Drive or Fly: Lowell, MA to Three Rivers, MA?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for BED–BDL. At 79 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 41m

Distance

79.3 mi

Total Cost

$53

CO2

32 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$18

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

7m in the air

Air Distance

62 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

16 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lowell, MA → BED 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BDL → Three Rivers, MA 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Lowell, MA BED — Laurence G Hanscom Field 11 mi, ~17m drive

Three Rivers, MA BDL — Bradley International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BED and BDL. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 59m

4h 4m on road

Total Cost

CO2

4 kg

Route

Greyhound US0256S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lowell, MA → Robert B Kennedy Bus Transfer Center (Lowell, MA) (6LW) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 244m

Arrival 10m

Springfield Union Station (SPM6) → Three Rivers, MA 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $8) $8

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From 6LW — Robert B Kennedy Bus Transfer Center (Lowell, MA) 0 mi, ~10m drive

To SPM6 — Springfield Union Station 13 mi, ~20m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	1h 41m	3h	4h 59m
Total cost (1 person)	$53	$122	$8
Carbon footprint	32 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

79.3 mi 1h 40m

via I 90, I 495, I 290

Alternative (+9 min)

88.3 mi 1h 50m

via I 90, I 95; MA 128, US 3

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Lowell, MA to Three Rivers, MA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.