Origin
Monson, MA
Afternoon in Monson on Saturday
Local time
3:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 53m
Distance
88 mi
142 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
68 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monson, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Lawrence, MA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Monson, MA to Lawrence, MA covers 88 miles and takes about 1h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 495, Massachusetts Turnpike, Sturbridge Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 41.4 miles on I 495. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.08 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.
Midpoint
44 miles from Monson, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 41.4 mi | 47m |
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 27.4 mi | 31m |
| Sturbridge Road | 4 mi | 5m |
| Brimfield Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| Palmer Road | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Wilbur Cross Highway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Monson Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Monson, MA and Lawrence, MA.
Start on Harrison Avenue
Turn left onto MA 32
Turn right onto Chestnut Street
Continue on Bethany Road
Continue on Brimfield Road
Continue on Monson Road
Continue on Main Palmer Road
Turn slight right onto US 20
Continue on US 20
Continue on US 20
Continue on US 20
Continue on US 20
Continue on US 20
Take the exit
Merge onto I 84
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn straight onto MA 28
Keep slight right at fork onto South Union Street
Turn left onto MA 114
Continue on MA 114
Continue on Amesbury Street
Turn right onto Canal Street
Turn left onto Lawrence Street
Turn left onto Essex Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 19 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44 miles or 59m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lawrence, MA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Monson, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Monson, MA
This is one driving day of about 88 miles and 1h 53m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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.
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 44 miles from Monson, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 42.9 and 85.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Taunton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth NH
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MA 28 North: Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$14.08 one way
$28.17 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $15.36 | $30.72 |
| premium | $4.82 | $16.71 | $33.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.43 | $38.86 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.64
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
68 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
ChargePoint Charging Station
Acton, Massachusetts
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Boxborough, Massachusetts
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Littleton, Massachusetts
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Littleton, Massachusetts
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Littleton, Massachusetts
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Chelmsford, Massachusetts
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
North Chelmsford, Massachusetts
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Littleton, Massachusetts
1 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.24 | $4.22 |
| Efficient EV | 22 | 0 | $7.70 | $3.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.2 | 0 | $12.32 | $5.63 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Monson on Saturday
Local time
3:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Lawrence on Saturday
Local time
3:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Areas Of Fog then Cloudy
64°F
Worcester, MA
44 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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This is a 1h 53m highway drive covering 88 miles, with most of the trip on I 495 and Massachusetts Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch is about 41.4 miles on I 495.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and Massachusetts Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 42.9 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 42.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Monson, MA and Lawrence, MA, road signs point toward Taunton, Portsmouth New Hampshire and Portsmouth.
Taunton
Portsmouth New Hampshire
Portsmouth
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 88 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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