Origin
Boston, MA
Evening in Boston on Sunday
Local time
6:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Boston, MA to Lowell, MA
Drive Time
37m
Distance
30.5 mi
49 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boston, MA
Phil Evenden
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Boston to Lowell, this 30.5-mile journey serves as a straightforward local transit between two historic Northeastern hubs. Expect to spend about 37 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stay. Because you will be navigating local streets rather than highways, you can anticipate a fuel cost of approximately $4 for the one-way trek. Since there are zero formal stops planned, you have the freedom to manage your own schedule entirely. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that keeps you moving through the heart of Massachusetts. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick excursion, this drive is efficient and requires minimal logistical planning.
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
15.2 miles from Boston, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Forget the monotony of interstate cruising; this route is a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention. You will be navigating through city infrastructure, relying on streets like Beacon, Somerset, and Ashburton rather than high-speed lanes. Because the highway share is 0%, the experience is defined by urban maneuvering rather than long, open stretches. In fact, your longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on Beacon Street, highlighting how frequently you will be navigating intersections and turns. Be prepared for a hands-on driving experience that changes rhythm constantly as you transition from the dense streets of Boston toward your destination in Lowell.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Beacon Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Boston, MA to Lowell, MA is easy. At 37m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Boston, MA to Lowell, MA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Beacon Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Somerset Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ashburton Place | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bowdoin Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cambridge Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sudbury Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 93 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MA 16 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Beacon Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boston, MA and Lowell, MA.
1
Start on Tremont Street
230 ft
·
11 sec
·
Tremont Street
2
Turn right onto Beacon Street
302 ft
·
13 sec
·
Beacon Street
3
Turn right onto Somerset Street
341 ft
·
13 sec
·
Somerset Street
4
Turn left onto Ashburton Place
210 ft
·
7 sec
·
Ashburton Place
5
Keep slight right to continue on Ashburton Place
253 ft
·
9 sec
·
Ashburton Place
6
Turn straight onto Bowdoin Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Bowdoin Street
7
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
440 ft
·
22 sec
·
Cambridge Street
8
Turn left onto Sudbury Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Sudbury Street
9
Take the ramp left toward I 93 North: Concord NH
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 93 North: Concord NH
10
Merge slight left
2.8 mi
·
3 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlington
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlington
12
Continue on Mystic Valley Parkway
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Mystic Valley Parkway
13
Turn right onto Winthrop Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Winthrop Street
14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Winthrop Street
118 ft
·
2 sec
·
Winthrop Street
15
Exit the roundabout onto Winthrop Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Winthrop Street
16
Continue on Main Street
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
Main Street
17
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Bacon Street
95 ft
·
2 sec
·
Bacon Street
18
Exit the roundabout onto Bacon Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bacon Street
19
Turn left onto Church Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Church Street
20
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cambridge Street
21
Continue on Cambridge Road
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Cambridge Road
22
Continue on Cambridge Street
0.6 mi
·
48 sec
·
Cambridge Street
23
Take the exit straight toward I 95 South, US 3 North: Waltham, Lowell
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 95 South, US 3 North: Waltham, Lowell
24
Merge slight left onto Yankee Division Highway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
25
Take the exit slight right toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
26
Keep slight left to continue on US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
27
Keep slight right to continue on US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
28
Keep slight left
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
29
Take the exit slight right toward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlboro
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlboro
30
Keep slight left to continue on MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
31
Keep slight right to continue on MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
32
Turn right onto Chelmsford Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Chelmsford Street
33
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
315 ft
·
13 sec
·
Cambridge Street
34
Turn left onto Hale Street
486 ft
·
13 sec
·
Hale Street
35
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 37-minute trip, you have significant flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a wise strategy in this region. You won't need to worry about fuel planning or rest stops given the modest 30.5-mile distance and $4 estimated cost. Focus your energy on navigating the local street grid carefully, as the turn-heavy nature of the route requires you to stay alert at every junction. Because there are no mandatory stops, feel free to build in your own breaks if you need to stretch your legs or grab a coffee. A concrete tip for this route is to keep your navigation system active at all times, as the reliance on local streets like Somerset and Ashburton means you will be making frequent turns that are easy to miss.
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 15.2 miles from Boston, MA, or about 18m into the drive.
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 30.5 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.2 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lowell, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Boston, 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 Boston, MA
This is one driving day of about 30.5 miles and 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Boston, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.2 mi from Boston, MA · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 30.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.2 miles from Boston, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lowell, MA
The final approach into 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 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
$4.85 one way
$9.71 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $5.28 | $10.56 |
| premium | $4.80 | $5.76 | $11.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.78 | $13.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.20 | $1.46 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.67 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Lowell, MA
Evening in Lowell on Sunday
Local time
6:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
49°F
Brookhaven, NY
15 mi in
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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
37m 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 Boston, MA to Lowell, MA covers 30.5 miles and takes about 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Beacon Street, Somerset Street, Ashburton Place. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.2 miles from Boston, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.85 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.
The drive from Boston, MA to Lowell, MA is easy. At 37m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Boston, MA to Lowell, MA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Boston, MA to Lowell, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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