Traffic Predict

Best Time to Drive from Cambridge to Newton

Right now (2:53 pm EDT): about 15 minutes via I-90 West and I-90 East, usually 17 at this time.

Only 73% of this drive is measured by working traffic sensors right now. The rest is estimated from nearby sensors, typical speeds and street traffic, so times can be off. Why so few sensors work.

On weekdays the 9-mile drive from Cambridge to Newton (via I-90 West and I-90 East) usually takes as little as 12 minutes and up to 33 minutes, when leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6:30 am or after 8 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 14 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 3:30 pm on Saturdays (16 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Newton to Cambridge

Drive times are measured from central Cambridge (Ellery Street) to central Newton (Homer Street) along the route shown. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Cambridge to Newton by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave5am6am7am8am9am10am11am12pm1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm9pm
Mon1212142321151313131315181919131213
Tue1212163032211513131417232728161213
Wed1212162930211513131419262828181313
Thu1212162627191413131419273130181313
Fri1212131615141314151823292623171313
Sat1312121212121314141616161514131212
Sun1312121212121213141514141313131213

Simulated from typical freeway speeds at each point of the drive for the time you would reach it, from every 5-minute reading we have recorded. We don't have sensors on surface streets yet, so the time on them is estimated from how congested the freeways around each end of the drive are at that time, in both directions: streets jam when the freeways do.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from Cambridge to Newton?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 8 pm. The drive usually takes about 12 minutes then, versus up to 33 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 9-mile drive usually takes 12 to 33 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 14 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Cambridge to Newton?

Leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 33 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

I-90 West in Boston (4 miles) · I-90 East in Boston (3 miles)

Boston traffic right now · Boston traffic tomorrow

More drives

Newton to Cambridge (return trip) · Cambridge to Quincy · Cambridge to Framingham · Cambridge to Worcester · Cambridge to Lowell · Cambridge to Braintree · Cambridge to Peabody · Cambridge to Andover · Cambridge to Brockton · Cambridge to Plymouth MA · Cambridge to Natick · Cambridge to BOS

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