Origin
Milford, MA
Morning in Milford on Friday
Local time
9:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Milford, MA to Lawrence, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
53.9 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Milford, MA
A K
Lawrence, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Milford, MA to Lawrence, MA covers 53.9 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 495, Cedar Street, South Union Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 48.9 miles on I 495. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 53.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 6m highway drive covering 53.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 495 and Cedar Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 48.9 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 16 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 48.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and Cedar Street. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Bow Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.9 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Bow Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (MA 85 / Cedar Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Bow Street
Turn left onto North Bow Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
MA 85 / Cedar Street
Turn left onto MA 85 / Cedar Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
51.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward MA 28 North: Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 99B
Toward MA 28 North: Lawrence
5
53.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
Essex Street
Turn left onto Essex Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 48.9 mi | 56m |
| Cedar Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Union Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Parker Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Amesbury Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Winthrop Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Bow Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 48.9 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Milford, MA and Lawrence, MA.
1
Start on Central Street
118 ft
·
9 sec
·
Central Street
2
Turn left onto North Bow Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
North Bow Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto MA 16
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
4
Turn left onto MA 85
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Cedar Street
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
6
Merge onto I 495
49 mi
·
56 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 99B
Toward MA 28 North: Lawrence
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto MA 28
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Union Street
9
Keep slight right at fork onto South Union Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Union Street
10
Turn left onto MA 114
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Winthrop Avenue
11
Continue on MA 114
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Parker Street
12
Continue on Amesbury Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Amesbury Street
13
Turn right onto Canal Street
282 ft
·
6 sec
·
Canal Street
14
Turn left onto Lawrence Street
492 ft
·
18 sec
·
Lawrence Street
15
Turn left onto Essex Street
498 ft
·
11 sec
·
Essex Street
16
Arrive at destination
Essex Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.9 mi from Milford, MA · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.9 miles from Milford, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lawrence, MA
The final approach into Lawrence, 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
$8.63 one way
$17.25 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.41 | $18.81 |
| premium | $4.82 | $10.23 | $20.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.90 | $23.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 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 | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.72 | $2.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.55 | $3.45 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Lawrence, MA
Morning in Lawrence on Friday
Local time
9:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Bolton, MA
27 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
16 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 6m 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 Milford, MA to Lawrence, MA covers 53.9 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 495, Cedar Street, South Union 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 26.9 miles from Milford, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.63 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.9 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Bow Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (MA 85 / Cedar Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Milford, MA to Lawrence, 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 Salem Maritime National Historical Park. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Lawrence, MA
More trips to Lawrence, MA
Explore more options from Milford, MA or browse trips ending in Lawrence, MA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MA road trips.