Sign in
No account yet?
Create accountDrive Time
1h 14m
Distance
47.2 mi
76 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Traveling from Lowell to Cohasset covers 47.2 miles of Massachusetts terrain, a journey you can comfortably complete in about 1 hour and 14 minutes. Because this route is well within a single day’s reach, there is no need for an overnight stay, making it a perfect candidate for a one-day excursion. You should budget approximately $8 for fuel to make the trip. As you transition from the northern suburbs into the coastal reach of Cohasset, you will navigate a mix of major expressways and local connectors. This drive is straightforward and efficient, serving as a practical link between two distinct parts of the Northeast region.
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
23.6 miles from Lowell, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 33m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that balances highway efficiency with more involved maneuvering. Roughly 46% of your time will be spent on the highway, utilizing the Southeast Expressway and the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway to navigate your way toward the coast. While you will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 10.7 miles on US 3, the rest of the trip requires more frequent attention to changing road conditions. The character of the drive shifts from the faster pace of US 3 to the more complex local navigation required to reach your destination. You will find that the road demands a steady hand as you transition off the expressways.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
257 ft
Total Descent
353 ft
Highest Point
208 ft
~7.9 mi in
Elevation Range
210 ft
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 12.3 miles in near US 3.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 32 significant decision points across 47.2 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 12.3 miles (US 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.6 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3 toward I 95 North, US 3 South: Boston, Peabody
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 3 toward US 3 South: Winchester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 93 South: Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto MA 3A toward MA 3A South: Neponset, Quincy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 3A / Hancock Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Between Lowell, MA and Cohasset, MA, road signs point toward Peabody, Revere, Concord New Hampshire and Quincy.
Peabody
Revere
Concord New Hampshire
Quincy
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 3 | 10.7 mi | 13m |
| Southeast Expressway | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 3 mi | 4m |
| Interstate 93 HOV lane | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Newport Avenue Extension | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| Lowell Connector | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Cambridge Road | 2 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lowell, MA and Cohasset, MA.
Start on Hale Street
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
Turn left onto MA 110
Turn left onto Plain Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto Lowell Connector
Continue on Lowell Connector
Merge onto US 3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128
Take the exit onto US 3
Merge onto US 3
Continue on US 3
Continue on US 3
Turn left onto Church Street
Turn right onto Bacon Street
Enter roundabout onto MA 38
Continue on MA 38
Continue on MA 38
Enter roundabout onto MA 38
Continue on MA 38
Turn left onto MA 16; MA 38
Continue on MA 16
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 93
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
Merge onto I 93; US 1
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
Take the exit onto MA 3A
Merge onto MA 3A
Take the exit onto MA 3A
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 3A
Turn slight right onto Newport Avenue Extension
Turn left onto Adams Street
Turn straight onto Hancock Street
Continue on Washington Street
Enter roundabout onto MA 3A
Continue on MA 3A
Continue on MA 3A
Continue on MA 3A
Continue on MA 3A
Continue on MA 3A
Continue on MA 3A
Continue on MA 3A
Enter roundabout onto MA 3A
Continue on MA 3A
Turn left onto MA 228
Continue on East Street
Continue on North Main Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 1-hour and 14-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though planning for traffic on the major expressways is always a smart move. Because there are zero formal stops scheduled along this 47.2-mile path, you should ensure your vehicle is fueled up before leaving Lowell to avoid unnecessary detours. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route means you should stay alert during the local segments that follow your time on the expressway. Use the short duration to your advantage by planning your arrival to coincide with your specific destination needs in Cohasset. Since you aren't spending much on fuel, consider putting that extra budget toward a nice meal once you arrive.
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.
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 47.2 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 23.6 miles or 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cohasset, MA than in the middle of the route.
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 47.2 miles and 1h 14m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.6 mi from Lowell, MA · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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.
A short stop after about 47.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23.6 miles from Lowell, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Cohasset, 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 Cohasset, MA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$7.51 one way
$15.03 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $8.17 | $16.34 |
| premium | $4.80 | $8.92 | $17.84 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.49 | $20.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.96 | $2.27 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.13 | $1.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.61 | $3.02 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Lowell on Sunday
Local time
6:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Sunny
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 11 at 2:33AM EDT by NWS Albany NY
Destination
Evening in Cohasset on Sunday
Local time
6:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Sunny
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 11 at 2:33AM EDT by NWS Albany NY
Along the Route
49°F
Brookhaven, NY
24 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Lowell, MA or browse trips ending in Cohasset, MA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MA road trips.
Explore maps for Lowell, MA or Cohasset, MA on MapSof.net.