The drive from Lawrence, MA to Dalton, MA covers 133.1 miles and takes about 3h 17m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Concord Turnpike, I 495, Captain Isaac Davis Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.2 miles on Concord Turnpike.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.30 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
66.6 miles from Lawrence, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 17m. Total distance: 133.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Lawrence, MA to Dalton, MA covers 133.1 miles and takes about 3h 17m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 50 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 37.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 2 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 133.1 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 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 22 key points
These 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
89.2 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|MA 2
Take the exit onto MA 2 toward MA 2 West, MA 2A East: Greenfield Court, North Adams
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 26
Toward MA 2 West, MA 2A East: Greenfield Court,...
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 Dalton, MA, road signs point toward Nashua New Hampshire and Adams.
Nashua New Hampshire
11.5 mi in|~15m
Adams
89.2 mi in|~2h 3m|via MA 2
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Concord Turnpike
37.2 mi
51m
I 495
19.9 mi
22m
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
10.9 mi
14m
MA 2
10.2 mi
15m
Route 9
8.1 mi
12m
Mohawk Trail
7.2 mi
9m
French King Highway
5.3 mi
8m
Berkshire Trail
4.8 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Concord Turnpike
— 37.2 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lawrence, MA and Dalton, 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, MarlboroUse 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-AToward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New HampshireUse 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
11 mi·12 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 78BToward MA 2 West: Leominster
16
Merge onto MA 2
11 mi·14 min·Captain Isaac Davis Highway
17
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
37 mi·51 min·Concord Turnpike
18
Continue on MA 2
2.0 mi·3 min·East Main Street
19
Continue on MA 2
0.8 mi·1 min·Public Works Boulevard
20
Continue on MA 2
1.9 mi·3 min·State Road
21
Continue on MA 2
2.4 mi·3 min·Mohawk Trail
22
Continue on MA 2
0.4 mi·42 sec·French King Highway
23
Continue on MA 2
0.2 mi·28 sec·Mohawk Trail
24
Continue on MA 2
4.9 mi·8 min·French King Highway
25
Continue on MA 2
4.5 mi·5 min·Mohawk Trail
26
Take the exit onto MA 2
0.2 mi·26 sec·MA 2
Exit 26Toward MA 2 West, MA 2A East: Greenfield Court, North Adams
27
Continue on MA 2
10.0 mi·15 min·MA 2
28
Turn right onto MA 112
0.2 mi·20 sec·Connector Road
29
Continue on MA 112
0.9 mi·1 min·Ashfield Road
30
Continue on MA 112
2.0 mi·3 min·Ashfield Road
31
Continue on MA 112
1.4 mi·2 min·Lower Street
32
Continue on MA 112
1.0 mi·1 min·Ashfield Road
33
Continue on MA 112
2.5 mi·3 min·Ashfield Mountain Road
34
Continue on MA 112; MA 116
1.4 mi·2 min·Suburban Drive
35
Turn right onto MA 116
2.4 mi·6 min·Spruce Corner Road
36
Continue on MA 116
1.5 mi·3 min·Plainfield Road
37
Turn slight left onto Pleasant Street
0.6 mi·58 sec·Pleasant Street
38
Continue on Gloyd Street
1.2 mi·2 min·Gloyd Street
39
At end of road, turn left onto South Central Street
0.4 mi·56 sec·South Central Street
40
Continue on Plainfield Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Plainfield Road
41
At end of road, turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Main Street
42
At end of road, turn right onto MA 9; MA 112
4.8 mi·6 min·Berkshire Trail
43
Continue on MA 9
0.7 mi·1 min·Marine Corps League Highway
44
Continue on MA 9
8.1 mi·12 min·Route 9
45
Continue on MA 8A; MA 9
2.7 mi·4 min·North Street
46
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 9
166 ft·4 sec·North Street
47
Merge onto MA 8; MA 9
0.3 mi·45 sec·Main Street
48
Turn right onto Glennon Avenue
378 ft·15 sec·Glennon Avenue
49
Turn left onto Stockbridge Avenue
253 ft·11 sec·Stockbridge Avenue
50
Arrive at destination
Stockbridge Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.6 miles from Lawrence, MA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.2 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 29 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.6 miles or 1h 28m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dalton, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lawrence, 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 Lawrence, MA
This is one driving day of about 133.1 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Lawrence, 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 Concord Turnpike for about 37.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.6 mi from Lawrence, MA
· 1h 28m into the drive
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 76.1
Wendell, Massachusetts
Hours: 6 pm–12 am
+19785442739
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 18.4
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...
19 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 4.6
From the Sound to the summits: the New England Trail covers 235 miles from Long Island Sound across long ridges to scenic mountain summits in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail offers panoramic...
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.
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 9.2
. . . 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...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 4.6
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.9
0
$13.98
$6.39
Efficient EV
33.3
0
$11.65
$5.32
EV Truck/SUV
53.2
0
$18.63
$8.52
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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 as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Lawrence, MA
Late night
in Lawrence on Saturday
Local time
5:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dalton, MA
Late night
in Dalton on Saturday
Local time
5:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Partly Cloudy
E 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
56°F
Greenfield, MA
67 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
7 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
3h 17m 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 Lawrence, MA to Dalton, MA covers 133.1 miles and takes about 3h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Concord Turnpike, I 495, Captain Isaac Davis Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.6 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 $21.30 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 22 significant decision points across 133.1 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.
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 Dalton, MA, road signs point toward Nashua New Hampshire and Adams.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
