Origin
Fitchburg, MA
Morning in Fitchburg on Saturday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fitchburg, MA to Lowell, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
31.5 mi
51 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fitchburg, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
This straightforward 31.5-mile drive from Fitchburg to Lowell, Massachusetts, is easily manageable in about 46 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 77% of the journey on high-speed roads, designed for efficient travel. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $5, this trip is budget-friendly for a quick excursion. You'll be spending most of your time on major arteries like Concord Turnpike and I-495 before transitioning to Chelmsford Street. Given its short duration and focus on main roads, this route is ideal for those looking for a direct and uncomplicated journey within the Northeast region.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 31.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-centric experience for the majority of this 31.5-mile trip. With 77% of the drive on highways, you'll encounter stretches designed for speed and efficiency, particularly the longest uninterrupted segment of 14 miles on Concord Turnpike. While the route begins with highway travel, it eventually incorporates Chelmsford Street, offering a slight shift in character as you approach Lowell. This isn't a winding, scenic byway, but rather a practical path focused on getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss, characterized by consistent speed limits and straightforward navigation.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Concord Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 14 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Concord Turnpike and I 495. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in near MA 2 / Concord Turnpike.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 31.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
5.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
MA 2 / Concord Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2 / Concord Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
17.7 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 113B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
6
18.1 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
5
18.3 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
28.5 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 88
Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
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 Fitchburg, MA to Lowell, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Lawrence along the way.
Lawrence
18.1 mi in
|
~28m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Concord Turnpike | 14 mi | 19m |
| I 495 | 10.2 mi | 11m |
| Chelmsford Street | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Water Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Hale Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Cambridge Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Concord Turnpike
— 14 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fitchburg, MA and Lowell, MA.
1
Start on this road
118 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
3
Turn slight right
158 ft
·
5 sec
4
Turn right onto MA 2A
280 ft
·
8 sec
·
Water Street
5
Continue on MA 12
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Water Street
6
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 12
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Water Street
7
Continue on MA 12
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
9
Merge onto MA 2
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Concord Turnpike
10
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Concord Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 113B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
Use the right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
13
Merge onto I 495
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 88
Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
15
Turn right onto MA 110
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Chelmsford Street
16
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
314 ft
·
14 sec
·
Cambridge Street
17
Turn left onto Hale Street
486 ft
·
13 sec
·
Hale Street
18
Arrive at destination
Hale Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.7 mi from Fitchburg, MA · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.7 miles from Fitchburg, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lowell, MA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Lowell, MA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.28 one way
$8.56 round trip
$3.45/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $4.77 | $9.55 |
| premium | $4.15 | $5.15 | $10.29 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $4.65 | $9.30 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.98
Concord Turnpike
(14 mi)
$0.98
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.31 | $1.51 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.76 | $1.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.41 | $2.02 |
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
Morning in Lowell on Saturday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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
46m 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 Fitchburg, MA to Lowell, MA covers 31.5 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Concord Turnpike, I 495, Chelmsford Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.7 miles from Fitchburg, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.28 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 short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 31.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Fitchburg, MA to Lowell, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Lawrence along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Lowell National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Boston National Historical Park. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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