How far is South Lancaster, MA from Cambridge, MA?

The driving distance from South Lancaster, MA to Cambridge, MA is about 37.8 miles (60.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 30.1 miles (48.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 56m 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
37.87 mi
00h 58m
Flight
30.04 mi
48.35 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from South Lancaster.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
30.04 mi
Kilometers
48.35 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
37.87 mi
Kilometers
60.94 km
Drive Time
00h 58m

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 58m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cambridge
Mon, May 25, 10:50 PM EDT
Return by in South Lancaster
Mon, May 25, 11:49 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave South Lancaster
2026-05-25T21:52
Arrive Cambridge
Mon, May 25, 10:50 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 58m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:58 AM to 10:58 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:34 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in South Lancaster
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
West Concord
MA

City in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States

From South Lancaster
17.3 mi
00h 29m
To Cambridge
20.6 mi
00h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
54°F
Tonight

Mostly Cloudy then Areas Of Fog

Starts
Mon, May 25 9:00 PM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW
Destination
54°F
Tonight

Areas Of Fog

Starts
Mon, May 25 9:00 PM EDT
Wind
3 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Lancaster and Cambridge.

  1. 1

    Start on Orchard Street

    89 m · 17 sec · Orchard Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Prescott Street

    67 m · 11 sec · Prescott Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Sawyer Street

    104 m · 20 sec · Sawyer Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Narrow Lane

    123 m · 23 sec · Narrow Lane

  5. 5

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    89 m · 8 sec · South Main Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Bolton Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · Bolton Road

  7. 7

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Center Bridge Road

    153 m · 15 sec · Center Bridge Road

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Lower Bolton Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Lower Bolton Road

  9. 9

    Turn straight onto Still River Road

    1.3 km · 1 min · Still River Road

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Main Street

    5.7 mi · 10 min · Main Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Great Road

    4.6 mi · 8 min · Great Road

  12. 12

    Turn slight left onto Main Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Main Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Waltham Street

    145 m · 16 sec · Waltham Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Powder Mill Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Powder Mill Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Main Street

    2.8 mi · 6 min · Main Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Concord Turnpike

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Concord Turnpike

  17. 17

    Continue on Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2

  18. 18

    Continue on Concord Highway

    3.4 mi · 5 min · Concord Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Concord Turnpike

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Concord Turnpike

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight left toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn

    144 m · 14 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight right onto Alewife Brook Parkway

    1781 ft · 51 sec · Alewife Brook Parkway

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Massachusetts Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Somerville Avenue

    1177 ft · 54 sec · Somerville Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Beacon Street

    1.6 km · 3 min · Beacon Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Cooney Street

    90 m · 13 sec · Cooney Street

  26. 26

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Line Street

    90 m · 19 sec · Line Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Leonard Avenue

    140 m · 20 sec · Leonard Avenue

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Leonard Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between South Lancaster 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
28 steps
21 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
73.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Main Street
9.5 mi · 25%
Concord Turnpike
6.28 mi · 17%
Great Road
4.55 mi · 12%
Cambridge Turnpike Rte 2
3.51 mi · 9%
Concord Highway
3.43 mi · 9%
Powder Mill Road
1.34 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Main Street

Turn right onto Main Street

5.69 mi · 00h 10m

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
00h 58m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.7 mi
30.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
West Concord
00h 29m from South Lancaster
Leave By
4:34 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy then Areas Of Fog leaving South Lancaster and Areas Of Fog near Cambridge.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from South Lancaster to Cambridge?

The road trip is about 37.8 miles (60.9 km) and usually takes 00h 58m 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?

West Concord is a useful midpoint, sitting about 17.3 miles from South Lancaster and 20.6 miles from Cambridge.

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

The direct path is about 30.1 miles (48.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.7 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:34 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.21 one way or $10.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Areas Of Fog around South Lancaster and Areas Of Fog near Cambridge.

Stop Ideas Near West Concord

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

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

RAIL

Framingham station

20 mi away
417 Waverly St.
RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

22 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.
RAIL

Back Bay station

29 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.
RAIL

North Station

29 mi away
100 Legends Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between South Lancaster and Cambridge. Straight-line distance: 30.04 mi (48.35 km).

South Lancaster

#1 South Lancaster

Census-designated place in Worcester County, Massachusetts

Population1,894
Coordinates42.4445400, -71.6870100
Altitude87
CountryUnited States
Cambridge

#2 Cambridge

The most populous city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Population119,192
Coordinates42.3751000, -71.1056100
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Start: Orchard Street (-71.687252, 42.444617)
End: Leonard Avenue (-71.105735, 42.375115)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 61 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.34 gal
5.06 L · about $5.21
Round trip
$10.43
2.68 gal · 10.12 L
Estimated CO2
11.9 kg one way
Round trip: 23.8 kg / 52 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $5.21 $10.43
Mid-grade $4.40 $5.89 $11.78
Premium $4.80 $6.43 $12.86
Diesel $4.49 $6.01 $12.03

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 26, 2026

There is no time difference between South Lancaster and Cambridge. The current time is 21:52:12.

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.