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Trip from Rowley, MA to Worcester, MA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 33m

Distance

66.3 mi

107 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 26m ★
6 AM
1h 33m
8 AM
1h 47m
10 AM
1h 38m
12 PM
1h 37m
3 PM
1h 39m
5 PM
1h 47m
8 PM
1h 29m

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

Downtown Rowley, MA, MA

Rowley, MA

Italo Melo

Downtown Worcester, MA, MA

Worcester, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

33.2 miles from Rowley, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .

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.

Route Complexity 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

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-A Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire Use 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 65B Toward 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 21 Toward 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

town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

North Andover, MA

33 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.

Popular next leg

North Andover, MA to Worcester, MA

50.7 mi · 1h 2m

Pacing Suggestions

North Andover, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

City of Lowell, MA

Meal break

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.61 one way

$21.22 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $11.57 $23.14
premium $4.82 $12.59 $25.18
diesel $5.61 $14.64 $29.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

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

Late night in Rowley on Thursday

Local time

12:33 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Worcester, MA

Late night in Worcester on Thursday

Local time

12:33 AM

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.

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