How far is Swampscott, MA from Cambridge, MA?
The driving distance from Swampscott, MA to Cambridge, MA is about 14.7 miles (23.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 34m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 11.7 miles (18.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 09m 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 34m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
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.
Rain Showers
Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Swampscott and Cambridge.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Swampscott and Cambridge.
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1
Start on Hardy Road
65 m · 10 sec · Hardy Road
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2
Turn right onto Monument Avenue
114 m · 12 sec · Monument Avenue
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3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Monument Avenue
22 m · 2 sec · Monument Avenue
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4
Exit the roundabout onto Monument Avenue
136 m · 20 sec · Monument Avenue
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5
At the end of the road, turn right onto Humphrey Street
660 ft · 13 sec · Humphrey Street
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6
Keep slight left to continue on Lynn Shore Drive
1.1 mi · 1 min · Lynn Shore Drive
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7
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Nahant Circle
26 m · 1 sec · Lynnway
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8
Exit the rotary onto Lynnway
2.2 mi · 4 min · Lynnway
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9
Continue on North Shore Road
2.6 mi · 4 min · North Shore Road
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10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Butler Circle
33 m · 1 sec · Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
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11
Exit the rotary onto Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
2356 ft · 36 sec · Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway
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12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 6 toward Mahoney Circle
115 m · 8 sec
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13
Exit the rotary
66 m · 8 sec
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14
Merge slight left onto Lee Burbank Highway
16 m · 2 sec · Lee Burbank Highway
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15
Keep slight right
1402 ft · 21 sec
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16
Turn right onto Winthrop Avenue
1556 ft · 38 sec · Winthrop Avenue
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17
Turn left onto Beach Street
1342 ft · 42 sec · Beach Street
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18
Turn left onto Broadway
916 ft · 16 sec · Broadway
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19
Turn right
1282 ft · 24 sec
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20
Merge slight left onto Revere Beach Parkway
1477 ft · 36 sec · Revere Beach Parkway
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21
Take the exit slight right toward US 1 South: Tobin Bridge, Boston
1223 ft · 30 sec
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22
Merge slight left onto Northeast Expressway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Northeast Expressway
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23
Continue on Tobin Bridge
1.7 mi · 2 min · Tobin Bridge
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24
Take the exit slight right toward I 93 North: Somerville, Charlestown
2547 ft · 1 min
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25
At the end of the road, turn left onto New Rutherford Avenue
29 m · 8 sec · New Rutherford Avenue
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26
Continue on New Rutherford Avenue
965 ft · 18 sec · New Rutherford Avenue
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27
Turn left onto Austin Street
1160 ft · 34 sec · Austin Street
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28
Continue on Charlestown Avenue
1345 ft · 42 sec · Charlestown Avenue
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29
Turn right onto Monsignor O'Brien Highway
955 ft · 35 sec · Monsignor O'Brien Highway
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30
Turn left onto Cambridge Street
1.4 mi · 5 min · Cambridge Street
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31
Turn right onto Line Street
1062 ft · 52 sec · Line Street
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32
Turn left onto Leonard Avenue
140 m · 20 sec · Leonard Avenue
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33
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Leonard Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Swampscott 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.
North Shore Road
Continue on North Shore Road
2.63 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.
Rain Showers leaving Swampscott and Rain Showers near Cambridge.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Swampscott to Cambridge?
The road trip is about 14.7 miles (23.7 km) and usually takes 00h 34m 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 7.4 miles from Swampscott and 7.3 miles from Cambridge.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 11.7 miles (18.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:20 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.02 one way or $4.05 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Rain Showers around Swampscott and Rain Showers 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 Swampscott and Cambridge. Straight-line distance: 11.66 mi (18.76 km).
#1 Swampscott
Town in Massachusetts
| Population | 15,462 |
| Coordinates | 42.4709300, -70.9175500 |
| Altitude | 8 |
| 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: 24 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 29m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 22m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 17m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 14m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 12m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 11m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.89 | $2.02 | $4.05 |
| Mid-grade | $4.40 | $2.29 | $4.57 |
| Premium | $4.80 | $2.50 | $4.99 |
| Diesel | $4.49 | $2.33 | $4.67 |
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 30, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.