Origin
Medway, MA
Late night in Medway on Friday
Local time
12:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Medway, MA to Lowell, MA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h
Distance
47.6 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 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Medway, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
The drive from Medway, MA to Lowell, MA covers 47.6 miles and takes about 1h 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 $7.62 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 47.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h highway drive covering 47.6 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 12 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Village Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Medway, MA to Lowell, MA is easy. At 1h with 83% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Village Street): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 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
4
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Franklin Street
Turn right onto Franklin 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
4
47.4 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
Cambridge Street
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 39.4 mi | 45m |
| Chelmsford Street | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| 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 |
| Hale 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 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
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Chelmsford Street
10
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
314 ft
·
14 sec
·
Cambridge Street
11
Turn left onto Hale Street
486 ft
·
13 sec
·
Hale Street
12
Arrive at destination
Hale Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.8 mi from Medway, MA · 30m 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.8 miles from Medway, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lowell, MA
The final approach into 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
$7.62 one way
$15.24 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.31 | $16.62 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.04 | $18.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.51 | $21.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 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 | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.66 | $3.05 |
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
Lowell, MA
Late night in Lowell on Friday
Local time
12:57 AM
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
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 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 Lowell, MA covers 47.6 miles and takes about 1h 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 23.8 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 $7.62 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 Medway, MA to Lowell, MA is easy. At 1h with 83% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Village Street): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Medway, MA to Lowell, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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