Milay's Favorite Route

Grafton-Shrewsbury-Westboro

Boston Suburbs

Challenge Level:

Traffic Level:

Type Of Bike:

Hybrid, Road Bike

Distance:

21.1 Miles

Terrain:

Many long gradual uphills and a few long downhills as well as rolling hills

Traffic:

moderate to heavy traffic throughout most of this ride. This ride crosses over very busy intersections on route 9.

Refreshments:

There are delis and convenience stores in Grafton and Shrewsbury

Highlights:

Willard Clock Museum. Town Squares in Grafton and Shrewsbury

Nearby Bike Shops:

Simple Living Cycles, 57 Waverly St., Framingham, MA 01702, (508) 620-6600
Crossing Cycle, 282 Cottage Street, Franklin, MA 02038, (508) 528-1010
Whitco Sales, 140 Main Street, Spencer, MA 01562 (508) 885-9343

Websites:

Willard Clock Museum

Commentary

This 21.1 mile ride through suburban Boston and Worcester has the feel of old time New England. You’ll pedal past town squares surrounded by white steepled churches and through wooded areas and farmlands. One 18th Century farmhouse, right at the edge of Grafton, is now a clock museum - inside you’ll find unique time-pieces, outside sheep graze in the fields around the house.

Take in the town square at Shrewsbury (which gave the world white chocolate and birth control pills) where the bandstand still stands and white clapboard homes dot the landscape. During the last week in July you can go even further back in time to witness the rituals of the original Americans, when Grafton hosts its annual Hassanamisco fair and powwow.

Directions to Start Ride

Mass Pike (Route 90) to exit 11. Follow route 122 East to route 140 South to Grafton. Start the ride at the village green in Grafton at the junction of Route 140 and Route 135.

Mile by Mile

Start the ride at the village green in Grafton at the junction of Route 140 and Route 135
0.0 Start in front of the Gazebo go around the commons towards the Grafton Country Store Turn right on Millbury Street- Continue straight at blinking light crossing over Route 140
0.1 Turn left on North Street-follow signs for Willard Clock Museum
0.9 Bear left at fork in road continuing on North Street-following signs for Clock Museum-long gradual downhill
1.6 cross over highway
2.0 Turn right at stop sign on to Wesson Street following signs for clock museum 2.5 start uphill
2.7 Turn left on Willard Street-following signs for Clock Museum
2.8 Willard House on left-uphill
3.4 Turn left at stop sign on to Westboro Road
3.8 Turn right on Pine Street-cross over bridge over railroad track-downhill
4.3 uphill-narrow winding road
5.8 Continue straight at traffic light-crossing over Route 20-on to South Street-uphill
6.3 Compaq Corporation on right
6.5 Continue straight on South Street at traffic light crossing over Route 9
7.9 Turn left on Main Street at traffic light-heavy traffic-wide shoulder-uphill
8.4 Turn right on Route 140(Boylston Street) at traffic light-town of Shrewsbury-village green
8.6 Bear right on Prospect Street-pretty big old houses
8.8 Turn right on Spring Street
9.1 Continue straight on Spring Street at stop sign
9.4 Bear right to stay on Spring Street-long downhill
10.6 Turn left on Main Street (unmarked) at Skiward ski area-busy road 10.8 Entering Northboro
11.6 Turn right on Davis street
12.2 Continue straight on Davis Street at stop sign-crossing over Southwest cutoff
12.4 Turn right on Otis Street
12.7 Continue straight at stop sign on Otis Street-uphill-busy road-no shoulder
13.4 Walmart on right
13.5 Continue straight at traffic light crossing over Route 9 staying on Otis Street
14.5 Cross over railroad tracks
14.7 Turn left on Fisher Street
14.9 Turn right on Mill Road
15.1 Cross over bridge
15.5 uphill
15.8 Turn right on West Main Street (Route 30 West)-heavy traffic 16.3 Turn left to stay on West Main-uphill
19.4 Cross over Mass Pike
19.9 long gradual uphill
20.3 Continue straight on to Old Westboro Road
21.1 Village Green in Grafton