Origin
Ashburnham, MA
Late night in Ashburnham on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ashburnham, MA to Lowell, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
39.3 mi
63 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ashburnham, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
This 39.3-mile drive from Ashburnham, MA to Lowell, MA takes about an hour and is perfectly suited for a single day trip. You'll primarily be on major roadways, including Concord Turnpike and I-495, making for a straightforward journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $6, this is an economical option for exploring the Northeast region. The highway-focused profile means you'll cover ground efficiently. This route is ideal for a quick excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Concord Turnpike | 14 mi | 19m |
| I 495 | 10.2 mi | 11m |
| Chelmsford Street | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Ashburnham State Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Water Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| Fitchburg Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Ashburnham Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Kimball Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Concord Turnpike
— 14 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ashburnham, MA and Lowell, MA.
1
Start on MA 101
136 ft
·
7 sec
·
Water Street
2
Turn left onto MA 12
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Main Street North
3
Continue on MA 12
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Fitchburg Road
4
Continue on MA 12
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Ashburnham State Road
5
Continue on MA 12
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Ashburnham Street
6
Turn left onto Westminster Hill Road
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Westminster Hill Road
7
Turn right onto Fairview Street
508 ft
·
22 sec
·
Fairview Street
8
Continue on Mayland Street
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
·
Mayland Street
9
At end of road, turn left onto MA 2A; MA 12; MA 31
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
River Street
10
Continue on MA 2A; MA 12; MA 31
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
11
Enter roundabout onto MA 2A; MA 12
82 ft
·
2 sec
·
Kimball Street
12
Continue on MA 2A; MA 12
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Kimball Street
13
Continue on MA 2A; MA 12
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Laurel Street
14
Continue on MA 12
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Water Street
15
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 12
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Water Street
16
Continue on MA 12
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
17
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
18
Merge onto MA 2
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Concord Turnpike
19
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Concord Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 113B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
Use the right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
22
Merge onto I 495
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 88
Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
24
Turn right onto MA 110
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Chelmsford Street
25
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
314 ft
·
14 sec
·
Cambridge Street
26
Turn left onto Hale Street
486 ft
·
13 sec
·
Hale Street
27
Arrive at destination
Hale Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.6 miles from Ashburnham, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 36.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MA 12 / Main Street North
Turn left onto MA 12 / Main Street North
Navigation decision point
6
13.1 mi into trip
|
~26m 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
25.5 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
25.9 mi into trip
|
~43m 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
6
36.3 mi into trip
|
~56m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.29 one way
$12.58 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.86 | $13.72 |
| premium | $4.82 | $7.46 | $14.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.68 | $17.35 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.98
Concord Turnpike
(14 mi)
$0.98
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.13 | $1.89 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.44 | $1.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.50 | $2.52 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Late night in Lowell on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
25 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 1m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 39.3-mile trip, with 62% of the journey taking place on major roads like Concord Turnpike and I-495. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14 miles on Concord Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. While primarily highway, you will transition to Chelmsford Street as you approach Lowell, introducing a slightly different road character. This blend ensures efficient travel for the majority of the drive.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14 mi on Concord Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Concord Turnpike and I 495. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MA 12 / Main Street North.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 39.3 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: near the start (MA 12 / Main Street North): Navigation decision point; at 13.1 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Ashburnham, MA to Lowell, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Lawrence along the way.
Lawrence
25.9 mi in
|
~43m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 39.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14 miles on Concord Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.98 in tolls one way, starting with Concord Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Lowell, MA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MA 12 / Main Street North): Navigation decision point; at 13.1 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Lowell National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Boston National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lowell, MA before heading back.
How this page is built
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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