This 48.2-mile journey from North Scituate, MA to Lowell, MA is designed for a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 16 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate via US 3, the Southeast Expressway, and the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway, with about 45% of the drive on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $8, and with no recommended stops, it’s an efficient excursion. This route is entirely within the Northeast region, making it a straightforward local drive for Massachusetts residents. It's a practical option if you're looking for a relatively quick trip without the need for 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
24.1 miles from North Scituate, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 41m into the drive
.
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this particular route, rather than a monotonous interstate grind. While 45% of your journey will be on highways, the overall feel is more connected to local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.9 miles on US 3, offering a brief period of consistent travel before you transition back to more varied road conditions. This mix suggests a driving experience that requires attention to navigation and frequent adjustments as you move through different types of terrain and traffic.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 53 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 3 is the longest continuous segment at about 10.9 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 22.6 miles in near I 93.
Route Complexity10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 48.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 22.6 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.1 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 30 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
22.6 mi into trip|~39m in|I 93
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 North: Concord NH
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 93 North: Concord NH
8
25.7 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22
Toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlin...
8
35.1 mi into trip|~58m in|US 3
Take the exit onto US 3 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 50B-A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike,...
8
45.8 mi into trip|~1h 12m 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
46.5 mi into trip|~1h 13m 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 North Scituate, MA and Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Arlington, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire and Marlboro.
Arlington
25.7 mi in|~44m
Middlesex Turnpike
35.1 mi in|~58m|via US 3
Burlington
35.1 mi in|~58m|via US 3
Nashua New Hampshire
35.1 mi in|~58m|via US 3
Marlboro
45.8 mi in|~1h 12m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 3
10.9 mi
13m
Southeast Expressway
3.3 mi
4m
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
3.2 mi
5m
I 93
3.1 mi
4m
Chief Justice Cushing Highway
2.7 mi
4m
Newport Avenue
2.3 mi
4m
Cambridge Road
2 mi
2m
Justice Cushing Way
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 3
— 10.9 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Scituate, MA and Lowell, MA.
1
Start on this road
352 ft·31 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn left
47 ft·9 sec
3
At end of road, turn left onto Gannett Road
0.1 mi·21 sec·Gannett Road
4
Continue on Henry Turner Bailey Road
0.4 mi·55 sec·Henry Turner Bailey Road
5
At end of road, turn right onto MA 3A
1.9 mi·2 min·Chief Justice Cushing Highway
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on MA 3A
0.6 mi·54 sec·King Street
7
Continue on MA 3A
0.8 mi·1 min·Chief Justice Cushing Highway
8
Continue on MA 3A
1.9 mi·2 min·Justice Cushing Way
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
9
Enter roundabout onto MA 3A
353 ft·6 sec·Summer Street
10
Continue on MA 3A
0.2 mi·16 sec·Summer Street
11
Continue on MA 3A
0.6 mi·1 min·Otis Street
12
Continue on MA 3A
0.6 mi·55 sec·Broad Cove Road
13
Continue on MA 3A
1.5 mi·2 min·Lincoln Street
14
Continue on MA 3A
1.7 mi·2 min·Bridge Street
15
Continue on MA 3A
0.3 mi·1 min·Fore River Bridge
16
Continue on MA 3A
464 ft·7 sec·Washington Street
17
Enter roundabout onto MA 3A
190 ft·3 sec·Washington Street
18
Continue on MA 3A
1.6 mi·2 min·Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on Hancock Street
0.3 mi·33 sec·Hancock Street
Use the straight lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto Adams Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Adams Street
21
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
2.3 mi·4 min·Newport Avenue
Use the right lane.
22
Turn slight left onto MA 3A
0.3 mi·33 sec·Hancock Street
23
Continue on MA 3A
0.2 mi·19 sec·Neponset Avenue
24
Merge onto MA 3A
247 ft·6 sec·William T. Morrissey Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
25
Take the exit onto MA 3A
0.3 mi·34 sec·MA 3A
Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
26
Merge onto I 93; US 1; MA 3
3.3 mi·4 min·Southeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
3.2 mi·5 min·John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93
3.1 mi·4 min·I 93
Toward I 93 North: Concord NHUse the straight / slight left lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 22Toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, ArlingtonUse the slight right lane.
30
Continue on MA 16
1.1 mi·2 min·Mystic Valley Parkway
31
Turn right onto MA 38
0.1 mi·22 sec·Winthrop Street
Use the right lane.
32
Enter roundabout onto Winthrop Street
117 ft·2 sec·Winthrop Street
33
Continue on Winthrop Street
1.3 mi·1 min·Winthrop Street
34
Continue on MA 38
0.5 mi·46 sec·Main Street
35
Enter roundabout onto Bacon Street
94 ft·1 sec·Bacon Street
36
Continue on Bacon Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Bacon Street
37
Turn left onto Church Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Church Street
38
Turn right onto US 3
1.1 mi·1 min·Cambridge Street
39
Continue on US 3
2.0 mi·2 min·Cambridge Road
40
Continue on US 3
0.6 mi·47 sec·Cambridge Street
41
Take the exit onto US 3
0.2 mi·27 sec·US 3
Toward I 95 South, US 3 North: Waltham, Lowell
42
Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128
1.1 mi·1 min·Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
43
Take the exit onto US 3
0.1 mi·15 sec·US 3
Exit 50B-AToward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New HampshireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.3 mi·34 sec·US 3
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 3
9.8 mi·11 min·US 3
Exit 50AToward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
46
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.5 mi·32 sec·US 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Exit 81B-CToward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, MarlboroUse the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·21 sec
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
49
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 81CToward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
50
Turn right onto MA 110
1.4 mi·2 min·Chelmsford Street
51
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
314 ft·14 sec·Cambridge Street
52
Turn left onto Hale Street
486 ft·13 sec·Hale Street
53
Arrive at destination
Hale Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 16 minutes for the 48.2-mile drive, this trip offers considerable flexibility. You can easily depart at a time that suits your schedule, perhaps aiming to avoid peak morning or evening commute times. With an estimated fuel cost of $8 and no mandated stops, you can focus on enjoying the drive. A good tip for this route is to pay close attention to your navigation as you approach the transitions between the Southeast Expressway, John F. Fitzgerald Expressway, and US 3, as these can be areas with more complex traffic patterns and frequent turns.
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 24.1 miles from North Scituate, MA, or about 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.9 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 48.2 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 24.1 miles or 41m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lowell, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North Scituate, 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 Scituate, MA
This is one driving day of about 48.2 miles and 1h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from North Scituate, 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 US 3 for about 10.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.1 mi from North Scituate, MA
· 41m into the drive
The midpoint is around 30.2 miles from North Scituate, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Lowell, 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.
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...
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.
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...
. . . 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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 10.4
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...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 45.9
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...
13 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 31.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.71 one way
$15.43 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg17 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$8.41
$16.82
premium
$4.82
$9.15
$18.30
diesel
$5.61
$10.64
$21.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 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
14.5
0
$5.06
$2.31
Efficient EV
12.1
0
$4.22
$1.93
EV Truck/SUV
19.3
0
$6.75
$3.08
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.
Forecast data refreshed 4 days ago
Origin
North Scituate, MA
Night
in North Scituate on Tuesday
Local time
11:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lowell, MA
Night
in Lowell on Tuesday
Local time
11:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Brookhaven, NY
24 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
4 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 16m 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 Scituate, MA to Lowell, MA covers 48.2 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 3, Southeast Expressway, John F. Fitzgerald Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.1 miles from North Scituate, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.71 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 demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 48.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 22.6 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.1 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between North Scituate, MA and Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Arlington, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire and Marlboro.
