Origin
Lawrence, MA
Morning in Lawrence on Saturday
Local time
6:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lawrence, MA to Ayer, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
28.1 mi
45 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lawrence, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Ayer, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lawrence, MA to Ayer, MA is 28.1 miles and takes about 37 minutes via I 495, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick drive keeps you within Massachusetts, making it a convenient hop between two points in the Northeast region. Expect a straightforward journey primarily on highways, ideal for those looking for a no-fuss trip. Given its short duration, this route is perfectly suited for a same-day excursion, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 28.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 66% of the journey taking place on the interstate. You'll experience a solid stretch of 18.7 miles on I 495, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your travel. While the majority of the route involves highway driving, you will transition onto local roads like Littleton Road and Ayer Road as you approach your destination. This shift from faster highway speeds to more local thoroughfares provides a noticeable change in the driving environment as you get closer to Ayer.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 495 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and Littleton Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.
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 13 decision points packed into just 28.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 South: Lowell, Marlboro
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 495 South: Lowell, Marlboro
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
11.5 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward US 3: 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 89C-B-A
Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
7
11.8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
6
22.3 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward MA 2A, MA 110: Littleton, Ayer
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 79
Toward MA 2A, MA 110: Littleton, Ayer
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lawrence, MA and Ayer, MA, road signs point toward Marlboro and Nashua New Hampshire.
Marlboro
2 mi in
|
~3m
Nashua New Hampshire
11.5 mi in
|
~15m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 18.7 mi | 21m |
| Littleton Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Ayer Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| King Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Union Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Parker Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Amesbury Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 18.7 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lawrence, MA and Ayer, MA.
1
Start on Essex Street
82 ft
·
5 sec
·
Essex Street
2
Turn right onto Amesbury Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Amesbury Street
3
Continue on MA 114
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Parker Street
4
Continue on MA 114
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Winthrop Avenue
5
Turn right onto South Union Street
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
South Union Street
6
Continue on Connector Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Connector Road
7
Turn straight onto MA 28
162 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Broadway
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 495 South: Lowell, Marlboro
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 495
9.2 mi
·
10 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 89C-B-A
Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
14
Merge onto I 495
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 79
Toward MA 2A, MA 110: Littleton, Ayer
16
At end of road, turn left onto MA 2A; MA 110
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
King Street
17
Continue on MA 2A; MA 110
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Ayer Road
18
Continue on MA 2A; MA 110
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Littleton Road
19
Enter roundabout onto MA 2A; MA 111
228 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Main Street
20
Continue on MA 2A; MA 111
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
21
Turn right onto MA 2A; MA 111
420 ft
·
6 sec
·
Park Street
22
Arrive at destination
MA 2A; MA 111
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.82 one way
$7.63 round trip
$3.45/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $4.26 | $8.52 |
| premium | $4.15 | $4.59 | $9.18 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $4.15 | $8.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.8 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.95 | $1.35 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.46 | $1.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.93 | $1.80 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Ayer, MA
Morning in Ayer on Saturday
Local time
6:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°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
16 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
37m 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 Lawrence, MA to Ayer, MA covers 28.1 miles and takes about 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 495, Littleton Road, Ayer Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.1 miles from Lawrence, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.82 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 13 decision points packed into just 28.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Lawrence, MA and Ayer, MA, road signs point toward Marlboro and Nashua New Hampshire.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Lowell National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Salem Maritime 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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