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Trip from Winchendon, MA to Lawrence, MA

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

1h 21m

Distance

61.2 mi

99 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 15m ★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m

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

Downtown Winchendon, MA, MA

Winchendon, MA

Khoa Võ

Downtown Lawrence, MA, MA

Lawrence, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Winchendon, MA to Lawrence, MA covers 61.2 miles and takes about 1h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 495, Concord Turnpike, MA 140 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.5 miles on I 495. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.79 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

30.6 miles from Winchendon, MA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 1h 21m highway drive covering 61.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 495 and Concord Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch is about 21.5 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 23 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 21.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and Concord Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 202 / Maple Street.

Route Complexity 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.2 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (US 202 / Maple Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 24.1 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 202 / Maple Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 202 / Maple Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

6
24.1 mi into trip | ~33m 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
36.5 mi into trip | ~50m 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
37 mi into trip | ~51m 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
7
58.6 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Take the exit toward MA 28 North: Lawrence

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 99B Toward MA 28 North: Lawrence

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 495 21.5 mi 24m
Concord Turnpike 12.3 mi 16m
MA 140 11.7 mi 17m
Green Street 6.2 mi 7m
Gardner Road 3.4 mi 3m
Spring Street 2.3 mi 2m
South Union Street 0.7 mi 1m
Central Street 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 495 — 21.5 mi, about 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Winchendon, MA and Lawrence, MA.

1

Start on this road

403 ft · 31 sec · this road
2

Turn right

157 ft · 17 sec
3

At end of road, turn left onto US 202

152 ft · 6 sec · Maple Street
4

Turn left onto US 202

0.5 mi · 44 sec · Central Street
5

At end of road, turn left onto Front Street

94 ft · 7 sec · Front Street
6

Turn slight left onto Spring Street

2.3 mi · 2 min · Spring Street
7

Continue on MA 12

3.4 mi · 3 min · Gardner Road
8

Continue on MA 140

6.2 mi · 7 min · Green Street
9

Take the exit onto MA 140

12 mi · 17 min · MA 140
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 113B Toward I 495 North: Lowell Use 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

22 mi · 24 min · I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 52 sec
Exit 99B Toward MA 28 North: Lawrence Use the slight right lane.
15

Turn straight onto MA 28

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Union Street
16

Keep slight right at fork onto South Union Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Union Street
17

Turn left onto MA 114

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Winthrop Avenue
18

Continue on MA 114

0.5 mi · 55 sec · Parker Street
19

Continue on Amesbury Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Amesbury Street
20

Turn right onto Canal Street

282 ft · 6 sec · Canal Street
21

Turn left onto Lawrence Street

492 ft · 18 sec · Lawrence Street
22

Turn left onto Essex Street

498 ft · 11 sec · Essex Street
23

Arrive at destination

Essex 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 30.6 miles from Winchendon, MA, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.5 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 13 miles or 16m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 30.6 miles or 42m 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 8m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lawrence, MA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Winchendon, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Winchendon, MA

This is one driving day of about 61.2 miles and 1h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Winchendon, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 495 for about 21.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 30.6 mi from Winchendon, MA · 42m into the drive

city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fitchburg, MA

31 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

Westminster, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ayer, MA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.6 miles from Winchendon, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lawrence, MA

The final approach into Lawrence, 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

$9.79 one way

$19.59 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $10.68 $21.36
premium $4.82 $11.62 $23.24
diesel $5.61 $13.51 $27.02

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

$10

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.4 0 $6.43 $2.94
Efficient EV 15.3 0 $5.35 $2.45
EV Truck/SUV 24.5 0 $8.57 $3.92

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (67% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Winchendon, MA

Evening in Winchendon on Wednesday

Local time

5:21 PM

EDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lawrence, MA

Evening in Lawrence on Wednesday

Local time

5:21 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°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

18 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 21m 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 Winchendon, MA to Lawrence, MA covers 61.2 miles and takes about 1h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 495, Concord Turnpike, MA 140. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.6 miles from Winchendon, MA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.79 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 61.2 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (US 202 / Maple Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 24.1 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Winchendon, MA to Lawrence, MA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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