Origin
Lowell, MA
Evening in Lowell on Wednesday
Local time
7:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lowell, MA to Sturbridge, MA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
61.7 mi
99 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Sturbridge, MA
Mohan Nannapaneni
Trip Overview
The drive from Lowell, MA to Sturbridge, MA covers 61.7 miles and takes about 1h 19m 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 turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.87 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
30.9 miles from Lowell, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 39m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 19m drive with frequent turns across 61.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Cambridge Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Lowell, MA to Sturbridge, MA is easy. At 1h 19m 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 Sturbridge, MA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
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 Sturbridge, 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 right to continue on Wilbur Cross Highway
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Wilbur Cross Highway
20
Take the exit slight right toward US 20 West: Sturbridge, Palmer
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 20 West: Sturbridge, Palmer
21
Merge slight left onto Charlton Road
436 ft
·
8 sec
·
Charlton Road
22
Take the exit slight right
394 ft
·
15 sec
23
Continue on Charlton Road
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Charlton Road
24
Take the exit left
299 ft
·
12 sec
25
Turn straight onto Main Street
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Main Street
26
Turn left onto Charlton Street
387 ft
·
17 sec
·
Charlton Street
27
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 30.9 miles from Lowell, MA, or about 39m 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 14 miles or 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.9 miles or 39m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sturbridge, 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 61.7 miles and 1h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.9 mi from Lowell, MA · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.9 miles from Lowell, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Sturbridge, MA
The final approach into Sturbridge, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.87 one way
$19.75 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $10.77 | $21.54 |
| premium | $4.82 | $11.72 | $23.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.62 | $27.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.48 | $2.96 |
| Efficient EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.40 | $2.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.64 | $3.95 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Sturbridge, MA
Evening in Sturbridge on Wednesday
Local time
7:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Worcester, MA
31 mi in
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 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 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 Sturbridge, MA covers 61.7 miles and takes about 1h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Cambridge Street, Chelmsford Street, Plain Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.9 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 $9.87 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.
The drive from Lowell, MA to Sturbridge, MA is easy. At 1h 19m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lowell, MA to Sturbridge, MA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lowell, MA to Sturbridge, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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