How far is Waltham, MA from Fitchburg, MA?

The driving distance from Waltham, MA to Fitchburg, MA is about 37.7 miles (60.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 32.2 miles (51.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 57m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
37.74 mi
00h 58m
Flight
32.22 mi
51.86 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waltham.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
32.22 mi
Kilometers
51.86 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
37.74 mi
Kilometers
60.73 km
Drive Time
00h 58m

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 58m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fitchburg
Thu, Apr 23, 5:01 AM EDT
Return by in Waltham
Thu, Apr 23, 6:00 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waltham
2026-04-23T04:02
Arrive Fitchburg
Thu, Apr 23, 5:01 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 58m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:59 AM to 10:59 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:32 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waltham
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Littleton
MA

Town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States

From Waltham
18.8 mi
00h 29m
To Fitchburg
18.9 mi
00h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph NW
Destination
62°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    56 m · 9 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Church Street

    132 m · 13 sec · Church Street

  3. 3

    Turn left

    120 m · 16 sec

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Lexington Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · Lexington Street

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on Totten Pond Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Totten Pond Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Wyman Street

    1415 ft · 33 sec · Wyman Street

  7. 7

    Take the ramp left

    1058 ft · 26 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Yankee Division Highway

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Yankee Division Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward MA 2 West: Fitchburg

    2204 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Concord Highway

    2731 ft · 44 sec · Concord Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Cambridge Turnpike

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Cambridge Turnpike

  12. 12

    Continue on Concord Turnpike

    3.9 mi · 6 min · Concord Turnpike

  13. 13

    Continue on Elm Street

    1635 ft · 35 sec · Elm Street

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Concord Rotary

    124 m · 5 sec · Union Turnpike

  15. 15

    Exit the rotary onto Union Turnpike

    3035 ft · 39 sec · Union Turnpike

  16. 16

    Continue on Massachusetts Avenue

    6.2 mi · 9 min · Massachusetts Avenue

  17. 17

    Continue on George W Stanton Highway

    1406 ft · 22 sec · George W Stanton Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Captain Isaac Davis Highway

    11.2 mi · 15 min · Captain Isaac Davis Highway

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Concord Turnpike

    3.8 mi · 5 min · Concord Turnpike

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Abbott Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · Abbott Avenue

  21. 21

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Water Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Water Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Water Street

    112 m · 9 sec · Water Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1885 ft · 2 min · Main Street

  24. 24

    Turn left

    36 m · 9 sec

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
25 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
66.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
11.2 mi · 30%
Concord Turnpike
7.65 mi · 20%
Massachusetts Avenue
6.24 mi · 17%
Cambridge Turnpike
3.33 mi · 9%
Yankee Division Highway
1.73 mi · 5%
Water Street
1.67 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Captain Isaac Davis Highway

Continue on Captain Isaac Davis Highway

11.2 mi · 00h 15m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 58m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.5 mi
32.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Littleton
00h 29m from Waltham
Leave By
4:32 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Waltham and Partly Sunny near Fitchburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 37.7 miles (60.7 km) and usually takes 00h 58m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Littleton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.8 miles from Waltham and 18.9 miles from Fitchburg.

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

The direct path is about 32.2 miles (51.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:32 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.17 one way or $10.35 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Waltham and Partly Sunny near Fitchburg.

Stop Ideas Near Littleton

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Littleton, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

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

BUS

Nashua, NH

28 mi away
8 North Southwood Drive
RAIL

Framingham station

30 mi away
417 Waverly St.
RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

31 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.
RAIL

Union Station

38 mi away
2 Washington Square

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waltham and Fitchburg. Straight-line distance: 32.22 mi (51.86 km).

Waltham

#1 Waltham

A city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

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

#2 Fitchburg

The county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts.

Population40,310
Coordinates42.5834200, -71.8023000
Altitude142
CountryUnited States
Start: Waltham (-71.23561, 42.37649)
End: Fitchburg (-71.8023, 42.58342)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 61 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.33 gal
5.04 L · about $5.17
Round trip
$10.35
2.66 gal · 10.08 L
Estimated CO2
11.8 kg one way
Round trip: 23.6 kg / 52 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $5.17 $10.35
Mid-grade $4.40 $5.85 $11.70
Premium $4.80 $6.38 $12.77
Diesel $4.49 $5.97 $11.94

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 Waltham and Fitchburg. The current time is 04:02:16.

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.