Origin
Barre, MA
Morning in Barre on Sunday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Barre, MA to City of 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 21m
Distance
52 mi
84 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
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.
City of Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
Spanning 52 miles, this trip from Barre to Lowell is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 21 minutes. It is an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion, as the modest transit time leaves plenty of room in your schedule for activities at your destination. You can expect to spend approximately $8 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for a quick getaway within Massachusetts. Because the route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, you will find it to be a practical, efficient connection between these two Northeast locations. Whether you are traveling for business or leisure, this drive offers a reliable pace that requires no overnight stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Concord Turnpike | 12.3 mi | 16m |
| I 495 | 10.2 mi | 11m |
| MA 2 | 8.9 mi | 13m |
| South Street | 3.6 mi | 7m |
| Hubbardston Road | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| New Westminster Road | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Chelmsford Street | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Barre Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Concord Turnpike
— 12.3 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Barre, MA and City of Lowell, MA.
1
Start on MA 32; MA 122
171 ft
·
10 sec
·
Concert Mall
2
Turn sharp left onto South Street
168 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Street
3
Continue on MA 62
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Mechanic Street
4
Continue on MA 62
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Hubbardston Road
5
Continue on MA 62
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Old Boston Turnpike
6
Turn left onto Barre Road
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Barre Road
7
Continue on Elm Street
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Elm Street
8
Continue on Brigham Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Brigham Street
9
Continue on New Westminster Road
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
New Westminster Road
10
Continue on South Street
3.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Street
11
At end of road, turn right onto MA 2A
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
13
Merge onto MA 2
8.9 mi
·
13 min
·
MA 2
14
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Concord Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 113B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
Use the right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
17
Merge onto I 495
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 88
Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
19
Turn right onto MA 110
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Chelmsford Street
20
Turn sharp left onto MA 3A
458 ft
·
10 sec
·
Westford Street
21
Turn right onto Grand Street
448 ft
·
23 sec
·
Grand Street
22
At end of road, turn left onto Middlesex Street
383 ft
·
18 sec
·
Middlesex Street
23
Turn sharp right onto Arch Street
15 ft
·
5 sec
·
Arch Street
24
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26 miles from Barre, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 48.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Street
Turn sharp left onto South Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
25.3 mi into trip
|
~44m 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
37.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m 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
38.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m 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
48.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m 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
$8.32 one way
$16.64 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.08 | $18.15 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.87 | $19.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.48 | $22.96 |
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.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.46 | $2.50 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.55 | $2.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.28 | $3.33 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
City of Lowell, MA
Morning in City of Lowell on Sunday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Westminster, MA
26 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused route is defined by a mix of primary arteries, including the Concord Turnpike, MA 2, and I-495. With 61% of your travel occurring on highways, you should prepare for a consistent, high-speed experience rather than a slow, winding backroad tour. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 12.3 miles along the Concord Turnpike, which allows you to settle into a steady driving rhythm. As you transition between these main roads, the character of the drive shifts from regional connectors to the broader, more heavily trafficked interstate system. It is a functional drive designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal complexity.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.3 mi on Concord Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 South Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52 miles you will encounter 14 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 (South Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 25.3 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.7 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.
Between Barre, MA and City of Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Lawrence and Lowell.
Lawrence
38.1 mi in
|
~1h 2m
Lowell
48.5 mi in
|
~1h 14m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 52 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.3 miles on Concord Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.86 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 City of 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 (South Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 25.3 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.7 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 City of 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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