miles from Boston.

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

The direct path is about 10.3 miles (16.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.7 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 7:34 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.61 one way or $5.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Needham and Partly Sunny near Boston.

Stop Ideas Near Brookline

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 Brookline and the surrounding midpoint area.
Cocobeet - Boston
Food stop 5.5 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 5.5 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
Cambridge City Hall
Meeting point 3.6 mi away

Cambridge City Hall

Cambridge , MA
795 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
Rating 4.4/5 47 reviews City Hall,City government office
Shoppers World
Nearby stop 12.2 mi away

Shoppers World

Framingham , MA
1 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA 01701, United States
Rating 4.3/5 2,625 reviews Shopping mall

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Back Bay station

4 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.
RAIL

South Station

6 mi away
2 South Station
RAIL

North Station

6 mi away
100 Legends Way
RAIL

Route 128 station

14 mi away
50 University Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Needham and Boston. Straight-line distance: 10.25 mi (16.49 km).

Needham

#1 Needham

Town in Massachusetts

Population31,537
Coordinates42.2834300, -71.2328300
Altitude53
CountryUnited States
Boston

#2 Boston

The twenty-first most populous city in the United States and the center of the Boston metropolitan area.

Population691,531
Coordinates42.3584300, -71.0597700
Altitude14
CountryUnited States
Start: Warren Street (-71.232837, 42.28343)
End: Tremont Street (-71.060061, 42.358547)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 31 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 22m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.67 gal
2.54 L · about $2.61
Round trip
$5.21
1.34 gal · 5.08 L
Estimated CO2
6 kg one way
Round trip: 11.9 kg / 26 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $2.61 $5.21
Mid-grade $4.40 $2.95 $5.89
Premium $4.80 $3.22 $6.43
Diesel $4.49 $3.01 $6.01

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 Needham and Boston. The current time is 07:46:50.

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.