How far is Waltham, MA from Wakefield, MA?

The driving distance from Waltham, MA to Wakefield, MA is about 14.8 miles (23.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 12.2 miles (19.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 54m 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
14.77 mi
00h 27m
Flight
12.23 mi
19.68 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waltham.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
12.23 mi
Kilometers
19.68 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
14.77 mi
Kilometers
23.77 km
Drive Time
00h 27m

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 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wakefield
Thu, Apr 23, 12:14 AM EDT
Return by in Waltham
Thu, Apr 23, 12:41 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waltham
2026-04-22T23:47
Arrive Wakefield
Thu, Apr 23, 12:14 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 27m
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
Winchester
MA

Town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA

From Waltham
7.4 mi
00h 13m
To Wakefield
7.4 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
49°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Light Rain then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph S
Destination
47°F
Wednesday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    2.8 mi · 6 min · Pleasant Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Mystic Street

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Mystic Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Cambridge Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Cambridge Street

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Church Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · Church Street

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Mount Vernon Street

    37 m · 2 sec · Mount Vernon Street

  10. 10

    Exit the roundabout onto Mount Vernon Street

    895 ft · 21 sec · Mount Vernon Street

  11. 11

    Turn slight left onto Washington Street

    2 mi · 5 min · Washington Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Montvale Avenue

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Montvale Avenue

  13. 13

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

    1746 ft · 37 sec · Main Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Elm Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · Elm Street

  15. 15

    Continue on Albion Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · Albion Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto North Avenue

    1549 ft · 31 sec · North Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn sharp right onto Church Street

    1544 ft · 35 sec · Church Street

  18. 18

    Turn slight right onto Common Street

    145 m · 16 sec · Common Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Lafayette Street

    73 m · 9 sec · Lafayette Street

  20. 20

    Turn right

    58 m · 16 sec

  21. 21

    Turn right

    22 m · 5 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
16 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
148.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pleasant Street
2.83 mi · 19%
Washington Street
1.96 mi · 13%
Mystic Street
1.57 mi · 11%
Waverley Oaks Road
1.32 mi · 9%
Church Street
1.24 mi · 8%
Montvale Avenue
1.1 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Pleasant Street

Turn left onto Pleasant Street

2.83 mi · 00h 06m

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 27m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.6 mi
12.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Winchester
00h 13m from Waltham
Leave By
7:36 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Light Rain then Chance Rain Showers leaving Waltham and Light Rain Likely near Wakefield.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 14.8 miles (23.8 km) and usually takes 00h 27m 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?

Winchester is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7.4 miles from Waltham and 7.4 miles from Wakefield.

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

The direct path is about 12.2 miles (19.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.6 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 $2.02 one way or $4.05 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Light Rain then Chance Rain Showers around Waltham and Light Rain Likely near Wakefield.

Stop Ideas Near Winchester

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 Winchester and the surrounding midpoint area.
Cocobeet - Boston
Food stop 7.4 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 7.5 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 14.2 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 7.3 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 Winchester.

RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

7 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.
RAIL

North Station

11 mi away
100 Legends Way
RAIL

South Station

13 mi away
2 South Station
RAIL

Back Bay station

13 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waltham and Wakefield. Straight-line distance: 12.23 mi (19.68 km).

Waltham

#1 Waltham

A city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

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

#2 Wakefield

Town in Massachusetts

Population27,051
Coordinates42.5064800, -71.0728300
Altitude31
CountryUnited States
Start: Waltham (-71.23561, 42.37649)
End: Wakefield (-71.07283, 42.50648)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 24 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 17m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.52 gal
1.97 L · about $2.02
Round trip
$4.05
1.04 gal · 3.94 L
Estimated CO2
4.6 kg one way
Round trip: 9.2 kg / 20 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $2.02 $4.05
Mid-grade $4.40 $2.29 $4.57
Premium $4.80 $2.50 $4.99
Diesel $4.49 $2.33 $4.67

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 Wakefield. The current time is 23:47:24.

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.