How far is Waltham, MA from Acton, MA?
The driving distance from Waltham, MA to Acton, MA is about 15.3 miles (24.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 26m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 12.6 miles (20.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 53m 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 26m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Waltham and Acton.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waltham and Acton.
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1
Start on Main Street
56 m · 9 sec · Main Street
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2
Turn left onto Church Street
132 m · 13 sec · Church Street
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3
Turn left
120 m · 16 sec
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4
Turn right onto Lexington Street
1.3 km · 2 min · Lexington Street
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5
Keep slight left to continue on Totten Pond Road
1.2 mi · 2 min · Totten Pond Road
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6
Turn right onto Wyman Street
1415 ft · 33 sec · Wyman Street
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7
Take the ramp left
1058 ft · 26 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Yankee Division Highway
1.7 mi · 2 min · Yankee Division Highway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward MA 2 West: Fitchburg
2204 ft · 1 min
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10
Merge slight left onto Concord Highway
2731 ft · 44 sec · Concord Highway
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11
Continue on Cambridge Turnpike
3.3 mi · 5 min · Cambridge Turnpike
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12
Continue on Concord Turnpike
3.9 mi · 6 min · Concord Turnpike
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13
Continue on Elm Street
1635 ft · 35 sec · Elm Street
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14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Concord Rotary
69 m · 3 sec · Elm Street
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15
Exit the rotary onto Elm Street
3128 ft · 60 sec · Elm Street
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16
Continue on Great Road
2622 ft · 57 sec · Great Road
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17
Turn left onto Concord Road
1.2 mi · 3 min · Concord Road
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18
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Concord Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Waltham and Acton.
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.
Concord Turnpike
Continue on Concord Turnpike
3.89 mi · 00h 06m
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.
Mostly Cloudy leaving Waltham and Mostly Cloudy near Acton.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Waltham to Acton?
The road trip is about 15.3 miles (24.6 km) and usually takes 00h 26m 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?
Lincoln is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7.6 miles from Waltham and 7.6 miles from Acton.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 12.6 miles (20.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.7 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 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 $2.10 one way or $4.20 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Waltham and Mostly Cloudy near Acton.
Stop Ideas Near Lincoln
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Cocobeet - Boston
Boston's Old City Hall
Cambridge City Hall
Shoppers World
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lincoln.
Anderson Regional Transportation Center
Framingham station
Back Bay station
North Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Waltham and Acton. Straight-line distance: 12.55 mi (20.2 km).
#1 Waltham
A city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
| Population | 62,069 |
| Coordinates | 42.3764900, -71.2356100 |
| Altitude | 20 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Acton
Town in Massachusetts, United States
| Population | 23,503 |
| Coordinates | 42.4850900, -71.4328400 |
| Altitude | 81 |
| Country | United States |
End: Acton (-71.43284, 42.48509)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 25 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 30m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 22m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 18m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 15m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 13m |
| 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 | $2.10 | $4.20 |
| Mid-grade | $4.40 | $2.37 | $4.75 |
| Premium | $4.80 | $2.59 | $5.18 |
| Diesel | $4.49 | $2.42 | $4.85 |
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 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.