The drive from Centerville, MA to Lowell, MA covers 94.9 miles and takes about 2h 11m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pilgrims Highway, US 3, Mid Cape Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.3 miles on Pilgrims Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.19 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.
Midpoint
47.5 miles from Centerville, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 11m. Total distance: 94.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 11m drive with frequent turns across 94.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pilgrims Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 42.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 69.2 miles in near I 93.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 94.9 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 69.2 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 81.8 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 28 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
69.2 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|I 93
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 North: Concord NH
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 93 North: Concord NH
8
72.4 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22
Toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlin...
8
81.8 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|US 3
Take the exit onto US 3 toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 50B-A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike,...
8
92.4 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Take the exit toward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 81B-C
Toward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlbor...
8
93.1 mi into trip|~2h 8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 81C
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Centerville, MA and Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Arlington, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington and Nashua New Hampshire.
Arlington
72.4 mi in|~1h 39m
Middlesex Turnpike
81.8 mi in|~1h 53m|via US 3
Burlington
81.8 mi in|~1h 53m|via US 3
Nashua New Hampshire
81.8 mi in|~1h 53m|via US 3
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pilgrims Highway
42.3 mi
53m
US 3
10.9 mi
13m
Mid Cape Highway
10.3 mi
14m
MA 3
8.4 mi
11m
Old Stage Road
3.5 mi
7m
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
3.2 mi
5m
I 93
3.1 mi
4m
Cambridge Road
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Pilgrims Highway
— 42.3 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Centerville, MA and Lowell, MA.
1
Start on Linden Avenue
56 ft·6 sec·Linden Avenue
2
Turn left onto Main Street Centerville
519 ft·11 sec·Main Street Centerville
3
Turn left onto Old Stage Road
2.4 mi·5 min·Old Stage Road
4
Continue on Race Lane
362 ft·9 sec·Race Lane
5
Turn right onto Old Stage Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Old Stage Road
6
Turn left onto Service Road
0.4 mi·55 sec·Service Road
7
Enter roundabout onto MA 149
8 ft·0 sec·Prospect Street
Toward MA 149 North, US 6 West: West Barnstable
8
Continue on MA 149
0.1 mi·10 sec·Prospect Street
Toward MA 149 North, US 6 West: West Barnstable
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 6 West: Boston, Providence, RI
10
Merge onto US 6
10 mi·14 min·Mid Cape Highway
11
Continue on US 6
0.4 mi·45 sec·Sagamore Bridge
12
Continue on US 6
0.3 mi·20 sec·Pilgrim Highway
13
Continue on MA 3
42 mi·53 min·Pilgrims Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on MA 3
8.4 mi·11 min·MA 3
Exit 43BToward I 93 North: BostonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
3.2 mi·5 min·John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93
3.1 mi·4 min·I 93
Toward I 93 North: Concord NHUse the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 22Toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, ArlingtonUse the slight right lane.
18
Continue on MA 16
1.1 mi·2 min·Mystic Valley Parkway
19
Turn right onto MA 38
0.1 mi·22 sec·Winthrop Street
Use the right lane.
20
Enter roundabout onto Winthrop Street
117 ft·2 sec·Winthrop Street
21
Continue on Winthrop Street
1.3 mi·1 min·Winthrop Street
22
Continue on MA 38
0.5 mi·46 sec·Main Street
23
Enter roundabout onto Bacon Street
94 ft·1 sec·Bacon Street
24
Continue on Bacon Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Bacon Street
25
Turn left onto Church Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Church Street
26
Turn right onto US 3
1.1 mi·1 min·Cambridge Street
27
Continue on US 3
2.0 mi·2 min·Cambridge Road
28
Continue on US 3
0.6 mi·47 sec·Cambridge Street
29
Take the exit onto US 3
0.2 mi·27 sec·US 3
Toward I 95 South, US 3 North: Waltham, Lowell
30
Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128
1.1 mi·1 min·Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Take the exit onto US 3
0.1 mi·15 sec·US 3
Exit 50B-AToward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New HampshireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.3 mi·34 sec·US 3
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
33
Keep slight right at fork onto US 3
9.8 mi·11 min·US 3
Exit 50AToward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
34
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.5 mi·32 sec·US 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Exit 81B-CToward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, MarlboroUse the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·21 sec
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
37
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 81CToward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
38
Turn right onto MA 110
1.4 mi·2 min·Chelmsford Street
39
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
314 ft·14 sec·Cambridge Street
40
Turn left onto Hale Street
486 ft·13 sec·Hale Street
41
Arrive at destination
Hale Street
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 47.5 miles from Centerville, MA, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.3 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 21 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.5 miles or 1h 5m 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 48m
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 Centerville, 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 Centerville, MA
This is one driving day of about 94.9 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Centerville, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pilgrims Highway for about 42.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.5 mi from Centerville, MA
· 1h 5m into the drive
The midpoint is around 47.5 miles from Centerville, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Boston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
0 mi from route
~1 min detour
Free
near mile 68.7
Park Closure: Dorchester Heights Temporary Public Access Restrictions
From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penn’s Hill to the gentleman’s country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of “heroes, statesmen, philosophers…and learned wome...
Lowell’s water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation – including immigrant families and early female factory workers – into an uncertain new industrial era. Nearly 200 years later, the changes t...
At Minute Man National Historical Park the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and structures associated with April 19, 1775, and witness the Ameri...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 85.1
. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach o...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 62.2
Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.19 one way
$30.38 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$16.56
$33.13
premium
$4.82
$18.02
$36.04
diesel
$5.61
$20.95
$41.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
27 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
ChargePoint Charging Station
Chelmsford, Massachusetts
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
North Chelmsford, Massachusetts
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Lowell, Massachusetts
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Chelmsford, Massachusetts
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Carlisle, Massachusetts
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Nissan Charging Station
Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Lowell, Massachusetts
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Chelmsford, Massachusetts
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 17
Other: 8
Tesla: 1
FLO: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.5
0
$9.96
$4.56
Efficient EV
23.7
0
$8.30
$3.80
EV Truck/SUV
38
0
$13.29
$6.07
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Centerville, MA
Evening
in Centerville on Thursday
Local time
5:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lowell, MA
Evening
in Lowell on Thursday
Local time
5:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
9 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
2h 11m 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 Centerville, MA to Lowell, MA covers 94.9 miles and takes about 2h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pilgrims Highway, US 3, Mid Cape Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.5 miles from Centerville, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.19 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 94.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 69.2 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 81.8 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Centerville, MA and Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Arlington, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington and Nashua New Hampshire.
