Origin
Lowell, MA
Night in Lowell on Tuesday
Local time
10:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lowell, MA to Boxford, MA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
36m
Distance
21.7 mi
35 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Boxford, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This quick 21.7-mile drive from Lowell, MA to Boxford, MA takes about 36 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route is primarily composed of highways (42% highway share), with a longest uninterrupted stretch of 9.1 miles on I-495. You'll spend about $3 on fuel for this journey, which falls within the Northeast region. Given its short duration and straightforward path, this trip doesn't require an overnight stay. It's a practical option for a quick hop between two points in Massachusetts.
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
10.8 miles from Lowell, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Lowell to Boxford offers a mixed driving experience. While 42% of the journey is on the interstate, you'll also navigate local roads like Salem Street and Boxford Street. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 9.1 miles on I-495, providing a taste of highway speed. As you transition off the interstate, expect the character of the drive to change, introducing you to different road types. This blend means you'll experience both faster travel and more localized driving conditions.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
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 9.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Cambridge Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 21.7 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Cambridge Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (MA 110 / Chelmsford Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Cambridge Street
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MA 110 / Chelmsford Street
Turn left onto MA 110 / Chelmsford Street
Navigation decision point
7
2.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 1B
Toward I 495 North: Lawrence
5
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.
7
12.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward MA 28 South: Andover
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 99A
Toward MA 28 South: Andover
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| Salem Street | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| Boxford Street | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Haverhill Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Lowell Connector | 1 mi | 1m |
| Lawrence Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| Andover Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 9.1 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lowell, MA and Boxford, MA.
1
Start on Hale Street
486 ft
·
14 sec
·
Hale Street
2
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
314 ft
·
16 sec
·
Cambridge Street
3
Turn left onto MA 110
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
Chelmsford Street
4
Turn left onto Plain Street
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Plain Street
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
6
Merge onto Lowell Connector
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lowell Connector
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1B
Toward I 495 North: Lawrence
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 495
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 99A
Toward MA 28 South: Andover
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn straight onto MA 28
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto MA 133
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Haverhill Street
12
Continue on MA 133
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Peters Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on Andover Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Andover Street
14
Enter roundabout onto Johnson Street
13 ft
·
0 sec
·
Johnson Street
15
Continue on Johnson Street
501 ft
·
12 sec
·
Johnson Street
16
Continue on Salem Street
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Salem Street
17
Continue on Boxford Street
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Boxford Street
18
Continue on Lawrence Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Lawrence Road
19
Turn straight onto Main Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
20
Turn slight right onto Topsfield Road Extension
375 ft
·
16 sec
·
Topsfield Road Extension
21
Continue on Topsfield Road
81 ft
·
2 sec
·
Topsfield Road
22
Arrive at destination
Topsfield Road
Trip Plan
For this short 36-minute trip, you have a lot of flexibility. Leaving anytime should be manageable, though avoiding peak rush hour on I-495 is always a good idea. With only 21.7 miles and a $3 fuel cost, you won't need extensive planning for stops or refueling. The longest stretch you'll be on the highway is 9.1 miles, so keep an eye on your surroundings as you approach exits. Since it's such a brief drive, consider enjoying the local road segments as they offer a different feel than the interstate.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 10.8 miles from Lowell, MA, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9.1 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 21.7 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.8 miles or 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boxford, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving 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 Lowell, MA
This is one driving day of about 21.7 miles and 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lowell, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 495 for about 9.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.8 mi from Lowell, MA · 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 21.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.8 miles from Lowell, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Boxford, MA
The final approach into Boxford, 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 Boxford, MA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.47 one way
$6.95 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $3.79 | $7.57 |
| premium | $4.82 | $4.12 | $8.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.79 | $9.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.90 | $0.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Boxford, MA
Night in Boxford on Tuesday
Local time
10:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Brookhaven, NY
11 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
20 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
36m 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 Lowell, MA to Boxford, MA covers 21.7 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 495, Salem Street, Boxford Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.8 miles from Lowell, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.47 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 21.7 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Cambridge Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (MA 110 / Chelmsford Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lowell, MA to Boxford, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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