How far is Waltham, MA from Chelsea, MA?
The driving distance from Waltham, MA to Chelsea, MA is about 12.9 miles (20.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 25m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 10.4 miles (16.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 50m 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 25m.
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.
Town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Waltham and Chelsea.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waltham and Chelsea.
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1
Start on Main Street
2829 ft · 1 min · Main Street
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2
Turn left onto Linden Street
1946 ft · 33 sec · Linden Street
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3
Keep slight right to continue on Waverley Oaks Road
1.3 mi · 2 min · Waverley Oaks Road
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4
Turn right onto Trapelo Road
1691 ft · 42 sec · Trapelo Road
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5
Turn left onto Pleasant Street
1.9 mi · 3 min · Pleasant Street
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6
Turn right onto Lake Street
117 m · 10 sec · Lake Street
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7
Take the ramp left toward MA 2 East: Cambridge , Boston
745 ft · 18 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Concord Turnpike
1 mi · 1 min · Concord Turnpike
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9
Take the exit slight left toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn
144 m · 14 sec
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10
Merge slight right onto Alewife Brook Parkway
1.5 km · 3 min · Alewife Brook Parkway
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11
Turn right onto Powder House Boulevard
1.5 km · 2 min · Powder House Boulevard
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12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward Powder House Square
71 m · 5 sec
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13
Exit the rotary
8 m · 1 sec
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14
Continue on Warner Street
914 ft · 20 sec · Warner Street
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15
Continue on Harvard Street
1 km · 1 min · Harvard Street
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16
Continue on Mystic Valley Parkway Connector
1.1 mi · 2 min · Mystic Valley Parkway Connector
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17
Merge slight right onto Revere Beach Parkway
1 km · 1 min · Revere Beach Parkway
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18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 5 toward Santilli Circle
880 ft · 16 sec · Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway
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19
Exit the rotary onto Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway
2098 ft · 36 sec · Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway
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20
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Sweetser Circle
106 m · 6 sec
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21
Exit the rotary onto Revere Beach Parkway
940 ft · 26 sec
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22
Merge slight left onto Revere Beach Parkway
866 ft · 26 sec · Revere Beach Parkway
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23
Turn right onto Second Street
1.2 mi · 2 min · Second Street
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24
Turn left onto Park Street
1033 ft · 33 sec · Park Street
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25
Turn left onto Hawthorn Street
152 m · 10 sec · Hawthorn Street
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26
Turn right onto Chester Avenue
526 ft · 30 sec · Chester Avenue
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27
Turn left onto Shawmut Street
65 m · 9 sec · Shawmut Street
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Shawmut Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Waltham and Chelsea.
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.
Pleasant Street
Turn left onto Pleasant Street
1.9 mi · 00h 03m
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.
Partly Sunny leaving Waltham and Partly Sunny near Chelsea.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Waltham to Chelsea?
The road trip is about 12.9 miles (20.7 km) and usually takes 00h 25m 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?
Arlington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6.4 miles from Waltham and 6.5 miles from Chelsea.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 10.4 miles (16.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.5 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 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 $1.75 one way or $3.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Waltham and Partly Sunny near Chelsea.
Stop Ideas Near Arlington
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 Arlington.
North Station
Back Bay station
Anderson Regional Transportation Center
South Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Waltham and Chelsea. Straight-line distance: 10.4 mi (16.74 km).
#1 Waltham
A city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
| Population | 62,069 |
| Coordinates | 42.3764900, -71.2356100 |
| Altitude | 20 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Chelsea
City in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States
| Population | 39,230 |
| Coordinates | 42.3917600, -71.0328300 |
| Altitude | 12 |
| Country | United States |
End: Chelsea (-71.03283, 42.39176)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 21 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 25m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 19m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 15m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 12m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 11m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 09m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.89 | $1.75 | $3.50 |
| Mid-grade | $4.40 | $1.98 | $3.96 |
| Premium | $4.80 | $2.16 | $4.32 |
| Diesel | $4.49 | $2.02 | $4.04 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.