Origin
Medway, MA
Afternoon in Medway on Thursday
Local time
3:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Medway, MA to City of Lowell, MA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
48.1 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Medway, MA
Wikimedia Commons
City of Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
The drive from Medway, MA to City of Lowell, MA covers 48.1 miles and takes about 1h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 495, Chelmsford Street, Milford Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 39.4 miles on I 495. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.70 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 48.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 2m highway drive covering 48.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 495 and Chelmsford Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 39.4 miles on I 495.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 39.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and Chelmsford Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Village Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 2m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Village Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Village Street
At end of road, turn right onto Village Street
Navigation decision point
5
5.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
44.6 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 88
Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
5
47.8 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
MA 3A / Westford Street
Turn sharp left onto MA 3A / Westford Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
48 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
Arch Street
Turn sharp right onto Arch Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
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 Medway, MA to City of Lowell, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Lowell along the way.
Lowell
44.6 mi in
|
~54m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 39.4 mi | 45m |
| Chelmsford Street | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Milford Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Village Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Franklin Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Medway Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Barber Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Westford Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 39.4 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Medway, MA and City of Lowell, MA.
1
Start on Barber Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Barber Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto Village Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Village Street
3
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Franklin Street
4
Continue on MA 109
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Milford Street
5
Continue on MA 109
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Medway Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
7
Merge onto I 495
39 mi
·
45 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 88
Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
9
Turn right onto MA 110
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Chelmsford Street
10
Turn sharp left onto MA 3A
458 ft
·
10 sec
·
Westford Street
11
Turn right onto Grand Street
448 ft
·
23 sec
·
Grand Street
12
At end of road, turn left onto Middlesex Street
383 ft
·
18 sec
·
Middlesex Street
13
Turn sharp right onto Arch Street
15 ft
·
5 sec
·
Arch Street
14
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.1 mi from Medway, MA · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.1 miles from Medway, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in City of Lowell, MA
The final approach into City of Lowell, 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
$7.70 one way
$15.40 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.39 | $16.79 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.13 | $18.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.62 | $21.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.73 | $3.08 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
City of Lowell, MA
Afternoon in City of Lowell on Thursday
Local time
3:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Hudson, MA
24 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
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
1h 2m 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 Medway, MA to City of Lowell, MA covers 48.1 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 495, Chelmsford Street, Milford 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 24.1 miles from Medway, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.70 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 straightforward 1h 2m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Village Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Medway, MA to City of Lowell, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Lowell along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Lowell National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
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