Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
39.4 mi
63 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
Photo: TUBARONES PHOTOGRAPHY
The drive from City of Lowell, MA to Ashburnham, MA covers 39.4 miles and takes about 1h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Captain Isaac Davis Highway, I 495, Concord Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 10.9 miles on Captain Isaac Davis Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.27 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
19.7 miles from City of Lowell, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27m into the drive .
The drive from City of Lowell, MA to Ashburnham, MA covers 39.4 miles and takes about 1h 1m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 39.4 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 1.5 miles (Lowell Connector): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn sharp left onto Middlesex Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Merge onto Lowell Connector
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 South: Worcester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 South: Marlboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
On the drive from City of Lowell, MA to Ashburnham, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Nashua New Hampshire along the way.
Nashua New Hampshire
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Isaac Davis Highway | 10.9 mi | 14m |
| I 495 | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| Concord Turnpike | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Ashburnham State Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Fitchburg Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Water Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Ashburnham Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Kimball Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between City of Lowell, MA and Ashburnham, MA.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Arch Street
Turn sharp left onto Middlesex Street
Turn right onto Grand Street
Turn right onto MA 110
Turn left onto Plain Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto Lowell Connector
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Merge onto MA 2
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
Turn right onto Abbott Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto MA 12
Turn left onto MA 2A; MA 12
Turn slight right onto MA 2A; MA 12
Enter roundabout onto MA 2A; MA 12; MA 31
Continue on MA 2A; MA 12; MA 31
Turn right onto Mayland Street
Continue on Fairview Street
Turn left onto Westminster Hill Road
Turn right onto MA 12
Continue on MA 12
Continue on MA 12
Continue on MA 12
Turn right onto MA 101
Arrive at destination
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.
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 39.4 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 19.7 miles or 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ashburnham, MA than in the middle of the route.
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 39.4 miles and 1h 1m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.7 mi from City of Lowell, MA · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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.
A short stop after about 39.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19.7 miles from City of Lowell, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Ashburnham, 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 Ashburnham, MA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$6.27 one way
$12.54 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $6.82 | $13.64 |
| premium | $4.80 | $7.44 | $14.89 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $8.75 | $17.51 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.26
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
$6
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.45 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in City of Lowell on Sunday
Local time
3:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Ashburnham on Sunday
Local time
3:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
48°F
Albany, NY
20 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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