How far is Waltham, MA from Cambridge, MA?

The driving distance from Waltham, MA to Cambridge, MA is about 7.6 miles (12.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 6.6 miles (10.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 49m 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
7.64 mi
00h 24m
Flight
6.64 mi
10.68 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waltham.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
6.64 mi
Kilometers
10.68 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
7.64 mi
Kilometers
12.3 km
Drive Time
00h 24m

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 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cambridge
Tue, May 12, 7:15 PM EDT
Return by in Waltham
Tue, May 12, 7:40 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waltham
2026-05-12T18:50
Arrive Cambridge
Tue, May 12, 7:15 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:25 AM to 7:25 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:40 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Waltham
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Watertown
MA

City in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States

From Waltham
3.8 mi
00h 12m
To Cambridge
3.9 mi
00h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
43°F
Overnight

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Tue, May 12 4:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph N
Destination
40°F
Overnight

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Tue, May 12 5:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    2829 ft · 1 min · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Linden Street

    1946 ft · 33 sec · Linden Street

  3. 3

    Keep slight right to continue on Waverley Oaks Road

    2890 ft · 1 min · Waverley Oaks Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Beaver Street

    2029 ft · 44 sec · Beaver Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Warren Street

    1371 ft · 27 sec · Warren Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Belmont Street

    2047 ft · 43 sec · Belmont Street

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Belmont Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Belmont Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Belmont Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Belmont Street

  9. 9

    Continue on Belmont Street

    23 m · 9 sec · Belmont Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Mount Auburn Street

    1753 ft · 43 sec · Mount Auburn Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Brattle Street

    1 mi · 2 min · Brattle Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Mason Street

    667 ft · 25 sec · Mason Street

  13. 13

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

    980 ft · 46 sec · Garden Street

  14. 14

    Turn slight left

    55 m · 14 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Peabody Street

    28 m · 4 sec · Peabody Street

  16. 16

    Turn slight right onto Cambridge Street

    757 ft · 26 sec · Cambridge Street

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on Cambridge Street

    157 m · 30 sec · Cambridge Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Quincy Street

    131 m · 17 sec · Quincy Street

  19. 19

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

    2168 ft · 1 min · Kirkland Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Beacon Street

    1011 ft · 37 sec · Beacon Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Cooney Street

    90 m · 13 sec · Cooney Street

  22. 22

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

    90 m · 19 sec · Line Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Leonard Avenue

    140 m · 20 sec · Leonard Avenue

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Leonard Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Waltham 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
24 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
315.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Belmont Street
2.58 mi · 34%
Brattle Street
1.05 mi · 14%
Waverley Oaks Road
0.55 mi · 7%
Main Street
0.54 mi · 7%
Kirkland Street
0.41 mi · 5%
Beaver Street
0.38 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Belmont Street

Continue on Belmont Street

1.1 mi · 00h 02m

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 24m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1 mi
6.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Watertown
00h 12m from Waltham
Leave By
7:40 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Waltham and Mostly Cloudy near Cambridge.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 7.6 miles (12.3 km) and usually takes 00h 24m 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?

Watertown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 3.8 miles from Waltham and 3.9 miles from Cambridge.

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

The direct path is about 6.6 miles (10.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 1 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 7:40 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.05 one way or $2.10 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 2.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Waltham and Mostly Cloudy near Cambridge.

Stop Ideas Near Watertown

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 Watertown and the surrounding midpoint area.
Cocobeet - Boston
Food stop 5.7 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 5.7 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
Cambridge City Hall
Meeting point 3.2 mi away

Cambridge City Hall

Cambridge , MA
795 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
Rating 4.4/5 47 reviews City Hall,City government office
Shoppers World
Nearby stop 12.7 mi away

Shoppers World

Framingham , MA
1 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA 01701, United States
Rating 4.3/5 2,625 reviews Shopping mall

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Back Bay station

9 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.
RAIL

North Station

10 mi away
100 Legends Way
RAIL

South Station

11 mi away
2 South Station
RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

16 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waltham and Cambridge. Straight-line distance: 6.64 mi (10.68 km).

Waltham

#1 Waltham

A city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Population62,069
Coordinates42.3764900, -71.2356100
Altitude20
CountryUnited States
Cambridge

#2 Cambridge

The most populous city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Population119,192
Coordinates42.3751000, -71.1056100
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-71.235588, 42.376412)
End: Leonard Avenue (-71.105735, 42.375115)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 12 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.27 gal
1.02 L · about $1.05
Round trip
$2.10
0.54 gal · 2.04 L
Estimated CO2
2.4 kg one way
Round trip: 4.8 kg / 11 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $1.05 $2.10
Mid-grade $4.40 $1.19 $2.37
Premium $4.80 $1.30 $2.59
Diesel $4.49 $1.21 $2.42

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 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Waltham and Cambridge. The current time is 18:50:38.

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.