Best Time to Drive from Waltham to Boston

Right now (5:17 pm EDT): about 37 minutes via I-90 East, usually 47 at this time.

Only 46% 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 12-mile drive from Waltham to Boston (via I-90 East) usually takes as little as 21 minutes and up to 67 minutes, when leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 24 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 5 am on Sundays (21 minutes).

Drive times are measured from central Waltham (Main Street) to central Boston (Franklin Avenue) 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 Waltham 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	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	32	34	36	42	46	45	41	28	24	34
Tue	22	32	50	66	64	48	34	27	28	37	44	47	40	42	28	21	21
Wed	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21
Thu	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21
Fri	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21
Sat	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21
Sun	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21

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 Waltham to Boston?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am. The drive usually takes about 21 minutes then, versus up to 67 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 12-mile drive usually takes 21 to 67 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 24 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Waltham to Boston?

Leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 67 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

I-90 East in Boston (5 miles)

Boston traffic right now

More drives

Waltham to Quincy · Waltham to Braintree · Waltham to Peabody · Waltham to Andover · Waltham to Brockton · Waltham to Plymouth MA · Waltham to BOS

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	32	34	36	42	46	45	41	28	24	34
Tue	22	32	50	66	64	48	34	27	28	37	44	47	40	42	28	21	21
Wed	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21
Thu	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21
Fri	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21
Sat	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21
Sun	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	32	34	36	42	46	45	41	28	24	34
Tue	22	32	50	66	64	48	34	27	28	37	44	47	40	42	28	21	21
Wed	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21
Thu	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21
Fri	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21
Sat	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21
Sun	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	32	34	36	42	46	45	41	28	24	34
Tue	22	32	50	66	64	48	34	27	28	37	44	47	40	42	28	21	21
Wed	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21
Thu	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21
Fri	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21
Sat	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21
Sun	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21	21