Origin
Norfolk, MA
Morning in Norfolk on Friday
Local time
7:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norfolk, MA to Lowell, 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
45.4 mi
73 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norfolk, MA
Renata Meneses
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
Norfolk to Lowell is 45.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 6 minutes via Yankee Division Highway and US 3, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Massachusetts, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a drive that has a fair number of turns, making it more of a local exploration than a high-speed transit. With just over an hour of driving time, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. It’s a straightforward journey that gets you from point A to point B without much fuss.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 45.4 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.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you won't be on a monotonous interstate for the entire trip. The highway share is only 22%, so be prepared for more frequent adjustments to your speed and direction. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is 18.7 miles along the Yankee Division Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel. Beyond that, expect a mix of local roads and some highway segments as you navigate towards Lowell.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Yankee Division Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 18.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9 miles in near MA 109 / High Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.4 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 9 miles (MA 109 / High Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
MA 109 / High Street
At end of road, turn right onto MA 109 / High Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
32.2 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 50A-B
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike,...
9
32.4 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 50A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
8
43 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 81B-C
Toward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlbor...
8
43.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 81C
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Norfolk, MA and Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Portsmouth New Hampshire, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire and Marlboro.
Portsmouth New Hampshire
13.2 mi in
|
~22m
Middlesex Turnpike
32.2 mi in
|
~48m
Burlington
32.2 mi in
|
~48m
Nashua New Hampshire
32.2 mi in
|
~48m
Marlboro
43 mi in
|
~1h 2m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Yankee Division Highway | 18.7 mi | 25m |
| US 3 | 9.9 mi | 11m |
| High Street | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Main Street | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| West Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Fisher Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Chelmsford Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Yankee Division Highway
— 18.7 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norfolk, MA and Lowell, MA.
1
Start on MA 115
25 ft
·
0 sec
·
Union Street
2
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
11 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
3
Continue on Main Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
4
Continue on Main Street
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Main Street
5
Continue on West Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
West Street
6
Continue on Norfolk Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Norfolk Street
7
At end of road, turn left onto MA 1A
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Main Street
8
Turn left onto Fisher Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Fisher Street
9
Continue on North Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Street
10
At end of road, turn right onto MA 109
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
High Street
Use the right lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 95 North: Peabody, Portsmouth New Hampshire
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto I 95; MA 128
19 mi
·
25 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 50A-B
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 50A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
this road
Exit 50A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
16
Continue on US 3
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
US 3
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 81B-C
Toward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlboro
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 81C
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
21
Turn right onto MA 110
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Chelmsford Street
22
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
314 ft
·
14 sec
·
Cambridge Street
23
Turn left onto Hale Street
486 ft
·
13 sec
·
Hale Street
24
Arrive at destination
Hale Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.7 mi from Norfolk, MA · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 22.7 miles from Norfolk, 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
$7.27 one way
$14.53 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $7.92 | $15.85 |
| premium | $4.82 | $8.62 | $17.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.02 | $20.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.97 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.36 | $2.91 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Morning in Lowell on Friday
Local time
7:28 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
23 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 Norfolk, MA to Lowell, MA covers 45.4 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 Yankee Division Highway, US 3, High Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.7 miles from Norfolk, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.27 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 45.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 9 miles (MA 109 / High Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Norfolk, MA and Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Portsmouth New Hampshire, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire and Marlboro.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Lowell National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Adams 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.
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