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Trip from Lowell, MA to South Yarmouth, MA

Drive Time

2h 19m

Distance

102.1 mi

164 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 10m ★
6 AM
2h 19m
8 AM
2h 38m
10 AM
2h 26m
12 PM
2h 24m
3 PM
2h 27m
5 PM
2h 37m
8 PM
2h 13m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Lowell, MA, MA

Lowell, MA

Phil Evenden

Trip Overview

The drive from Lowell, MA to South Yarmouth, MA covers 102.1 miles and takes about 2h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on MA 3, Mid Cape Highway, Pilgrims Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.9 miles on MA 3. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.25 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

51.1 miles from Lowell, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Lowell, MA to South Yarmouth, MA covers 102.1 miles and takes about 2h 19m, 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 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MA 3 is the longest continuous segment at about 30.9 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 12.3 miles in near US 3.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 102.1 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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 28 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

9
12.3 mi into trip | ~15m in | US 3

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 72A Toward I 95 North, US 3 South: Boston, Peabody
7
14.6 mi into trip | ~19m in | US 3

Take the exit onto US 3 toward US 3 South: Winchester

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 51A Toward US 3 South: Winchester
8
22 mi into trip | ~31m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 93 South: Boston

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 93 South: Boston
8
36.8 mi into trip | ~52m in | MA 3

Keep slight left at fork onto MA 3 toward MA 3 South: Cape Cod

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Exit 7 Toward MA 3 South: Cape Cod
7
99.9 mi into trip | ~2h 14m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Station Avenue, Bass River

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Station Avenue, Bass River

Towns Along This Route

Between Lowell, MA and South Yarmouth, MA, road signs point toward Peabody, Revere and Concord New Hampshire.

Peabody

12.3 mi in | ~15m | via US 3

Revere

21.8 mi in | ~31m | via MA 16

Concord New Hampshire

21.9 mi in | ~31m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
MA 3 30.9 mi 39m
Mid Cape Highway 19.3 mi 26m
Pilgrims Highway 12 mi 15m
US 3 10.7 mi 13m
Southeast Expressway 8 mi 10m
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway 3 mi 4m
Interstate 93 HOV lane 2.5 mi 3m
Lowell Connector 2.1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: MA 3 — 30.9 mi, about 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lowell, MA and South Yarmouth, 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

Continue on Lowell Connector

1.1 mi · 1 min · Lowell Connector
Exit 1A Toward US 3 South: Boston
8

Merge onto US 3

9.1 mi · 10 min · US 3
9

Keep slight left at fork onto US 3

1.0 mi · 2 min · US 3
Exit 72A Toward I 95 North, US 3 South: Boston, Peabody Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto US 3

0.3 mi · 43 sec · US 3
11

Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128

0.9 mi · 1 min · Yankee Division Highway
12

Take the exit onto US 3

0.2 mi · 31 sec · US 3
Exit 51A Toward US 3 South: Winchester Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto US 3

0.4 mi · 34 sec · Cambridge Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
14

Continue on US 3

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cambridge Road
15

Continue on US 3

1.1 mi · 1 min · Cambridge Street
16

Turn left onto Church Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Church Street
Use the left lane.
17

Turn right onto Bacon Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Bacon Street
18

Enter roundabout onto MA 38

37 ft · 0 sec · Main Street
19

Continue on MA 38

0.5 mi · 45 sec · Main Street
20

Continue on MA 38

1.3 mi · 1 min · Winthrop Street
21

Enter roundabout onto MA 38

100 ft · 4 sec · Winthrop Street
22

Continue on MA 38

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Winthrop Street
23

Turn left onto MA 16; MA 38

0.5 mi · 1 min · Mystic Valley Parkway
24

Continue on MA 16

0.1 mi · 10 sec · Mystic Valley Parkway
Toward MA 16 East: Everett, Revere
25

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 14 sec
Toward I 93: Boston, Concord New Hampshire
26

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 93 South: Boston Use the slight right lane.
27

Merge onto I 93

1.1 mi · 1 min · I 93
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93

1.7 mi · 1 min · Interstate 93 HOV lane
Use the slight left lane.
29

Keep slight left at fork onto I 93

0.8 mi · 1 min · Interstate 93 HOV lane
30

Merge onto I 93; US 1

3.0 mi · 4 min · John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31

Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3

8.0 mi · 10 min · Southeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32

Keep slight left at fork onto MA 3

31 mi · 39 min · MA 3
Exit 7 Toward MA 3 South: Cape Cod Use the slight left lane.
33

Keep slight right at fork onto MA 3

12 mi · 15 min · Pilgrims Highway
34

Continue on MA 3

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Pilgrim Highway
35

Continue on US 6

0.4 mi · 45 sec · Sagamore Bridge
36

Continue on US 6

19 mi · 26 min · Mid Cape Highway
Use the slight right lane.
37

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 50 sec
Exit 75 Toward Yarmouth, Dennis
38

Keep slight right at fork

203 ft · 4 sec
Toward Station Avenue, Bass River
39

Turn straight onto Station Avenue

2.1 mi · 3 min · Station Avenue
40

Turn right onto North Main Street

256 ft · 9 sec · North Main Street
41

Turn left onto MA 28

88 ft · 1 sec · Bridge Street
42

Arrive at destination

MA 28

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 51.1 miles from Lowell, MA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.9 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 80 miles or 1h 47m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 51.1 miles or 1h 10m 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 52m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Yarmouth, 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 102.1 miles and 2h 19m.

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 MA 3 for about 30.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 51.1 mi from Lowell, MA · 1h 10m into the drive

town in Suffolk County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Smithtown, NY

51 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

Boston, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Selden, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 51.1 miles from Lowell, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in South Yarmouth, MA

The final approach into South Yarmouth, 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 South Yarmouth, 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.

Adams National Historical Park

Adams National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $15 near mile 35.2
Park Closure: Historic Homes Closed for Season
View on nps.gov
Boston National Historical Park

Boston National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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.

1 mi from route ~4 min detour Free near mile 24.6
View on nps.gov
Lowell National Historical Park

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...

1 mi from route ~2 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Minute Man National Historical Park

Minute Man National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

5 mi from route ~11 min detour Free near mile 10.6
View on nps.gov
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

. . . 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...

6 mi from route ~14 min detour Free near mile 31.7
View on nps.gov
Salem Maritime National Historical Park

Salem Maritime National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

14 mi from route ~34 min detour Free near mile 24.6
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.25 one way

$32.50 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $17.67 $35.35
premium $4.80 $19.29 $38.58
diesel $5.64 $22.68 $45.37

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.6 0 $10.72 $4.90
Efficient EV 25.5 0 $8.93 $4.08
EV Truck/SUV 40.8 0 $14.29 $6.53

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Lowell, MA

Afternoon in Lowell on Monday

Local time

4:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South Yarmouth, MA

Afternoon in South Yarmouth on Monday

Local time

4:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

9 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

2h 19m 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 Yarmouth, MA covers 102.1 miles and takes about 2h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MA 3, Mid Cape Highway, Pilgrims Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.1 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 $16.25 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 is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 102.1 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 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.
Between Lowell, MA and South Yarmouth, MA, road signs point toward Peabody, Revere and Concord New Hampshire.

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Explore More

Return Trip

South Yarmouth, MA to Lowell, MA

Plan the drive back the other way.

102.3 mi 2h 19m

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