Best Time to Drive from Reading to Worcester

Right now (8:50 pm EDT): about 54 minutes via I-495 South, usually 55 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 Reading 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	51	52	55	58	56	55	55	55	55	58	70	74	67	57	53	53	54
Tue	51	54	57	62	60	56	56	55	55	59	74	79	72	60	54	53	55
Wed	51	53	57	61	59	56	55	56	56	60	76	79	74	61	54	54	54
Thu	52	53	57	60	58	55	55	55	56	62	77	84	76	62	54	53	55
Fri	51	51	53	54	55	55	57	61	65	78	92	88	77	60	54	53	53
Sat	51	50	50	51	51	53	58	60	60	57	56	54	53	52	51	52	52
Sun	52	50	50	49	50	51	56	59	57	56	56	54	53	52	52	53	53

About this drive

On weekdays the 59-mile drive from Reading to Worcester (via I-495 South) usually takes as little as 51 minutes and up to 92 minutes, when leaving around 3 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 58 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12:30 pm on Saturdays (61 minutes).

Drive times are measured from central Reading 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 Reading to Worcester?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 51 minutes then, versus up to 92 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 59-mile drive usually takes 51 to 92 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 58 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Reading to Worcester?

Leaving around 3 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 92 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-495 South in Boston (35 miles) · I-290 West in Boston (12 miles) · I-93 North in Boston (11 miles)

Boston traffic right now · Boston traffic tomorrow

More drives

Worcester to Reading (return trip) · Reading to Boston · Reading 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	51	52	55	58	56	55	55	55	55	58	70	74	67	57	53	53	54
Tue	51	54	57	62	60	56	56	55	55	59	74	79	72	60	54	53	55
Wed	51	53	57	61	59	56	55	56	56	60	76	79	74	61	54	54	54
Thu	52	53	57	60	58	55	55	55	56	62	77	84	76	62	54	53	55
Fri	51	51	53	54	55	55	57	61	65	78	92	88	77	60	54	53	53
Sat	51	50	50	51	51	53	58	60	60	57	56	54	53	52	51	52	52
Sun	52	50	50	49	50	51	56	59	57	56	56	54	53	52	52	53	53

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	51	52	55	58	56	55	55	55	55	58	70	74	67	57	53	53	54
Tue	51	54	57	62	60	56	56	55	55	59	74	79	72	60	54	53	55
Wed	51	53	57	61	59	56	55	56	56	60	76	79	74	61	54	54	54
Thu	52	53	57	60	58	55	55	55	56	62	77	84	76	62	54	53	55
Fri	51	51	53	54	55	55	57	61	65	78	92	88	77	60	54	53	53
Sat	51	50	50	51	51	53	58	60	60	57	56	54	53	52	51	52	52
Sun	52	50	50	49	50	51	56	59	57	56	56	54	53	52	52	53	53

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	51	52	55	58	56	55	55	55	55	58	70	74	67	57	53	53	54
Tue	51	54	57	62	60	56	56	55	55	59	74	79	72	60	54	53	55
Wed	51	53	57	61	59	56	55	56	56	60	76	79	74	61	54	54	54
Thu	52	53	57	60	58	55	55	55	56	62	77	84	76	62	54	53	55
Fri	51	51	53	54	55	55	57	61	65	78	92	88	77	60	54	53	53
Sat	51	50	50	51	51	53	58	60	60	57	56	54	53	52	51	52	52
Sun	52	50	50	49	50	51	56	59	57	56	56	54	53	52	52	53	53