The drive from South Amherst, MA to Lowell, MA covers 78.9 miles and takes about 1h 58m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 202, Daniel Shays Highway, Concord Turnpike for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.2 miles on US 202.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.63 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
39.4 miles from South Amherst, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 78.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 58m highway drive covering 78.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 202 and Daniel Shays Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 18.2 miles on US 202.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 202 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 202 and Daniel Shays Highway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 52.7 miles in near MA 2 / Concord Turnpike.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 52.7 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
52.7 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|MA 2 / Concord Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2 / Concord Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
65.1 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 113B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
6
65.5 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
5
65.7 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
75.9 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 88
Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from South Amherst, MA to Lowell, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Lawrence along the way.
Lawrence
65.5 mi in|~1h 40m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 202
18.2 mi
25m
Daniel Shays Highway
14.2 mi
23m
Concord Turnpike
12.3 mi
16m
MA 2
12.2 mi
17m
I 495
10.2 mi
11m
Amherst Road
4.2 mi
8m
Chelmsford Street
2.6 mi
4m
South East Street
2.6 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 202
— 18.2 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Amherst, MA and Lowell, MA.
1
Start on Pomeroy Lane
290 ft·9 sec·Pomeroy Lane
2
Turn slight right onto South East Street
117 ft·5 sec·South East Street
3
Continue on South East Street
2.5 mi·5 min·South East Street
4
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi·33 sec·Main Street
5
Continue on Pelham Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Pelham Road
6
Continue on Amherst Road
4.2 mi·8 min·Amherst Road
7
Turn left onto US 202
14 mi·23 min·Daniel Shays Highway
8
Take the ramp onto US 202
18 mi·25 min·US 202
9
Continue on MA 2
12 mi·17 min·MA 2
10
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
12 mi·16 min·Concord Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Exit 113BToward I 495 North: LowellUse the right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
13
Merge onto I 495
10 mi·11 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 88Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
15
Turn right onto MA 110
2.6 mi·4 min·Chelmsford Street
16
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
314 ft·14 sec·Cambridge Street
17
Turn left onto Hale Street
486 ft·13 sec·Hale Street
18
Arrive at destination
Hale 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 39.4 miles from South Amherst, MA, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.2 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 17 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.4 miles or 1h 3m 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 42m
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 South Amherst, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from South Amherst, MA
This is one driving day of about 78.9 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from South Amherst, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 202 for about 18.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.4 mi from South Amherst, MA
· 1h 3m into the drive
The midpoint is around 39.9 miles from South Amherst, 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.
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...
From the Sound to the summits: the New England Trail covers 235 miles from Long Island Sound across long ridges to scenic mountain summits in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail offers panoramic...
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 70.7
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.
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 76.2
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...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
Free
near mile 78.9
. . . 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...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
Free
near mile 76.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.63 one way
$25.25 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$13.77
$27.54
premium
$4.82
$14.98
$29.96
diesel
$5.61
$17.42
$34.84
Estimated Tolls: $0.86
Concord Turnpike
(12.3 mi)$0.86
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.7
0
$8.28
$3.79
Efficient EV
19.7
0
$6.90
$3.16
EV Truck/SUV
31.6
0
$11.05
$5.05
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
South Amherst, MA
Morning
in South Amherst on Saturday
Local time
8:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lowell, MA
Morning
in Lowell on Saturday
Local time
8:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
2 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
1h 58m 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 South Amherst, MA to Lowell, MA covers 78.9 miles and takes about 1h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 202, Daniel Shays Highway, Concord Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.4 miles from South Amherst, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.63 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 78.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 52.7 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from South Amherst, MA to Lowell, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Lawrence along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
