Best Time to Drive from Chelmsford to Worcester

Right now (9:49 pm EDT): about 41 minutes via I-495 South and I-290 West, usually 36 at this time.

Only 65% 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.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Chelmsford to Worcester by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	34	33	34	36	37	35	35	36	36	37	42	46	44	36	34	34	35
Tue	34	33	35	36	38	36	36	36	35	37	43	49	48	39	35	34	35
Wed	33	34	35	37	38	36	36	36	36	39	46	50	50	39	35	35	35
Thu	34	34	35	37	37	36	36	36	36	40	49	54	52	41	36	34	35
Fri	34	33	34	34	35	35	37	40	41	50	59	62	58	42	36	34	34
Sat	34	33	32	33	33	34	38	40	40	37	38	35	34	34	33	33	33
Sun	34	33	32	32	33	33	37	41	38	37	37	36	35	34	33	34	34

About this drive

On weekdays the 38-mile drive from Chelmsford to Worcester (via I-495 South and I-290 West) usually takes as little as 33 minutes and up to 62 minutes, when leaving around 3:30 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 8:30 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 37 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Sundays (41 minutes).

Drive times are measured from central Chelmsford to central Worcester along the route on the map. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

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 Chelmsford to Worcester?

On weekdays, leave before 8:30 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 33 minutes then, versus up to 62 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Chelmsford to Worcester?

The 38-mile drive usually takes 33 to 62 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 37 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Chelmsford to Worcester?

Leaving around 3:30 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 62 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-495 South in Boston (26 miles) · I-290 West in Boston (12 miles)

Boston traffic right now · Boston traffic tomorrow

More drives

Worcester to Chelmsford (return trip) · Chelmsford to Boston

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	34	33	34	36	37	35	35	36	36	37	42	46	44	36	34	34	35
Tue	34	33	35	36	38	36	36	36	35	37	43	49	48	39	35	34	35
Wed	33	34	35	37	38	36	36	36	36	39	46	50	50	39	35	35	35
Thu	34	34	35	37	37	36	36	36	36	40	49	54	52	41	36	34	35
Fri	34	33	34	34	35	35	37	40	41	50	59	62	58	42	36	34	34
Sat	34	33	32	33	33	34	38	40	40	37	38	35	34	34	33	33	33
Sun	34	33	32	32	33	33	37	41	38	37	37	36	35	34	33	34	34

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	34	33	34	36	37	35	35	36	36	37	42	46	44	36	34	34	35
Tue	34	33	35	36	38	36	36	36	35	37	43	49	48	39	35	34	35
Wed	33	34	35	37	38	36	36	36	36	39	46	50	50	39	35	35	35
Thu	34	34	35	37	37	36	36	36	36	40	49	54	52	41	36	34	35
Fri	34	33	34	34	35	35	37	40	41	50	59	62	58	42	36	34	34
Sat	34	33	32	33	33	34	38	40	40	37	38	35	34	34	33	33	33
Sun	34	33	32	32	33	33	37	41	38	37	37	36	35	34	33	34	34

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	34	33	34	36	37	35	35	36	36	37	42	46	44	36	34	34	35
Tue	34	33	35	36	38	36	36	36	35	37	43	49	48	39	35	34	35
Wed	33	34	35	37	38	36	36	36	36	39	46	50	50	39	35	35	35
Thu	34	34	35	37	37	36	36	36	36	40	49	54	52	41	36	34	35
Fri	34	33	34	34	35	35	37	40	41	50	59	62	58	42	36	34	34
Sat	34	33	32	33	33	34	38	40	40	37	38	35	34	34	33	33	33
Sun	34	33	32	32	33	33	37	41	38	37	37	36	35	34	33	34	34