The drive from Rowley, MA to Worcester, MA covers 66.3 miles and takes about 1h 33m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 495, I 290, Andover Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32.7 miles on I 495.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.61 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
33.2 miles from Rowley, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 66.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 33m highway drive covering 66.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 495 and I 290. The longest continuous stretch is about 32.7 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 36 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 32.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and I 290. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.2 miles in near I 495.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.3 miles you will encounter 18 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 18.2 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
18.2 mi into trip|~35m in|I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
27.4 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward US 3: 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 89C-B-A
Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
7
27.6 mi into trip|~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
5
28.2 mi into trip|~47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 South: Marlboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
6
65.2 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward Ware, Framingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 21
Toward Ware, Framingham
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rowley, MA and Worcester, MA, road signs point toward Marlboro and Nashua New Hampshire.
Marlboro
17.8 mi in|~34m
Nashua New Hampshire
27.4 mi in|~46m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 495
32.7 mi
37m
I 290
12.7 mi
15m
Andover Street
3 mi
6m
Great Pond Road
2.3 mi
4m
Central Street
2 mi
3m
North Street
1.6 mi
3m
Willow Road
1.3 mi
2m
Haverhill Street
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 32.7 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rowley, MA and Worcester, MA.
1
Start on this road
33 ft·3 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Church Street
283 ft·5 sec·Church Street
3
Turn straight onto Central Street
2.0 mi·3 min·Central Street
4
Continue on Glen Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·Glen Street
5
Continue on Glen Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Glen Street
6
Continue on Coleman Road
0.5 mi·57 sec·Coleman Road
7
At end of road, turn left onto Elm Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Elm Street
8
Continue on Jackman Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Jackman Street
9
Continue on Jewett Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Jewett Street
10
Turn slight left onto North Street
1.6 mi·3 min·North Street
11
Turn slight right onto MA 133
2.2 mi·4 min·Andover Street
12
Continue on MA 133
1.3 mi·2 min·Willow Road
13
Continue on MA 133
1.0 mi·2 min·Washington Street
14
Turn left onto Essex Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Essex Street
15
Turn straight onto Great Pond Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Great Pond Road
16
Continue on Great Pond Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Great Pond Road
17
Enter roundabout onto Andover Street
149 ft·3 sec·Andover Street
18
Continue on Andover Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Andover Street
19
Continue on MA 133
0.3 mi·31 sec·Peters Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on MA 133
1.1 mi·2 min·Haverhill Street
21
Turn right onto MA 28
0.2 mi·24 sec·North Main Street
22
Continue on MA 28
0.3 mi·37 sec·Union Street
Use the straight lane.
23
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I 495 South: Lowell, Marlboro
24
Merge onto I 495
9.2 mi·10 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Exit 89C-B-AToward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New HampshireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·17 sec
Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·25 sec
28
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·33 sec
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
29
Merge onto I 495
23 mi·27 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 65BToward I 290 West: Worcester
31
Merge onto I 290
13 mi·15 min·I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 21Toward Ware, Framingham
33
Turn right onto MA 70
0.3 mi·28 sec·Lincoln Street
34
Turn right onto MA 9
158 ft·2 sec·Lincoln Square
35
Turn left onto Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
36
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
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 33.2 miles from Rowley, MA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.7 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 15 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.2 miles or 52m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Worcester, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rowley, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Rowley, MA
This is one driving day of about 66.3 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Rowley, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 495 for about 32.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.2 mi from Rowley, MA
· 52m into the drive
The midpoint is around 33.2 miles from Rowley, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Worcester, MA
The final approach into Worcester, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 34.3
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...
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.
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 22.9
. . . 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...
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
$15
near mile 27.5
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.9
0
$6.96
$3.18
Efficient EV
16.6
0
$5.80
$2.65
EV Truck/SUV
26.5
0
$9.28
$4.24
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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 as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Rowley, MA
Evening
in Rowley on Thursday
Local time
7:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Worcester, MA
Evening
in Worcester on Thursday
Local time
7:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 33m 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 Rowley, MA to Worcester, MA covers 66.3 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 495, I 290, Andover 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 33.2 miles from Rowley, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.61 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 66.3 miles you will encounter 18 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 18.2 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Rowley, MA and Worcester, MA, road signs point toward Marlboro and Nashua New Hampshire.
