How far is Palmer, MA from Cambridge, MA?

The driving distance from Palmer, MA to Cambridge, MA is about 71.5 miles (115 km), with a travel time of about 01h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 64.3 miles (103.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 32m 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
71.47 mi
01h 16m
Flight
64.31 mi
103.49 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Palmer.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
64.31 mi
Kilometers
103.49 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
71.47 mi
Kilometers
115.02 km
Drive Time
01h 16m

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 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cambridge
Wed, Apr 22, 11:50 PM EDT
Return by in Palmer
Thu, Apr 23, 1:06 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Palmer
2026-04-22T22:33
Arrive Cambridge
Wed, Apr 22, 11:50 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:16 AM to 11:16 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:58 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Palmer
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
Grafton
MA

Town in Massachusetts

From Palmer
35.7 mi
00h 38m
To Cambridge
35.8 mi
00h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
52°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 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 Palmer and Cambridge.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Pleasant Street

    58 m · 9 sec · Pleasant Street

  2. 2

    Merge slight left onto Thorndike Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Thorndike Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp left

    1291 ft · 31 sec

  4. 4

    Keep slight right

    94 m · 7 sec

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    1710 ft · 42 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Massachusetts Turnpike

    67.5 mi · 1 hr 19 min · Massachusetts Turnpike

  7. 7

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

    2628 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

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

    872 ft · 23 sec

  9. 9

    Turn slight right onto Cambridge Street

    55 m · 6 sec · Cambridge Street

  10. 10

    Continue on River Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · River Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Prospect Street

    2916 ft · 2 min · Prospect Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Hampshire Street

    749 ft · 34 sec · Hampshire Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Cambridge Street

    614 ft · 30 sec · Cambridge Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Line Street

    1062 ft · 52 sec · Line Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Leonard Avenue

    140 m · 20 sec · Leonard Avenue

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Leonard Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Palmer 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
16 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Massachusetts Turnpike
67.5 mi · 95%
Thorndike Street
1.36 mi · 2%
River Street
0.75 mi · 1%
Allston-Brighton
0.66 mi · 1%
Prospect Street
0.55 mi · 1%
Line Street
0.2 mi
Longest Stretch

Massachusetts Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Massachusetts Turnpike

67.5 mi · 01h 19m

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 16m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.2 mi
64.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Grafton
00h 38m from Palmer
Leave By
3:58 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy leaving Palmer 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 Palmer to Cambridge?

The road trip is about 71.5 miles (115 km) and usually takes 01h 16m 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?

Grafton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 35.7 miles from Palmer and 35.8 miles from Cambridge.

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

The direct path is about 64.3 miles (103.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.2 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 3:58 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.80 one way or $19.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 22.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy around Palmer and Light Rain Likely near Cambridge.

Stop Ideas Near Grafton

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

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

RAIL

Union Station

11 mi away
2 Washington Square
RAIL

Framingham station

23 mi away
417 Waverly St.
RAIL

Route 128 station

44 mi away
50 University Ave
RAIL

Providence station

48 mi away
100 Gaspee Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Palmer and Cambridge. Straight-line distance: 64.31 mi (103.49 km).

Palmer

#1 Palmer

City in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States

Population12,174
Coordinates42.1584300, -72.3286900
Altitude105
CountryUnited States
Cambridge

#2 Cambridge

The most populous city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Population119,192
Coordinates42.3751000, -71.1056100
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Start: Pleasant Street (-72.328865, 42.158315)
End: Leonard Avenue (-71.105735, 42.375115)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 115 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 47m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 01m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 53m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.52 gal
9.55 L · about $9.80
Round trip
$19.61
5.04 gal · 19.1 L
Estimated CO2
22.4 kg one way
Round trip: 44.8 kg / 99 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $9.80 $19.61
Mid-grade $4.40 $11.08 $22.16
Premium $4.80 $12.09 $24.19
Diesel $4.49 $11.31 $22.62

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 Palmer and Cambridge. The current time is 22:33:52.

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.