Origin
Barre, MA
Late night in Barre on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Barre, MA to Lowell, MA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
51.5 mi
83 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 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward connection between Barre and Lowell, this 51.5-mile journey is a manageable trek that typically takes about 1 hour and 19 minutes. Serving as an efficient link within Massachusetts, the route is ideal for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. Budgeting around $8 for fuel should comfortably cover your gas needs for the duration of the drive. Because this trip is entirely contained within the Northeast, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition between these two Massachusetts communities. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B without requiring extensive planning or multiple days on the road.
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 | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| 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 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
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Chelmsford Street
20
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
314 ft
·
14 sec
·
Cambridge Street
21
Turn left onto Hale Street
486 ft
·
13 sec
·
Hale Street
22
Arrive at destination
Hale Street
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 25.7 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 115 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
$8.24 one way
$16.48 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.99 | $17.98 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.78 | $19.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.37 | $22.74 |
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 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 | 15.5 | 0 | $5.41 | $2.47 |
| Efficient EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.51 | $2.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.21 | $3.30 |
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
Lowell, MA
Late night in Lowell on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Cloudy
E 3 to 8 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
59°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
8 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 19m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 62% of your travel time will be spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a combination of MA 2, the Concord Turnpike, and I-495 to complete the 51.5-mile distance. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs on the Concord Turnpike, where you will cover 12.3 miles before the road profile shifts. While the route relies heavily on faster highway stretches, the transition between these roads keeps the drive from feeling like a monotonous grind. You should anticipate a steady pace behind the wheel as you move from the smaller roads of Barre toward the more established highway network leading into Lowell.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 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 51.5 miles you will encounter 11 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.
On the drive from Barre, MA to Lowell, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Lawrence along the way.
Lawrence
38.1 mi in
|
~1h 2m
About the Cities
Starting in Barre, MA
Full guide →Founded 1720
Top landmarks
- • Barre Common District — Barre, MA, listed on the NRHP in Massachusetts
Arriving in Lowell, MA
Full guide →Lowell is a city in Massachusetts about 40 minutes northwest of Boston. With over 115,000 residents (2020), it's the fifth largest city in Massachusetts, and has an important historical background. It was the first planned industrial city in the United States.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 51.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m 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 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 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 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Lowell, MA
More trips to Lowell, MA
Explore more options from Barre, MA or browse trips ending in Lowell, MA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MA road trips.