Best Time to Drive from Fitchburg to Boston

Right now (8:47 pm EDT): about 69 minutes via I-495 North and I-93 South, usually 67 at this time.

Only 78% 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 Fitchburg to Boston 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	68	83	95	91	80	70	72	72	74	84	86	85	83	70	65	66	69
Tue	69	93	114	114	93	76	70	69	73	86	91	98	98	77	67	66	67
Wed	68	85	109	111	92	82	73	71	75	90	99	102	99	77	67	67	68
Thu	68	87	107	106	89	79	72	72	79	95	104	112	106	82	69	66	68
Fri	65	74	78	75	72	72	75	80	93	103	111	106	94	79	70	66	65
Sat	63	63	63	64	68	69	77	78	81	79	78	75	72	70	66	65	65
Sun	64	62	62	62	64	66	71	76	73	74	72	69	68	68	66	66	67

About this drive

On weekdays the 61-mile drive from Fitchburg to Boston (via I-495 North and I-93 South) usually takes as little as 65 minutes and up to 118 minutes, when leaving around 7:30 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 5:30 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 78 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1 pm on Saturdays (81 minutes).

About 53 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 8 miles surface streets (10 to 21 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from central Fitchburg to central Boston 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 Fitchburg to Boston?

On weekdays, leave before 5:30 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 65 minutes then, versus up to 118 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 61-mile drive usually takes 65 to 118 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 78 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Fitchburg to Boston?

Leaving around 7:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 118 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-495 North in Boston (27 miles) · I-93 South in Boston (26 miles)

Boston traffic right now · Boston traffic tomorrow

More drives

Boston to Fitchburg (return trip) · Fitchburg to South 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	68	83	95	91	80	70	72	72	74	84	86	85	83	70	65	66	69
Tue	69	93	114	114	93	76	70	69	73	86	91	98	98	77	67	66	67
Wed	68	85	109	111	92	82	73	71	75	90	99	102	99	77	67	67	68
Thu	68	87	107	106	89	79	72	72	79	95	104	112	106	82	69	66	68
Fri	65	74	78	75	72	72	75	80	93	103	111	106	94	79	70	66	65
Sat	63	63	63	64	68	69	77	78	81	79	78	75	72	70	66	65	65
Sun	64	62	62	62	64	66	71	76	73	74	72	69	68	68	66	66	67

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	68	83	95	91	80	70	72	72	74	84	86	85	83	70	65	66	69
Tue	69	93	114	114	93	76	70	69	73	86	91	98	98	77	67	66	67
Wed	68	85	109	111	92	82	73	71	75	90	99	102	99	77	67	67	68
Thu	68	87	107	106	89	79	72	72	79	95	104	112	106	82	69	66	68
Fri	65	74	78	75	72	72	75	80	93	103	111	106	94	79	70	66	65
Sat	63	63	63	64	68	69	77	78	81	79	78	75	72	70	66	65	65
Sun	64	62	62	62	64	66	71	76	73	74	72	69	68	68	66	66	67

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	68	83	95	91	80	70	72	72	74	84	86	85	83	70	65	66	69
Tue	69	93	114	114	93	76	70	69	73	86	91	98	98	77	67	66	67
Wed	68	85	109	111	92	82	73	71	75	90	99	102	99	77	67	67	68
Thu	68	87	107	106	89	79	72	72	79	95	104	112	106	82	69	66	68
Fri	65	74	78	75	72	72	75	80	93	103	111	106	94	79	70	66	65
Sat	63	63	63	64	68	69	77	78	81	79	78	75	72	70	66	65	65
Sun	64	62	62	62	64	66	71	76	73	74	72	69	68	68	66	66	67