How far is Wakefield, MA from Waltham, MA?

The driving distance from Wakefield, MA to Waltham, MA is about 18.1 miles (29.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 12.2 miles (19.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 54m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
18.06 mi
00h 27m
Flight
12.23 mi
19.68 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Wakefield.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
12.23 mi
Kilometers
19.68 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
18.06 mi
Kilometers
29.06 km
Drive Time
00h 27m

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 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waltham
Wed, Apr 22, 9:49 PM EDT
Return by in Wakefield
Wed, Apr 22, 10:16 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wakefield
2026-04-22T21:21
Arrive Waltham
Wed, Apr 22, 9:49 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:27 AM to 7:27 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:36 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Wakefield
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Winchester
MA

Town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA

From Wakefield
7.3 mi
00h 13m
To Waltham
10.7 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
47°F
Wednesday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph S
Destination
49°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Light Rain then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Wakefield and Waltham.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wakefield and Waltham.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    97 m · 25 sec

  2. 2

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

    844 ft · 23 sec · Lafayette Street

  3. 3

    Turn straight onto Church Street

    561 ft · 21 sec · Church Street

  4. 4

    Turn sharp left onto North Avenue

    1697 ft · 37 sec · North Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Albion Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · Albion Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Elm Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · Elm Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1746 ft · 37 sec · Main Street

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Montvale Avenue

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Montvale Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Washington Street

    2 mi · 5 min · Washington Street

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Mount Vernon Street

    888 ft · 18 sec · Mount Vernon Street

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Church Street

    96 m · 6 sec · Church Street

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout onto Church Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · Church Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Cambridge Street

    1.3 km · 58 sec · Cambridge Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Mystic Street

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Mystic Street

  15. 15

    Continue on Pleasant Street

    2.9 mi · 6 min · Pleasant Street

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto Trapelo Road

    1419 ft · 36 sec · Trapelo Road

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Waverley Oaks Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Waverley Oaks Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Linden Street

    2172 ft · 41 sec · Linden Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Main Street

    2834 ft · 56 sec · Main Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Wakefield and Waltham.

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
20 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
110.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pleasant Street
2.85 mi · 16%
Washington Street
1.96 mi · 11%
Mystic Street
1.57 mi · 9%
Waverley Oaks Road
1.32 mi · 7%
Church Street
1.11 mi · 6%
Montvale Avenue
1.1 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Pleasant Street

Continue on Pleasant Street

2.85 mi · 00h 06m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
00h 27m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.9 mi
12.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Winchester
00h 13m from Wakefield
Leave By
7:36 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Light Rain Likely leaving Wakefield and Slight Chance Light Rain then Chance Rain Showers near Waltham.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Wakefield to Waltham?

The road trip is about 18.1 miles (29.1 km) and usually takes 00h 27m 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?

Winchester is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7.3 miles from Wakefield and 10.7 miles from Waltham.

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

The direct path is about 12.2 miles (19.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.9 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 7:36 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.49 one way or $4.98 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Light Rain Likely around Wakefield and Slight Chance Light Rain then Chance Rain Showers near Waltham.

Stop Ideas Near Winchester

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Winchester and the surrounding midpoint area.
Cocobeet - Boston
Food stop 7.4 mi away

Cocobeet - Boston

Boston , MA
100 City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA 02108
Rating 4.4/5 198 reviews Health food restaurant,Juice shop,Raw food restaurant,Vegan restaurant
Boston's Old City Hall
Scenic stop 7.4 mi away

Boston's Old City Hall

Boston , MA
45 School St, Boston, MA 02108, United States
Rating 4.6/5 346 reviews Tourist attraction,Historical landmark
Salem City Hall
Meeting point 14.2 mi away

Salem City Hall

Salem , MA
93 Washington St, Salem, MA 01970
Rating 4.2/5 84 reviews City Hall,City government office
City Hall Plaza
Scenic stop 7.3 mi away

City Hall Plaza

Boston , MA
1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02203
Rating 4.4/5 208 reviews City park

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Winchester.

RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

7 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.
RAIL

North Station

11 mi away
100 Legends Way
RAIL

South Station

13 mi away
2 South Station
RAIL

Back Bay station

13 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wakefield and Waltham. Straight-line distance: 12.23 mi (19.68 km).

Wakefield

#1 Wakefield

Town in Massachusetts

Population27,051
Coordinates42.5064800, -71.0728300
Altitude31
CountryUnited States
Waltham

#2 Waltham

A city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Population62,069
Coordinates42.3764900, -71.2356100
Altitude20
CountryUnited States
Start: (-71.073002, 42.506402)
End: Main Street (-71.235588, 42.376412)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 29 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.64 gal
2.41 L · about $2.49
Round trip
$4.98
1.28 gal · 4.82 L
Estimated CO2
5.7 kg one way
Round trip: 11.4 kg / 25 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $2.49 $4.98
Mid-grade $4.40 $2.81 $5.63
Premium $4.80 $3.07 $6.14
Diesel $4.49 $2.87 $5.74

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 Wakefield and Waltham. The current time is 21:21:56.

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.