Traveling from Barnstable to Lawrence covers 98.1 miles through the heart of Massachusetts. You can expect a drive time of approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes, making this a perfectly manageable single-day trip. With a fuel budget of roughly $16, the journey is cost-effective for solo travelers and families alike. Navigating primarily via the Mid Cape Highway, Pilgrims Highway, and I-93, you will transition from the coastal environment of the Cape to the more industrial northern region of the state. Because the total duration is relatively short, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay unless you have additional commitments. It is a straightforward commute that serves as an efficient way to cross the region in one go.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.1 miles from Barnstable, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pilgrims Highway
42.3 mi
53m
I 93
21.6 mi
25m
Mid Cape Highway
13.1 mi
17m
MA 3
8.4 mi
11m
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
3.2 mi
5m
I 495
2.2 mi
2m
Iyannough Road
1.5 mi
2m
Phinneys Lane
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Pilgrims Highway
— 42.3 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Barnstable, MA and Lawrence, MA.
1
Start on Bow Lane
185 ft·12 sec·Bow Lane
2
Turn left onto Hyannis Road
0.5 mi·55 sec·Hyannis Road
3
Continue on Phinneys Lane
1.3 mi·2 min·Phinneys Lane
4
Turn right onto MA 132
1.5 mi·2 min·Iyannough Road
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward US 6 West: Boston, Providence, RI
6
Merge onto US 6
13 mi·17 min·Mid Cape Highway
7
Continue on US 6
0.4 mi·45 sec·Sagamore Bridge
8
Continue on US 6
0.3 mi·20 sec·Pilgrim Highway
9
Continue on MA 3
42 mi·53 min·Pilgrims Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on MA 3
8.4 mi·11 min·MA 3
Exit 43BToward I 93 North: BostonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
3.2 mi·5 min·John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93
22 mi·25 min·I 93
Toward I 93 North: Concord NHUse the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 40AToward I 495 North: LawrenceUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 495
2.2 mi·2 min·I 495
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·52 sec
Exit 99BToward MA 28 North: LawrenceUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn straight onto MA 28
0.2 mi·22 sec·Union Street
17
Keep slight right at fork onto South Union Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South Union Street
18
Turn left onto MA 114
0.3 mi·36 sec·Winthrop Avenue
19
Continue on MA 114
0.5 mi·55 sec·Parker Street
20
Continue on Amesbury Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·Amesbury Street
21
Turn right onto Canal Street
282 ft·6 sec·Canal Street
22
Turn left onto Lawrence Street
492 ft·18 sec·Lawrence Street
23
Turn left onto Essex Street
498 ft·11 sec·Essex Street
24
Arrive at destination
Essex Street
Trip Plan
To ensure the smoothest travel, consider leaving outside of peak commuting hours to avoid potential congestion on the I-93 corridor. Since the 98.1-mile journey is designed to be completed in one day, you have the flexibility to drive straight through without needing scheduled stops for rest. However, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise, as the $16 estimated cost can fluctuate based on traffic idling. Because you are covering nearly 100 miles, take advantage of the lack of required stops to maintain your momentum. A pro tip for this route: keep your navigation app open even if you are familiar with the area, as the transition between the Mid Cape Highway and the northern interstate system can experience sudden traffic shifts.
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 49.1 miles from Barnstable, MA, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.3 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 22 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.1 miles or 1h 5m 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 46m
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 Barnstable, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Barnstable, MA
This is one driving day of about 98.1 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Barnstable, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pilgrims Highway for about 42.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 98 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in|MA 132 / Iyannough Road
Turn right onto MA 132 / Iyannough Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
71.3 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|I 93
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 North: Concord NH
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 93 North: Concord NH
7
92.9 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40A
Toward I 495 North: Lawrence
7
95.5 mi into trip|~2h 5m 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
5
98 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|Essex Street
Turn left onto Essex Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.70 one way
$31.40 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$17.12
$34.24
premium
$4.82
$18.63
$37.25
diesel
$5.61
$21.66
$43.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.4
0
$10.30
$4.71
Efficient EV
24.5
0
$8.58
$3.92
EV Truck/SUV
39.2
0
$13.73
$6.28
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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 15, 2026
Origin
Barnstable, MA
Night
in Barnstable on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Destination
Lawrence, MA
Night
in Lawrence on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°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.
Road read
2h 10m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Boston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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.
From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penn’s Hill to the gentleman’s country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of “heroes, statesmen, philosophers…and learned wome...
. . . 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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 64.3
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 91.3
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 81.2
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 77.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This mixed-profile drive balances high-speed transit with typical regional traffic patterns. You will spend about 36% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 42.3 miles along the Pilgrims Highway. As you transition from the coastal roads of Barnstable onto I-93, the personality of the drive shifts from open stretches to more dense, high-traffic corridors. Expect a consistent pace once you hit the interstate, though the mix of road types means you should remain alert to changing speed limits. It is a functional drive that trades scenic variety for directness, providing a reliable experience behind the wheel.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.3 mi on Pilgrims Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 1.8 miles in near MA 132 / Iyannough Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 98.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (MA 132 / Iyannough Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 71.3 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 92.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
191 ft9 ft
Total Climb
401 ft
Total Descent
384 ft
Highest Point
191 ft
~77.1 mi in
Elevation Range
182 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 10m. Total distance: 98.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.3 miles on Pilgrims Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Lawrence, MA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (MA 132 / Iyannough Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 71.3 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 92.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Adams National Historical Park and Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (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 Lawrence, MA before heading back.
