How far is Salem, MA from Cambridge, MA?
The driving distance from Salem, MA to Cambridge, MA is about 25 miles (40.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 41m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 14.6 miles (23.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 23m 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 41m.
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 Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Salem and Cambridge.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem and Cambridge.
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1
Start on Gedney Street
46 m · 9 sec · Gedney Street
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2
Turn right onto Margin Street
1302 ft · 27 sec · Margin Street
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3
Continue on Jefferson Avenue
641 ft · 15 sec · Jefferson Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Jackson Street
1859 ft · 45 sec · Jackson Street
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5
At the end of the road, turn left onto Highland Avenue
2.4 mi · 4 min · Highland Avenue
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6
Continue on Western Avenue
2.5 mi · 4 min · Western Avenue
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7
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Western Avenue
54 m · 3 sec · Western Avenue
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8
Exit the roundabout onto Western Avenue
1 mi · 2 min · Western Avenue
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9
Continue on Salem Turnpike
1.7 mi · 3 min · Salem Turnpike
-
10
Continue on Broadway
1.2 km · 1 min · Broadway
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11
Turn slight right onto Albert J Brown Circle
100 m · 11 sec · Albert J Brown Circle
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12
Turn slight right onto Broadway
45 m · 5 sec · Broadway
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13
Continue on Broadway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Broadway
-
14
Turn right
1282 ft · 24 sec
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15
Merge slight left onto Revere Beach Parkway
1477 ft · 36 sec · Revere Beach Parkway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward US 1 South: Tobin Bridge, Boston
1223 ft · 30 sec
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17
Merge slight left onto Northeast Expressway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Northeast Expressway
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18
Continue on Tobin Bridge
1.7 mi · 2 min · Tobin Bridge
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19
Take the exit slight right toward I 93 North: Somerville, Charlestown
2547 ft · 1 min
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20
At the end of the road, turn left onto New Rutherford Avenue
29 m · 8 sec · New Rutherford Avenue
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21
Continue on New Rutherford Avenue
965 ft · 18 sec · New Rutherford Avenue
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22
Turn left onto Austin Street
1160 ft · 34 sec · Austin Street
-
23
Continue on Charlestown Avenue
1345 ft · 42 sec · Charlestown Avenue
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24
Turn right onto Monsignor O'Brien Highway
955 ft · 35 sec · Monsignor O'Brien Highway
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25
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
1.4 mi · 5 min · Cambridge Street
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26
Turn right onto Line Street
1062 ft · 52 sec · Line Street
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27
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
140 m · 20 sec · Leonard Avenue
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Leonard Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Salem and Cambridge.
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.
Western Avenue
Continue on Western Avenue
2.5 mi · 00h 04m
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 Cloudy leaving Salem and Mostly Cloudy near Cambridge.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Salem to Cambridge?
The road trip is about 25 miles (40.3 km) and usually takes 00h 41m 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 8.7 miles from Salem and 16.4 miles from Cambridge.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 14.6 miles (23.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.4 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 7:06 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.42 one way or $6.85 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Salem and Mostly Cloudy near Cambridge.
Stop Ideas Near Revere
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 Revere.
North Station
South Station
Back Bay station
Anderson Regional Transportation Center
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Salem and Cambridge. Straight-line distance: 14.6 mi (23.49 km).
#1 Salem
The capital of Massachusetts.
| Population | 43,581 |
| Coordinates | 42.5195400, -70.8967200 |
| Altitude | 6 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Cambridge
The most populous city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
| Population | 119,192 |
| Coordinates | 42.3751000, -71.1056100 |
| Altitude | 5 |
| Country | United States |
End: Leonard Avenue (-71.105735, 42.375115)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 40 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 50m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 37m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 30m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 25m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 21m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 18m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.89 | $3.42 | $6.85 |
| Mid-grade | $4.40 | $3.87 | $7.74 |
| Premium | $4.80 | $4.22 | $8.45 |
| Diesel | $4.49 | $3.95 | $7.90 |
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 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.