How far is Somerville, MA from Sterling, MA?

The driving distance from Somerville, MA to Sterling, MA is about 43.2 miles (69.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 33.9 miles (54.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 15m 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
43.2 mi
01h 07m
Flight
33.9 mi
54.56 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Somerville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
33.9 mi
Kilometers
54.56 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
43.2 mi
Kilometers
69.53 km
Drive Time
01h 07m

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 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sterling
Wed, Apr 15, 6:35 PM EDT
Return by in Somerville
Wed, Apr 15, 7:42 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Somerville
2026-04-15T17:27
Arrive Sterling
Wed, Apr 15, 6:35 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:08 AM to 11:08 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:14 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Somerville
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
Acton
MA

Town in Massachusetts, United States

From Somerville
21.6 mi
00h 33m
To Sterling
21.6 mi
00h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Today

Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 9:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph W
Destination
58°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 3:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Somerville and Sterling.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Somerville and Sterling.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    50 m · 14 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Highland Avenue

    1.3 mi · 5 min · Highland Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Dover Street

    1483 ft · 1 min · Dover Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue

    1 km · 1 min · Massachusetts Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Alewife Brook Parkway

    1895 ft · 50 sec · Alewife Brook Parkway

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Concord Turnpike

    4.1 mi · 6 min · Concord Turnpike

  7. 7

    Continue on Concord Highway

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Concord Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Cambridge Turnpike

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Cambridge Turnpike

  9. 9

    Continue on Concord Turnpike

    3.9 mi · 6 min · Concord Turnpike

  10. 10

    Continue on Elm Street

    1635 ft · 35 sec · Elm Street

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Concord Rotary

    124 m · 5 sec · Union Turnpike

  12. 12

    Exit the rotary onto Union Turnpike

    3035 ft · 39 sec · Union Turnpike

  13. 13

    Continue on Massachusetts Avenue

    6.2 mi · 9 min · Massachusetts Avenue

  14. 14

    Continue on George W Stanton Highway

    1406 ft · 22 sec · George W Stanton Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Captain Isaac Davis Highway

    11.2 mi · 15 min · Captain Isaac Davis Highway

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Leominster Connector

    2912 ft · 1 min · Leominster Connector

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right

    1010 ft · 25 sec

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    944 ft · 23 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    4.7 mi · 6 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward MA 12: Sterling, Clinton

    1075 ft · 30 sec

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Leominster Road

    69 m · 4 sec · Leominster Road

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto Leominster Road

    2758 ft · 52 sec · Leominster Road

  23. 23

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Leominster Road

    24 m · 1 sec · Leominster Road

  24. 24

    Exit the roundabout onto Leominster Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Leominster Road

  25. 25

    Turn straight onto Main Street

    627 ft · 27 sec · Main Street

  26. 26

    Turn sharp right onto Meetinghouse Hill Road

    17 m · 2 sec · Meetinghouse Hill Road

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Meetinghouse Hill Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Somerville and Sterling.

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
27 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
1 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
62.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
11.2 mi · 26%
Concord Turnpike
7.97 mi · 18%
Massachusetts Avenue
6.89 mi · 16%
Leominster Connector
5.64 mi · 13%
Cambridge Turnpike
3.33 mi · 8%
Concord Highway
2.88 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Captain Isaac Davis Highway

Continue on Captain Isaac Davis Highway

11.2 mi · 00h 15m

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 07m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.3 mi
33.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Acton
00h 33m from Somerville
Leave By
4:14 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers leaving Somerville and Mostly Clear near Sterling.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Somerville to Sterling?

The road trip is about 43.2 miles (69.5 km) and usually takes 01h 07m 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?

Acton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 21.6 miles from Somerville and 21.6 miles from Sterling.

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

The direct path is about 33.9 miles (54.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:14 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.91 one way or $11.83 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 13.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers around Somerville and Mostly Clear near Sterling.

Stop Ideas Near Acton

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

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

RAIL

Framingham station

23 mi away
417 Waverly St.
RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

24 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.
RAIL

Back Bay station

33 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.
RAIL

North Station

33 mi away
100 Legends Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Somerville and Sterling. Straight-line distance: 33.9 mi (54.56 km).

Somerville

#1 Somerville

A city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Population80,935
Coordinates42.3876000, -71.0995000
Altitude28
CountryUnited States
Sterling

#2 Sterling

Town in Massachusetts

Population8,166
Coordinates42.4375900, -71.7606300
Altitude153
CountryUnited States
Start: Somerville (-71.0995, 42.3876)
End: Sterling (-71.76063, 42.43759)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 70 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.52 gal
5.77 L · about $5.91
Round trip
$11.83
3.04 gal · 11.54 L
Estimated CO2
13.5 kg one way
Round trip: 27 kg / 60 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $5.91 $11.83
Mid-grade $4.40 $6.68 $13.37
Premium $4.80 $7.29 $14.59
Diesel $4.49 $6.82 $13.64

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Somerville and Sterling. The current time is 17:27:35.

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.