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Trip from East Harwich, MA to City of Lowell, MA

Drive Time

2h 32m

Distance

110.7 mi

178 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 22m ★
6 AM
2h 32m
8 AM
2h 53m
10 AM
2h 40m
12 PM
2h 38m
3 PM
2h 41m
5 PM
2h 52m
8 PM
2h 26m

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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Downtown City of Lowell, MA, MA

City of Lowell, MA

Phil Evenden

Trip Overview

The drive from East Harwich, MA to City of Lowell, MA covers 110.7 miles and takes about 2h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Pilgrims Highway, Mid Cape Highway, US 3 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 $17.62 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

55.3 miles from East Harwich, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 32m drive with frequent turns across 110.7 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 84.5 miles in near I 93.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 110.7 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 84.5 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97 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
84.5 mi into trip | ~1h 54m 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
87.6 mi into trip | ~1h 58m 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
97 mi into trip | ~2h 13m 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
107.7 mi into trip | ~2h 26m 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
108.4 mi into trip | ~2h 27m 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 Along This Route

Between East Harwich, MA and City of Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Arlington, Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington and Nashua New Hampshire.

Arlington

87.6 mi in | ~1h 58m

Lowell

95.7 mi in | ~2h 11m | via US 3

Middlesex Turnpike

97 mi in | ~2h 13m | via US 3

Burlington

97 mi in | ~2h 13m | via US 3

Nashua New Hampshire

97 mi in | ~2h 13m | via US 3

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pilgrims Highway 42.3 mi 53m
Mid Cape Highway 26.8 mi 36m
US 3 10.9 mi 13m
MA 3 8.4 mi 11m
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway 3.2 mi 5m
I 93 3.1 mi 4m
Queen Anne Road 2.6 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 East Harwich, MA and City of Lowell, MA.

1

Start on Olkland Way

84 ft · 5 sec · Olkland Way
2

Turn right onto Queen Anne Road

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Queen Anne Road
3

Enter roundabout onto Queen Anne Road

116 ft · 2 sec · Queen Anne Road
4

Continue on Queen Anne Road

2.3 mi · 4 min · Queen Anne Road
5

Turn right onto MA 124

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Pleasant Lake Avenue
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Toward US 6 West: Hyannis, Boston
7

Merge onto US 6

27 mi · 36 min · Mid Cape Highway
8

Continue on US 6

0.4 mi · 45 sec · Sagamore Bridge
9

Continue on US 6

0.3 mi · 20 sec · Pilgrim Highway
10

Continue on MA 3

42 mi · 53 min · Pilgrims Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on MA 3

8.4 mi · 11 min · MA 3
Exit 43B Toward I 93 North: Boston Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3

3.2 mi · 5 min · John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto I 93

3.1 mi · 4 min · I 93
Toward I 93 North: Concord NH Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 22 Toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlington Use the slight right lane.
15

Continue on MA 16

1.1 mi · 2 min · Mystic Valley Parkway
16

Turn right onto MA 38

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Winthrop Street
Use the right lane.
17

Enter roundabout onto Winthrop Street

117 ft · 2 sec · Winthrop Street
18

Continue on Winthrop Street

1.3 mi · 1 min · Winthrop Street
19

Continue on MA 38

0.5 mi · 46 sec · Main Street
20

Enter roundabout onto Bacon Street

94 ft · 1 sec · Bacon Street
21

Continue on Bacon Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Bacon Street
22

Turn left onto Church Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Church Street
23

Turn right onto US 3

1.1 mi · 1 min · Cambridge Street
24

Continue on US 3

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cambridge Road
25

Continue on US 3

0.6 mi · 47 sec · Cambridge Street
26

Take the exit onto US 3

0.2 mi · 27 sec · US 3
Toward I 95 South, US 3 North: Waltham, Lowell
27

Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128

1.1 mi · 1 min · Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
28

Take the exit onto US 3

0.1 mi · 15 sec · US 3
Exit 50B-A Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

Keep slight left at fork onto US 3

0.3 mi · 34 sec · US 3
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
30

Keep slight right at fork onto US 3

9.8 mi · 11 min · US 3
Exit 50A Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
31

Keep slight left at fork onto US 3

0.5 mi · 32 sec · US 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Exit 81B-C Toward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlboro Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 21 sec
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
34

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 81C Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
35

Turn right onto MA 110

1.8 mi · 2 min · Chelmsford Street
36

Turn sharp left onto MA 3A

458 ft · 10 sec · Westford Street
37

Turn right onto Grand Street

448 ft · 23 sec · Grand Street
38

At end of road, turn left onto Middlesex Street

383 ft · 18 sec · Middlesex Street
39

Turn sharp right onto Arch Street

15 ft · 5 sec · Arch Street
40

Turn left

0.1 mi · 38 sec
41

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 55.3 miles from East Harwich, MA, or about 1h 15m 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 80 miles or 1h 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 55.3 miles or 1h 15m 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 4m

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 East Harwich, 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 East Harwich, MA

This is one driving day of about 110.7 miles and 2h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from East Harwich, 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 Pilgrims Highway for about 42.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 55.3 mi from East Harwich, MA · 1h 15m into the drive

Downtown Smithtown, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Smithtown, NY

55 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

Smithtown, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rocky Point, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 55.3 miles from East Harwich, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Boston National Historical Park

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 84
Park Closure: Great Hall of Faneuil Hall
Park Closure: Dorchester Heights Temporary Public Access Restrictions
View on nps.gov
Lowell National Historical Park

Lowell National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

1 mi from route ~1 min detour Free near mile 110.7
View on nps.gov
Adams National Historical Park

Adams National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $15 near mile 72.5
View on nps.gov
Minute Man National Historical Park

Minute Man National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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 ~11 min detour Free near mile 99.2
View on nps.gov
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

. . . 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 ~15 min detour Free near mile 80.1
View on nps.gov
Salem Maritime National Historical Park

Salem Maritime National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

13 mi from route ~33 min detour Free near mile 87.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.62 one way

$35.24 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $19.16 $38.33
premium $4.80 $20.92 $41.83
diesel $5.64 $24.59 $49.19

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 38.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 33.2 0 $11.62 $5.31
Efficient EV 27.7 0 $9.69 $4.43
EV Truck/SUV 44.3 0 $15.50 $7.08

Gas CO2

39 kg

EV CO2

13 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 2 hours ago

Origin

East Harwich, MA

Afternoon in East Harwich on Monday

Local time

2:13 PM

EDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

City of Lowell, MA

Afternoon in City of Lowell on Monday

Local time

2:13 PM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers

SW 10 to 16 mph 15% chance 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

30 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 32m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from East Harwich, MA to City of Lowell, MA covers 110.7 miles and takes about 2h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pilgrims Highway, Mid Cape Highway, US 3. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.3 miles from East Harwich, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.62 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 110.7 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 84.5 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between East Harwich, MA and City of Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Arlington, Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington and Nashua New Hampshire.

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