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Trip from North Reading, MA to Lawrence, MA

Data updated 42 minutes ago

Drive Time

19m

Distance

11.5 mi

18 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 18m ★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 19m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown North Reading, MA, MA

North Reading, MA

Phil Evenden

Downtown Lawrence, MA, MA

Lawrence, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This short 11.5-mile trip from North Reading, MA to Lawrence, MA is designed for a single day, taking an estimated 19 minutes to complete. With no highway driving, you'll navigate primarily via local roads like Main Street and Park Street. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is a low $2, making it an economical option. This route is characterized by frequent turns, offering a more engaged driving experience than a highway cruise. Given its brevity and the $2 fuel estimate, it's a straightforward drive that doesn't require an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

5.7 miles from North Reading, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the entirety of this 11.5-mile journey. With a 0% highway share, you'll be navigating at local speeds, making frequent turns. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.1 miles along Main Street. This route will feel like a familiar neighborhood drive, winding through local streets rather than open highways. The character of the road will likely remain consistent, focusing on local navigation rather than long-distance travel.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Main Street is the longest continuous segment at about 7.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near MA 62 / Park Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 19m drive. You will face about 7 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 (MA 62 / Park Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (MA 28; MA 62 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (South Union Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | MA 62 / Park Street

Turn right onto MA 62 / Park Street

Navigation decision point

4
1.9 mi into trip | ~3m in | MA 28; MA 62 / Main Street

Turn right onto MA 28; MA 62 / Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
4
9.4 mi into trip | ~15m in | South Union Street

Keep slight right at fork onto South Union Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4
11.2 mi into trip | ~19m in | Canal Street

Turn right onto Canal Street

Navigation decision point

5
11.4 mi into trip | ~19m in | Essex Street

Turn left onto Essex Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Main Street 7.1 mi 11m
Park Street 1.1 mi 2m
South Union Street 0.7 mi 1m
Winter Street 0.7 mi 1m
Parker Street 0.5 mi <1m
Union Street 0.5 mi <1m
Amesbury Street 0.3 mi <1m
Winthrop Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Main Street — 7.1 mi, about 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between North Reading, MA and Lawrence, MA.

1

Start on Haverhill Street

427 ft · 13 sec · Haverhill Street
2

Turn right onto MA 62

1.1 mi · 2 min · Park Street
3

Continue on MA 62

0.7 mi · 1 min · Winter Street
4

Turn right onto MA 28; MA 62

7.1 mi · 11 min · Main Street
Use the straight lane.
5

Continue on MA 28

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Union Street
Use the straight lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto South Union Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Union Street
7

Turn left onto MA 114

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Winthrop Avenue
8

Continue on MA 114

0.5 mi · 55 sec · Parker Street
9

Continue on Amesbury Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Amesbury Street
10

Turn right onto Canal Street

282 ft · 6 sec · Canal Street
11

Turn left onto Lawrence Street

492 ft · 18 sec · Lawrence Street
12

Turn left onto Essex Street

498 ft · 11 sec · Essex Street
13

Arrive at destination

Essex Street

Trip Plan

Given the short 19-minute duration, flexibility is your best friend on this route. You can depart at any time without needing to worry about breaking up a long journey. Since there are no designated stops and the fuel cost is only $2, extensive planning isn't required. Keep an eye out for the many turns, especially on Main Street, which accounts for 7.1 miles of the drive. This local road focus means you'll be moving through populated areas, so be mindful of local traffic patterns.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 5.7 miles from North Reading, MA, or about 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.1 miles.

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 11.5 miles or 19m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 5.7 miles or 9m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lawrence, MA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving North Reading, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from North Reading, MA

This is one driving day of about 11.5 miles and 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from North Reading, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Main Street for about 7.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 5.7 mi from North Reading, MA · 9m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brookhaven, NY

6 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

Albany, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brookhaven, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 6.9 miles from North Reading, 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.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Lawrence, MA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Lowell National Historical Park

Lowell National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Lowell’s water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation – including immigrant families and early female factory workers – into an uncertain new industrial era. Nearly 200 years later, the changes t...

9 mi from route ~21 min detour Free near mile 8.7
View on nps.gov
Salem Maritime National Historical Park

Salem Maritime National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the...

10 mi from route ~26 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Minute Man National Historical Park

Minute Man National Historical Park

National Historical Park

At Minute Man National Historical Park the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and structures associated with April 19, 1775, and witness the Ameri...

13 mi from route ~33 min detour Free near mile 2
View on nps.gov
Boston National Historical Park

Boston National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.

14 mi from route ~35 min detour Free near mile 0.8
View on nps.gov
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach o...

20 mi from route ~49 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Adams National Historical Park

Adams National Historical Park

National Historical Park

From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penn’s Hill to the gentleman’s country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of “heroes, statesmen, philosophers…and learned wome...

22 mi from route ~56 min detour $15 near mile 0.4
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.84 one way

$3.68 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $2.01 $4.01
premium $4.82 $2.18 $4.37
diesel $5.61 $2.54 $5.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.4 0 $1.21 $0.55
Efficient EV 2.9 0 $1.01 $0.46
EV Truck/SUV 4.6 0 $1.61 $0.74

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 4 days ago

Origin

North Reading, MA

Night in North Reading on Tuesday

Local time

11:12 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lawrence, MA

Night in Lawrence on Tuesday

Local time

11:12 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Brookhaven, NY

6 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

21 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

19m 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 North Reading, MA to Lawrence, MA covers 11.5 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Main Street, Park Street, South Union Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.7 miles from North Reading, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.84 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 19m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (MA 62 / Park Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (MA 28; MA 62 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (South Union Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from North Reading, MA to Lawrence, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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