Trip from Amherst, MA to City of Lowell, MA

Drive Time

1h 58m

Distance

78.5 mi

126 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

1h 50m ★

6 AM

1h 58m

8 AM

2h 15m

10 AM

2h 4m

12 PM

2h 2m

3 PM

2h 5m

5 PM

2h 14m

8 PM

1h 53m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Amherst, MA

Phil Evenden

City of Lowell, MA

Phil Evenden

Trip Overview

The drive from Amherst, MA to City of Lowell, MA covers 78.5 miles and takes about 1h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 202, Daniel Shays Highway, Concord Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.2 miles on US 202. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.50 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

39.2 miles from Amherst, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 1h 58m highway drive covering 78.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 202 and Daniel Shays Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 18.2 miles on US 202.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 202 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 202 and Daniel Shays Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 51.8 miles in near MA 2 / Concord Turnpike.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 78.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 51.8 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

51.8 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in | MA 2 / Concord Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2 / Concord Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

64.2 mi into trip | ~1h 37m in

Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lowell

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 113B Toward I 495 North: Lowell

64.6 mi into trip | ~1h 38m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence

75 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in

Take the exit toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 88 Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell

78.4 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in | Arch Street

Turn sharp right onto Arch Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Amherst, MA to City of Lowell, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Lawrence along the way.

Lawrence

64.6 mi in | ~1h 38m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 202	18.2 mi	25m
Daniel Shays Highway	14.2 mi	23m
Concord Turnpike	12.3 mi	16m
MA 2	12.2 mi	17m
I 495	10.2 mi	11m
Amherst Road	4.2 mi	8m
Chelmsford Street	2.9 mi	5m
Pelham Road	0.9 mi	1m

Longest stretch: US 202 — 18.2 mi, about 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Amherst, MA and City of Lowell, MA.

Start on Depot Road

449 ft · 20 sec · Depot Road

Turn right onto MA 116

0.4 mi · 52 sec · South Pleasant Street

Turn right onto MA 9

0.3 mi · 55 sec · College Street

Turn left onto Dickinson Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Dickinson Street

At end of road, turn right onto Main Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Continue on Pelham Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Pelham Road

Continue on Amherst Road

4.2 mi · 8 min · Amherst Road

Turn left onto US 202

14 mi · 23 min · Daniel Shays Highway

Take the ramp onto US 202

18 mi · 25 min · US 202

Continue on MA 2

12 mi · 17 min · MA 2

Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2

12 mi · 16 min · Concord Turnpike

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 59 sec

Exit 113B Toward I 495 North: Lowell Use the right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence

Merge onto I 495

10 mi · 11 min · I 495

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec

Exit 88 Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell

Turn right onto MA 110

2.9 mi · 5 min · Chelmsford Street

Turn sharp left onto MA 3A

458 ft · 10 sec · Westford Street

Turn right onto Grand Street

448 ft · 23 sec · Grand Street

At end of road, turn left onto Middlesex Street

383 ft · 18 sec · Middlesex Street

Turn sharp right onto Arch Street

15 ft · 5 sec · Arch Street

Turn left

0.1 mi · 38 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 39.2 miles from Amherst, MA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.2 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 78.5 miles or 1h 58m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 39.2 miles or 1h 2m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Lowell, MA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Amherst, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Amherst, MA

This is one driving day of about 78.5 miles and 1h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Amherst, MA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on US 202 for about 18.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 39.2 mi from Amherst, MA · 1h 2m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Albany, NY

39 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Albany, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 78.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Albany, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.2 miles from Amherst, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in City of Lowell, MA

The final approach into City of Lowell, MA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around City of Lowell, MA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.50 one way

$24.99 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.40	$13.59	$27.18
premium	$4.80	$14.83	$29.66
diesel	$5.64	$17.44	$34.88

Estimated Tolls: $0.86

Concord Turnpike (12.3 mi) $0.86

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	23.6	$8.24	$3.77
Efficient EV	19.6	$6.87	$3.14
EV Truck/SUV	31.4	$10.99	$5.02

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Amherst, MA

Evening in Amherst on Sunday

Local time

5:19 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

City of Lowell, MA

Evening in City of Lowell on Sunday

Local time

5:19 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

5 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 58m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Amherst, MA to City of Lowell, MA covers 78.5 miles and takes about 1h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 202, Daniel Shays Highway, Concord Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 39.2 miles from Amherst, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.50 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

On the drive from Amherst, MA to City of Lowell, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Lawrence along the way.

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Trip from Amherst, MA to City of Lowell, MA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in City of Lowell, MA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Amherst, MA

City of Lowell, MA

Same local time

5 degrees cooler at arrival

1h 58m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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