The drive from Lowell, MA to South Amherst, MA covers 78.8 miles and takes about 1h 57m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Concord Turnpike, Daniel Shays Highway, Captain Isaac Davis Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.4 miles on Concord Turnpike.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.61 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
39.4 miles from Lowell, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 78.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Lowell, MA to South Amherst, MA covers 78.8 miles and takes about 1h 57m, 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 22 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 31.4 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
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.8 miles you will encounter 16 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 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 16 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.
8
56.1 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward US 202 South: Athol, Belchertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 71
Toward US 202 South: Athol, Belchertown
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 South Amherst, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Belchertown along the way.
Belchertown
56.1 mi in|~1h 16m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Concord Turnpike
31.4 mi
43m
Daniel Shays Highway
14.3 mi
23m
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
10.9 mi
14m
I 495
10.7 mi
12m
Amherst Road
4.2 mi
8m
South East Street
2.6 mi
5m
Pelham Road
0.9 mi
1m
Lowell Connector
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Concord Turnpike
— 31.4 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lowell, MA and South Amherst, 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
31 mi·43 min·Concord Turnpike
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 71Toward US 202 South: Athol, Belchertown
15
Turn left onto US 202
14 mi·23 min·Daniel Shays Highway
16
Turn right onto Amherst Road
4.2 mi·8 min·Amherst Road
17
Continue on Pelham Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Pelham Road
18
Continue on Main Street
0.3 mi·37 sec·Main Street
19
Turn left onto South East Street
2.5 mi·5 min·South East Street
20
Continue on South East Street
163 ft·4 sec·South East Street
21
Turn slight left onto Pomeroy Lane
290 ft·8 sec·Pomeroy Lane
22
Arrive at destination
Pomeroy Lane
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 39.4 miles from Lowell, MA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.4 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 17 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.4 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Amherst, 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 78.8 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Lowell, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Concord Turnpike for about 31.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.4 mi from Lowell, MA
· 53m into the drive
The midpoint is around 39.4 miles from Lowell, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in South Amherst, MA
The final approach into South Amherst, MA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
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...
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...
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 8.2
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
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 2.7
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...
From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penn’s Hill to the gentleman’s country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of “heroes, statesmen, philosophers…and learned wome...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.61 one way
$25.22 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$13.75
$27.51
premium
$4.82
$14.96
$29.93
diesel
$5.61
$17.40
$34.80
Estimated Tolls: $2.20
Concord Turnpike
(31.4 mi)$2.20
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.6
0
$8.27
$3.78
Efficient EV
19.7
0
$6.90
$3.15
EV Truck/SUV
31.5
0
$11.03
$5.04
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
11:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Amherst, MA
Morning
in South Amherst on Saturday
Local time
11:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Orange, MA
39 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
2 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
1h 57m 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 South Amherst, MA covers 78.8 miles and takes about 1h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Concord Turnpike, Daniel Shays Highway, Captain Isaac Davis Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.4 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 $12.61 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 78.8 miles you will encounter 16 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 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 South Amherst, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Belchertown 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
