Trip from City of Lowell, MA to Housatonic, MA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

2h 51m

Distance

137.1 mi

221 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

2h 41m ★

6 AM

2h 52m

8 AM

3h 14m

10 AM

2h 59m

12 PM

2h 57m

3 PM

3h 1m

5 PM

3h 13m

8 PM

2h 45m

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

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City of Lowell, MA

Phil Evenden

Housatonic, MA

Mike Norris

Trip Overview

The drive from City of Lowell, MA to Housatonic, MA covers 137.1 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Massachusetts Turnpike, I 495, I 290 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 79.3 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.94 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

1 planned break

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

Midpoint

68.6 miles from City of Lowell, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 2h 51m highway drive covering 137.1 miles, with most of the trip on Massachusetts Turnpike and I 495. The longest continuous stretch is about 79.3 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike.

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

There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Massachusetts Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 79.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and I 495. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Middlesex Street.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 137.1 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 0.1 miles (Middlesex Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 24 key points

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

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Middlesex Street

Turn sharp left onto Middlesex Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

2.2 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the exit toward I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nashua New Hampshire

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 2B-A Toward I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nash...

2.4 mi into trip | ~5m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 South: Worcester

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 2A Toward I 495 South: Worcester

59.2 mi into trip | ~1h 15m in | I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

127.2 mi into trip | ~2h 33m in

Take the exit toward US 20: Lee, Pittsfield

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

Exit 10 Toward US 20: Lee, Pittsfield

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

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

Pittsfield

127.2 mi in | ~2h 33m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Massachusetts Turnpike	79.3 mi	1h 31m
I 495	23.4 mi	27m
I 290	19.6 mi	24m
Pleasant Street	3.3 mi	5m
Glendale Road	2.5 mi	4m
East Main Street	2.1 mi	4m
Glendale Middle Road	1 mi	1m
Lowell Connector	0.8 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Massachusetts Turnpike — 79.3 mi, about 1h 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on this road

0.1 mi · 40 sec · this road

Turn right onto Arch Street

15 ft · 8 sec · Arch Street

Turn sharp left onto Middlesex Street

383 ft · 12 sec · Middlesex Street

Turn right onto Grand Street

0.2 mi · 53 sec · Grand Street

Turn right onto MA 110

0.7 mi · 1 min · Chelmsford Street

Turn left onto Plain Street

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Plain Street

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Merge onto Lowell Connector

0.8 mi · 1 min · Lowell Connector

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 16 sec

Exit 2B-A Toward I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nashua New Hampshire Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Exit 2A Toward I 495 South: Worcester Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 33 sec

Toward I 495 South: Marlboro

Merge onto I 495

23 mi · 27 min · I 495

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min

Exit 65B Toward I 290 West: Worcester

Merge onto I 290

20 mi · 24 min · I 290

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 22 sec

Exit 12B Toward MA 12 South: Webster

Turn left onto Oxford Street

466 ft · 10 sec · Oxford Street

At end of road, turn right onto MA 12

446 ft · 9 sec · Southbridge Street

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min

Toward I 90

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 90 West

Merge onto I 90

11 mi · 12 min · Massachusetts Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

68 mi · 1 hr 18 min · Massachusetts Turnpike

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 10 Toward US 20: Lee, Pittsfield

Keep slight left at fork

150 ft · 12 sec

Turn left onto US 20

198 ft · 4 sec · Housatonic Street

Turn right onto MA 102

3.3 mi · 5 min · Pleasant Street

Continue on MA 102

2.1 mi · 4 min · East Main Street

Turn slight right onto Glendale Middle Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Glendale Middle Road

Turn left onto MA 183

2.5 mi · 4 min · Glendale Road

Continue on MA 183

0.4 mi · 42 sec · Front Street

Arrive at destination

Front 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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 68.6 miles from City of Lowell, MA, or about 1h 25m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.3 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 80 miles or 1h 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 68.6 miles or 1h 25m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 16m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving City of Lowell, 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 City of Lowell, MA

This is one driving day of about 137.1 miles and 2h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from City of Lowell, MA.

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

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Massachusetts Turnpike for about 79.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 68.6 mi from City of Lowell, MA · 1h 25m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Albany, NY

69 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brookhaven, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 68.6 miles from City of Lowell, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Massachusetts Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.3 miles.

Arriving in Housatonic, MA

The final approach into Housatonic, 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 Housatonic, 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

$21.94 one way

$43.88 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$23.93	$47.86
premium	$4.82	$26.03	$52.07
diesel	$5.61	$30.27	$60.54

Estimated Tolls: $4.75

Massachusetts Turnpike (79.3 mi) $4.75

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

$22

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 48 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	41.1	$14.40	$6.58
Efficient EV	34.3	$12.00	$5.48
EV Truck/SUV	54.8	$19.19	$8.77

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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 4 days ago

Origin

City of Lowell, MA

Morning in City of Lowell on Wednesday

Local time

6:42 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Housatonic, MA

Morning in Housatonic on Wednesday

Local time

6:42 AM

EDT

Current temp

56°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

4 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 51m 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 City of Lowell, MA to Housatonic, MA covers 137.1 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Massachusetts Turnpike, I 495, I 290. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 68.6 miles from City of Lowell, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.94 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

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

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