The drive from Lowell, MA to Dalton, MA covers 123 miles and takes about 3h 5m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Concord Turnpike, Captain Isaac Davis Highway, I 495 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 $19.68 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
61.5 miles from Lowell, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 123 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Lowell, MA to Dalton, MA covers 123 miles and takes about 3h 5m, 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 46 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 1.8 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 123 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 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nashua New Hampshire
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2B-A
Toward I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nash...
8
2 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 South: Worcester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2A
Toward I 495 South: Worcester
5
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 South: Marlboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
5
2.8 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.
6
79.1 mi into trip|~1h 51m 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.
On the drive from Lowell, MA to Dalton, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Adams along the way.
Adams
79.1 mi in|~1h 51m|via MA 2
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Concord Turnpike
37.2 mi
51m
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
10.9 mi
14m
I 495
10.7 mi
12m
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 Lowell, MA and Dalton, 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
0.8 mi·1 min·Lowell Connector
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 2B-AToward I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nashua New HampshireUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 2AToward I 495 South: WorcesterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·33 sec
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
10
Merge onto I 495
11 mi·12 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 78BToward MA 2 West: Leominster
12
Merge onto MA 2
11 mi·14 min·Captain Isaac Davis Highway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
37 mi·51 min·Concord Turnpike
14
Continue on MA 2
2.0 mi·3 min·East Main Street
15
Continue on MA 2
0.8 mi·1 min·Public Works Boulevard
16
Continue on MA 2
1.9 mi·3 min·State Road
17
Continue on MA 2
2.4 mi·3 min·Mohawk Trail
18
Continue on MA 2
0.4 mi·42 sec·French King Highway
19
Continue on MA 2
0.2 mi·28 sec·Mohawk Trail
20
Continue on MA 2
4.9 mi·8 min·French King Highway
21
Continue on MA 2
4.5 mi·5 min·Mohawk Trail
22
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
23
Continue on MA 2
10.0 mi·15 min·MA 2
24
Turn right onto MA 112
0.2 mi·20 sec·Connector Road
25
Continue on MA 112
0.9 mi·1 min·Ashfield Road
26
Continue on MA 112
2.0 mi·3 min·Ashfield Road
27
Continue on MA 112
1.4 mi·2 min·Lower Street
28
Continue on MA 112
1.0 mi·1 min·Ashfield Road
29
Continue on MA 112
2.5 mi·3 min·Ashfield Mountain Road
30
Continue on MA 112; MA 116
1.4 mi·2 min·Suburban Drive
31
Turn right onto MA 116
2.4 mi·6 min·Spruce Corner Road
32
Continue on MA 116
1.5 mi·3 min·Plainfield Road
33
Turn slight left onto Pleasant Street
0.6 mi·58 sec·Pleasant Street
34
Continue on Gloyd Street
1.2 mi·2 min·Gloyd Street
35
At end of road, turn left onto South Central Street
0.4 mi·56 sec·South Central Street
36
Continue on Plainfield Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Plainfield Road
37
At end of road, turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Main Street
38
At end of road, turn right onto MA 9; MA 112
4.8 mi·6 min·Berkshire Trail
39
Continue on MA 9
0.7 mi·1 min·Marine Corps League Highway
40
Continue on MA 9
8.1 mi·12 min·Route 9
41
Continue on MA 8A; MA 9
2.7 mi·4 min·North Street
42
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 9
166 ft·4 sec·North Street
43
Merge onto MA 8; MA 9
0.3 mi·45 sec·Main Street
44
Turn right onto Glennon Avenue
378 ft·15 sec·Glennon Avenue
45
Turn left onto Stockbridge Avenue
253 ft·11 sec·Stockbridge Avenue
46
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 61.5 miles from Lowell, MA, or about 1h 23m 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 27 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.5 miles or 1h 23m 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 28m
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 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 123 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Lowell, 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 61.5 mi from Lowell, MA
· 1h 23m into the drive
The midpoint is around 61.5 miles from Lowell, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dalton, MA
The final approach into Dalton, 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 Dalton, MA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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 8.5
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 67.9
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.
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 4.2
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...
. . . 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...
29 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 4.2
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.9
0
$12.92
$5.90
Efficient EV
30.8
0
$10.76
$4.92
EV Truck/SUV
49.2
0
$17.22
$7.87
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Lowell, MA
Morning
in Lowell on Saturday
Local time
6:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dalton, MA
Morning
in Dalton on Saturday
Local time
6:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Greenfield, MA
62 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
22 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 5m 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 Dalton, MA covers 123 miles and takes about 3h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Concord Turnpike, Captain Isaac Davis Highway, I 495. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61.5 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 $19.68 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 123 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 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Lowell, MA to Dalton, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Adams along the way.
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.
