Origin
Lowell, MA
Afternoon in Lowell on Friday
Local time
3:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lowell, MA to Sunderland, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
42.2 mi
68 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Sunderland, MA
Italo Melo
Trip Overview
This 42.2-mile drive from Lowell, MA, to Sunderland, MA, is a quick 52-minute trip, making it an ideal day excursion within the Northeast region. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 86% of the drive taking place on major interstates, so expect a straightforward journey. With an estimated fuel cost of just $7, this is an economical option for a quick getaway. No overnight stays are necessary, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. This route offers a practical and efficient way to travel between two points in Massachusetts.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 42.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Prepare for a highway-centric experience on this 52-minute, 42.2-mile journey. The majority of your travel will be on interstates, accounting for 86% of the drive. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 23.4 miles on I-495, offering a consistent pace. While the route is primarily focused on efficient travel, the transition between I-495, I-290, and Grafton Street will guide you through varied highway segments. Expect a driving profile that prioritizes reaching your destination quickly and with minimal detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 495 is the longest continuous segment at about 23.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and I 290. 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 Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 42.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
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 15 key pointsThese 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
39.3 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward Ware, Framingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 21
Toward Ware, Framingham
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lowell, MA and Sunderland, MA, road signs point toward Ware and Framingham.
Ware
39.3 mi in
|
~47m
Framingham
39.3 mi in
|
~47m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 23.4 mi | 27m |
| I 290 | 12.7 mi | 15m |
| Grafton Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Lowell Connector | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Massasoit Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Chelmsford Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Summer Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Goldsberry Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 23.4 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lowell, MA and Sunderland, 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-A
Toward I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nashua New Hampshire
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 2A
Toward I 495 South: Worcester
Use 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
23 mi
·
27 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 65B
Toward I 290 West: Worcester
12
Merge onto I 290
13 mi
·
15 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 21
Toward Ware, Framingham
14
Continue on Goldsberry Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Goldsberry Street
15
Continue on Summer Street
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Summer Street
16
Enter roundabout onto Grafton Street
164 ft
·
2 sec
·
Grafton Street
17
Continue on Grafton Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Grafton Street
18
Continue on MA 122
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
Grafton Street
19
Enter roundabout onto MA 122
39 ft
·
0 sec
·
Grafton Street
20
Continue on MA 122
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
Grafton Street
21
Turn right onto Massasoit Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Massasoit Road
22
Arrive at destination
Massasoit Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.1 mi from Lowell, MA · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.1 miles from Lowell, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Sunderland, MA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Sunderland, MA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.75 one way
$13.51 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $7.37 | $14.73 |
| premium | $4.82 | $8.01 | $16.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.32 | $18.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.43 | $2.03 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.91 | $2.70 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Sunderland, MA
Afternoon in Sunderland on Friday
Local time
3:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
52m 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 Sunderland, MA covers 42.2 miles and takes about 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 495, I 290, Grafton Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.1 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 $6.75 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 short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 42.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
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.
Between Lowell, MA and Sunderland, MA, road signs point toward Ware and Framingham.
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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