Best Time to Drive from Needham to Worcester

Right now (8:50 pm EDT): about 34 minutes via I-90 West, usually 35 at this time.

Only 76% 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 Needham 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	35	34	35	38	39	37	38	40	38	37	39	42	44	39	35	35	37
Tue	35	34	35	40	43	38	37	37	37	38	41	49	51	44	37	35	36
Wed	35	34	35	39	42	38	37	37	37	37	41	51	49	45	37	35	36
Thu	35	34	35	38	42	37	38	38	39	40	42	50	52	48	38	35	35
Fri	35	34	34	36	37	37	42	47	48	55	63	68	65	50	38	36	35
Sat	36	34	33	34	34	39	45	45	40	38	36	35	34	34	34	34	34
Sun	36	33	33	33	33	35	42	47	45	42	39	37	37	36	35	35	35

About this drive

On weekdays the 38-mile drive from Needham to Worcester (via I-90 West) usually takes as little as 34 minutes and up to 70 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 8 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 40 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Sundays (47 minutes).

Drive times are measured from central Needham 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 Needham to Worcester?

On weekdays, leave before 8 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 34 minutes then, versus up to 70 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 38-mile drive usually takes 34 to 70 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 40 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Needham to Worcester?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 70 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-90 West in Boston (33 miles) · I-95 North in Boston (4 miles)

Boston traffic right now · Boston traffic tomorrow

More drives

Worcester to Needham (return trip) · Needham 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	35	34	35	38	39	37	38	40	38	37	39	42	44	39	35	35	37
Tue	35	34	35	40	43	38	37	37	37	38	41	49	51	44	37	35	36
Wed	35	34	35	39	42	38	37	37	37	37	41	51	49	45	37	35	36
Thu	35	34	35	38	42	37	38	38	39	40	42	50	52	48	38	35	35
Fri	35	34	34	36	37	37	42	47	48	55	63	68	65	50	38	36	35
Sat	36	34	33	34	34	39	45	45	40	38	36	35	34	34	34	34	34
Sun	36	33	33	33	33	35	42	47	45	42	39	37	37	36	35	35	35

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	35	34	35	38	39	37	38	40	38	37	39	42	44	39	35	35	37
Tue	35	34	35	40	43	38	37	37	37	38	41	49	51	44	37	35	36
Wed	35	34	35	39	42	38	37	37	37	37	41	51	49	45	37	35	36
Thu	35	34	35	38	42	37	38	38	39	40	42	50	52	48	38	35	35
Fri	35	34	34	36	37	37	42	47	48	55	63	68	65	50	38	36	35
Sat	36	34	33	34	34	39	45	45	40	38	36	35	34	34	34	34	34
Sun	36	33	33	33	33	35	42	47	45	42	39	37	37	36	35	35	35

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	35	34	35	38	39	37	38	40	38	37	39	42	44	39	35	35	37
Tue	35	34	35	40	43	38	37	37	37	38	41	49	51	44	37	35	36
Wed	35	34	35	39	42	38	37	37	37	37	41	51	49	45	37	35	36
Thu	35	34	35	38	42	37	38	38	39	40	42	50	52	48	38	35	35
Fri	35	34	34	36	37	37	42	47	48	55	63	68	65	50	38	36	35
Sat	36	34	33	34	34	39	45	45	40	38	36	35	34	34	34	34	34
Sun	36	33	33	33	33	35	42	47	45	42	39	37	37	36	35	35	35