How far is Sterling, MA from Boston, MA?

The driving distance from Sterling, MA to Boston, MA is about 52.7 miles (84.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 36.2 miles (58.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 02m 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
52.67 mi
01h 01m
Flight
36.18 mi
58.22 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sterling.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
36.18 mi
Kilometers
58.22 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
52.67 mi
Kilometers
84.76 km
Drive Time
01h 01m

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 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Boston
Wed, Apr 22, 11:33 PM EDT
Return by in Sterling
Thu, Apr 23, 12:34 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sterling
2026-04-22T22:32
Arrive Boston
Wed, Apr 22, 11:33 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:01 AM to 11:01 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:28 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sterling
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
Cordaville
MA

Census-designated place in Worcester County, Massachusetts

From Sterling
25.9 mi
00h 30m
To Boston
26.8 mi
00h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
53°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 9 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 Sterling and Boston.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Meetinghouse Hill Road

    88 m · 11 sec · Meetinghouse Hill Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Park Street

    77 m · 11 sec · Park Street

  3. 3

    Turn slight left onto Main Street

    587 ft · 20 sec · Main Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Clinton Road

    2.3 mi · 4 min · Clinton Road

  5. 5

    Continue on Sterling Street

    2.3 mi · 4 min · Sterling Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Water Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Water Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Bolton Road

    1670 ft · 34 sec · Bolton Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Wattaquadock Hill Road

    2.9 mi · 5 min · Wattaquadock Hill Road

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Main Street

  10. 10

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 495 South: Marlborough

    1637 ft · 40 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    11.7 mi · 14 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 90: Albany New York, Boston

    1.1 km · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Massachusetts Turnpike

    27.7 mi · 34 min · Massachusetts Turnpike

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight left toward I 93: South Station, Concord New Hampshire, Quincy

    156 m · 13 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on South Station

    1718 ft · 47 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Kneeland Street

    525 ft · 22 sec · Kneeland Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Lincoln Street

    1345 ft · 51 sec · Lincoln Street

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Summer Street

    25 m · 6 sec · Summer Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Devonshire Street

    687 ft · 32 sec · Devonshire Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Franklin Street

    53 m · 8 sec · Franklin Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Arch Street

    141 m · 20 sec · Arch Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Milk Street

    84 m · 9 sec · Milk Street

  23. 23

    Continue on Washington Street

    737 ft · 33 sec · Washington Street

  24. 24

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Court Street

    144 m · 20 sec · Court Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Tremont Street

    102 m · 12 sec · Tremont Street

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Tremont Street

Car Route Details

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

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
26 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
49.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Massachusetts Turnpike
27.7 mi · 53%
I 495 South
12 mi · 23%
Wattaquadock Hill Road
2.94 mi · 6%
Clinton Road
2.34 mi · 4%
Sterling Street
2.31 mi · 4%
Water Street
1.13 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Massachusetts Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Massachusetts Turnpike

27.7 mi · 00h 34m

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 01m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.5 mi
36.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cordaville
00h 30m from Sterling
Leave By
4:28 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy leaving Sterling and Light Rain Likely near Boston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 52.7 miles (84.8 km) and usually takes 01h 01m 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?

Cordaville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 25.9 miles from Sterling and 26.8 miles from Boston.

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

The direct path is about 36.2 miles (58.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.5 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 4:28 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.24 one way or $14.47 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy around Sterling and Light Rain Likely near Boston.

Stop Ideas Near Cordaville

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

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

RAIL

Framingham station

9 mi away
417 Waverly St.
RAIL

Union Station

22 mi away
2 Washington Square
RAIL

Route 128 station

32 mi away
50 University Ave
RAIL

Back Bay station

38 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sterling and Boston. Straight-line distance: 36.18 mi (58.22 km).

Sterling

#1 Sterling

Town in Massachusetts

Population8,166
Coordinates42.4375900, -71.7606300
Altitude153
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: Meetinghouse Hill Road (-71.760618, 42.43763)
End: Tremont Street (-71.060061, 42.358547)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 85 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.86 gal
7.04 L · about $7.24
Round trip
$14.47
3.72 gal · 14.08 L
Estimated CO2
16.5 kg one way
Round trip: 33.1 kg / 73 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $7.24 $14.47
Mid-grade $4.40 $8.18 $16.36
Premium $4.80 $8.93 $17.85
Diesel $4.49 $8.35 $16.70

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 Sterling and Boston. The current time is 22:32:14.

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.