Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
48.8 mi
79 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Abington, MA
Phil Evenden
City of Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Abington to Lowell is 48.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 12 minutes via US 3, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Massachusetts, connecting two points in the Northeast region. The drive is mostly on highways, making it a straightforward connection between these two areas. Given the relatively short distance and time, it's an easy same-day excursion, perfect for a quick trip without needing an overnight stay.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 3 | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| MA 3 | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| Pilgrims Highway | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Main Street | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| I 93 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Bedford Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Cambridge Road | 2 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Abington, MA and City of Lowell, MA.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn right onto Washington Street
Turn left onto MA 123
Turn right onto MA 18
Continue on MA 18
Continue on MA 18
Take the ramp
Merge onto MA 3
Continue on MA 3
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93
Take the exit
Continue on MA 16
Turn right onto MA 38
Enter roundabout onto Winthrop Street
Continue on Winthrop Street
Continue on MA 38
Enter roundabout onto Bacon Street
Continue on Bacon Street
Turn left onto Church Street
Turn right onto US 3
Continue on US 3
Continue on US 3
Take the exit onto US 3
Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128
Take the exit onto US 3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
Keep slight right at fork onto US 3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto MA 110
Turn sharp left onto MA 3A
Turn right onto Grand Street
At end of road, turn left onto Middlesex Street
Turn sharp right onto Arch Street
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 24.4 miles from Abington, MA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 22.6 and 46.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 North: Concord NH
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 3 toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$7.81 one way
$15.62 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.52 | $17.03 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.27 | $18.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.77 | $21.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.83 | $3.12 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Abington on Sunday
Local time
9:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Areas Of Fog then Cloudy
Destination
Morning in City of Lowell on Sunday
Local time
9:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Cloudy
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This 48.8-mile drive features a 55% highway share. You'll spend about 10.9 miles on US 3 during its longest continuous stretch. The profile is mixed highway and surface roads, so expect a transition from faster-paced travel to more local streets as you approach your destination. The frequent exits on the highway sections suggest a busy corridor.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.6 miles in near I 93.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.8 miles you will encounter 28 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 22.6 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.2 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Abington, MA and City of Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Arlington, Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire and Marlboro - among others.
Arlington
Lowell
Middlesex Turnpike
Burlington
Nashua New Hampshire
Marlboro
Chelmsford
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 48.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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.
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