Origin
Lowell, MA
Afternoon in Lowell on Saturday
Local time
3:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lowell, MA to Ludlow, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 46m
Distance
84.2 mi
136 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 38m
★
6 AM
1h 46m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 50m
3 PM
1h 52m
5 PM
2h 1m
8 PM
1h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Ludlow, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lowell, MA to Ludlow, MA covers 84.2 miles and takes about 1h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Cambridge Street, Chelmsford Street, Plain Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.48 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.
Midpoint
42.1 miles from Lowell, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Street | — | — |
| Chelmsford Street | — | — |
| Plain Street | — | — |
| Lowell Connector | — | — |
| I 495 South | — | — |
| I 290 West | — | — |
| MA 12 South | — | — |
| Oxford Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Cambridge Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lowell, MA and Ludlow, MA.
1
Start on Hale Street
486 ft
·
15 sec
·
Hale Street
2
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
315 ft
·
16 sec
·
Cambridge Street
3
Turn left onto Chelmsford Street
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
Chelmsford Street
4
Turn left onto Plain Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Plain Street
5
Take the ramp straight
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
6
Merge slight left onto Lowell Connector
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lowell Connector
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nashua New Hampshire
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nashua New Hampshire
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 495 South: Worcester
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 495 South: Worcester
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 495 South: Marlboro
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
·
I 495 South: Marlboro
10
Merge slight left
23 mi
·
27 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 290 West: Worcester
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 290 West: Worcester
12
Merge slight left
20 mi
·
24 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward MA 12 South: Webster
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
MA 12 South: Webster
14
Turn left onto Oxford Street
466 ft
·
10 sec
·
Oxford Street
15
At the end of the road, turn right onto Southbridge Street
446 ft
·
10 sec
·
Southbridge Street
16
Take the exit slight right toward I 90
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 90
17
Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 90 West
18
Merge slight left onto Massachusetts Turnpike
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
19
Keep slight left to continue on Massachusetts Turnpike
24 mi
·
27 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
20
Take the exit slight right toward MA 21: Ludlow, Belchertown
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
MA 21: Ludlow, Belchertown
21
Turn left onto Center Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Center Street
22
Turn left onto Sewall Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Sewall Street
23
Turn left onto Howard Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Howard Street
24
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
·
Oak Street
25
Turn left onto Walnut Street
220 ft
·
12 sec
·
Walnut Street
26
Turn right
115 ft
·
10 sec
27
Turn left
305 ft
·
22 sec
28
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 42.1 miles from Lowell, MA, or about 53m into the drive.
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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.1 miles or 53m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ludlow, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lowell, MA
This is one driving day of about 84.2 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Lowell, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.1 miles from Lowell, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.48 one way
$26.95 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $14.70 | $29.39 |
| premium | $4.82 | $15.99 | $31.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.59 | $37.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.84 | $4.04 |
| Efficient EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.37 | $3.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.7 | 0 | $11.79 | $5.39 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Ludlow, MA
Afternoon in Ludlow on Saturday
Local time
3:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Worcester, MA
42 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
1h 46m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
84.2 mi in 1h 46m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Cambridge Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lowell, MA to Ludlow, MA is easy. At 1h 46m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lowell, MA to Ludlow, MA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 84.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lowell, MA to Ludlow, MA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ludlow, MA before heading back.
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 EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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