How far is Waltham, MA from Melrose, MA?

The driving distance from Waltham, MA to Melrose, MA is about 14 miles (22.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 10.3 miles (16.6 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.
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
14.06 mi
00h 26m
Flight
10.33 mi
16.63 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waltham.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
10.33 mi
Kilometers
16.63 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
14.06 mi
Kilometers
22.62 km
Drive Time
00h 26m

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.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Melrose
Sun, Apr 12, 9:42 PM EDT
Return by in Waltham
Sun, Apr 12, 10:08 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waltham
2026-04-12T21:15
Arrive Melrose
Sun, Apr 12, 9:42 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 26m
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 Waltham
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
Medford
MA

The most populous city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

From Waltham
7 mi
00h 13m
To Melrose
7 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
57°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph W
Destination
58°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Waverley Oaks Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Trapelo Road

    1691 ft · 42 sec · Trapelo Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Pleasant Street

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Pleasant Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Lake Street

    117 m · 10 sec · Lake Street

  7. 7

    Take the ramp left toward MA 2 East: Cambridge , Boston

    745 ft · 18 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Concord Turnpike

    1 mi · 1 min · Concord Turnpike

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight left toward MA 16 East, US 3 North: Medford, Woburn

    144 m · 14 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight right onto Alewife Brook Parkway

    1.5 km · 3 min · Alewife Brook Parkway

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Powder House Boulevard

    1.5 km · 2 min · Powder House Boulevard

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward Powder House Square

    71 m · 5 sec

  13. 13

    Exit the rotary

    8 m · 1 sec

  14. 14

    Continue on Warner Street

    914 ft · 20 sec · Warner Street

  15. 15

    Continue on Harvard Street

    1 km · 1 min · Harvard Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Mystic Valley Parkway Connector

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Mystic Valley Parkway Connector

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight left

    90 m · 10 sec

  18. 18

    Continue on Middlesex Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · Middlesex Avenue

  19. 19

    Continue on Highland Avenue

    822 ft · 18 sec · Highland Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Medford Street

    1203 ft · 33 sec · Medford Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Commercial Street

    2072 ft · 47 sec · Commercial Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Charles Street

    1962 ft · 47 sec · Charles Street

  23. 23

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

    1155 ft · 34 sec · Main Street

  24. 24

    Continue on Main Street

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Main Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Winthrop Street

    699 ft · 33 sec · Winthrop Street

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Myrtle Street

    44 m · 6 sec · Myrtle Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Myrtle Street

Car Route Details

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

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
27 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
191.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Main Street
2.94 mi · 21%
Pleasant Street
1.9 mi · 14%
Waverley Oaks Road
1.32 mi · 9%
Mystic Valley Parkway Connector
1.11 mi · 8%
Concord Turnpike
1.04 mi · 7%
Alewife Brook Parkway
0.96 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Main Street

Continue on Main Street

2.18 mi · 00h 04m

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 26m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.7 mi
10.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Medford
00h 13m from Waltham
Leave By
7:36 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Waltham and Mostly Sunny near Melrose.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 14 miles (22.6 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?

Medford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7 miles from Waltham and 7 miles from Melrose.

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

The direct path is about 10.3 miles (16.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.7 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 $1.95 one way or $3.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Waltham and Mostly Sunny near Melrose.

Stop Ideas Near Medford

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 Medford and the surrounding midpoint area.
Cocobeet - Boston
Food stop 4.7 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 4.8 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 14.3 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 4.7 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 Medford.

RAIL

North Station

7 mi away
100 Legends Way
RAIL

Back Bay station

8 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.
RAIL

South Station

9 mi away
2 South Station
RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

11 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waltham and Melrose. Straight-line distance: 10.33 mi (16.63 km).

Waltham

#1 Waltham

A city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

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

#2 Melrose

City in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States; suburb of Boston, Massachusetts

Population27,790
Coordinates42.4584300, -71.0661600
Altitude18
CountryUnited States
Start: Waltham (-71.23561, 42.37649)
End: Melrose (-71.06616, 42.45843)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 23 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.5 gal
1.88 L · about $1.95
Round trip
$3.89
1 gal · 3.76 L
Estimated CO2
4.4 kg one way
Round trip: 8.9 kg / 20 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $1.95 $3.89
Mid-grade $4.40 $2.20 $4.40
Premium $4.80 $2.40 $4.80
Diesel $4.49 $2.24 $4.49

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 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Waltham and Melrose. The current time is 21:15:13.

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.