Origin
Sturbridge, MA
Evening in Sturbridge on Wednesday
Local time
5:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sturbridge, MA to Lowell, MA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
65.2 mi
105 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sturbridge, MA
Mohan Nannapaneni
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
The drive from Sturbridge, MA to Lowell, MA covers 65.2 miles and takes about 1h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Charlton Street, Main Street, Charlton Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.43 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
32.6 miles from Sturbridge, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 2m drive with frequent turns across 65.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Charlton Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Sturbridge, MA to Lowell, MA is easy. At 1h 2m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sturbridge, MA to Lowell, MA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Charlton Street | — | — |
| Main Street | — | — |
| Charlton Road | — | — |
| Wilbur Cross Highway | — | — |
| Massachusetts Turnpike | — | — |
| I 495 | — | — |
| I 495 North | — | — |
| MA 110 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Charlton Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sturbridge, MA and Lowell, MA.
1
Start on Charlton Street
59 ft
·
3 sec
·
Charlton Street
2
Keep slight left to continue on Charlton Street
328 ft
·
16 sec
·
Charlton Street
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto Main Street
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn sharp right onto Charlton Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Charlton Road
5
Take the exit slight left
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
6
Merge slight left onto Wilbur Cross Highway
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Wilbur Cross Highway
7
Merge slight left onto Massachusetts Turnpike
27 mi
·
31 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Taunton
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Taunton
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth New Hampshire
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth New Hampshire
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth NH
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth NH
11
Merge slight left
30 mi
·
34 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
13
Turn right onto Chelmsford Street
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Chelmsford Street
14
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
315 ft
·
15 sec
·
Cambridge Street
15
Turn left onto Hale Street
486 ft
·
13 sec
·
Hale Street
16
Arrive at your destination
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 32.6 miles from Sturbridge, MA, or about 31m into the drive.
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 14 miles or 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.6 miles or 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 53m
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 Sturbridge, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sturbridge, MA
This is one driving day of about 65.2 miles and 1h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Sturbridge, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.6 mi from Sturbridge, MA · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.6 miles from Sturbridge, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.43 one way
$20.87 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $11.38 | $22.76 |
| premium | $4.82 | $12.38 | $24.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.40 | $28.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.8 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 | 19.6 | 0 | $6.85 | $3.13 |
| Efficient EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.13 | $4.17 |
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.
Destination
Lowell, MA
Evening in Lowell on Wednesday
Local time
5:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 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 2m 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 Sturbridge, MA to Lowell, MA covers 65.2 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Charlton Street, Main Street, Charlton Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.6 miles from Sturbridge, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.43 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.
The drive from Sturbridge, MA to Lowell, MA is easy. At 1h 2m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sturbridge, MA to Lowell, MA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sturbridge, MA to Lowell, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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