Origin
Boston, MA
Morning in Boston on Sunday
Local time
9:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Boston, 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
43m
Distance
27.7 mi
45 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boston, MA
Wikimedia Commons
City of Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick getaway from Boston to Lowell, this 27.7-mile trip is an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. You can expect to spend about 43 minutes behind the wheel, making it a highly accessible route within the Northeast region. With a fuel cost estimate of just $4, it is an economical choice for those wanting to explore beyond the city limits. Because the drive is short, there is no need to worry about overnight lodging; you can easily head out in the morning and return by evening. The route utilizes a mix of I-93, US 3, and Cambridge Road to navigate the transition between these two Massachusetts hubs. It is a straightforward, practical journey that serves as a perfect low-stress transition between the state's major urban centers.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 3 | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| I 93 | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Cambridge Road | 2 mi | 2m |
| Cambridge Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Chelmsford Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Winthrop Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Yankee Division Highway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Mystic Valley Parkway | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 3
— 10.9 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boston, MA and City of Lowell, MA.
1
Start on Tremont Street
230 ft
·
11 sec
·
Tremont Street
2
Turn right onto Beacon Street
302 ft
·
11 sec
·
Beacon Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto Somerset Street
340 ft
·
13 sec
·
Somerset Street
4
Turn left onto Ashburton Place
210 ft
·
7 sec
·
Ashburton Place
5
Keep slight right at fork onto Ashburton Place
253 ft
·
8 sec
·
Ashburton Place
6
Turn straight onto Bowdoin Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Bowdoin Street
7
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
439 ft
·
21 sec
·
Cambridge Street
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto Sudbury Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Sudbury Street
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 93 North: Concord NH
10
Merge onto I 93
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
I 93
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 22
Toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlington
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on MA 16
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Mystic Valley Parkway
13
Turn right onto MA 38
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Winthrop Street
Use the right lane.
14
Enter roundabout onto Winthrop Street
117 ft
·
2 sec
·
Winthrop Street
15
Continue on Winthrop Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Winthrop Street
16
Continue on MA 38
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
Main Street
17
Enter roundabout onto Bacon Street
94 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bacon Street
18
Continue on Bacon Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bacon Street
19
Turn left onto Church Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Church Street
20
Turn right onto US 3
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cambridge Street
21
Continue on US 3
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Cambridge Road
22
Continue on US 3
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
Cambridge Street
23
Take the exit onto US 3
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 3
Toward I 95 South, US 3 North: Waltham, Lowell
24
Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Take the exit onto US 3
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 3
Exit 50B-A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 3
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 3
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
US 3
Exit 50A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
28
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 81B-C
Toward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlboro
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
31
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 81C
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
32
Turn right onto MA 110
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Chelmsford Street
33
Turn sharp left onto MA 3A
458 ft
·
10 sec
·
Westford Street
34
Turn right onto Grand Street
448 ft
·
23 sec
·
Grand Street
35
At end of road, turn left onto Middlesex Street
383 ft
·
18 sec
·
Middlesex Street
36
Turn sharp right onto Arch Street
15 ft
·
5 sec
·
Arch Street
37
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
38
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 295 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 25.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Cambridge Street
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
4.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22
Toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlin...
8
14.1 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
US 3
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 50B-A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike,...
8
24.7 mi into trip
|
~37m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 81B-C
Toward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlbor...
8
25.4 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 81C
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.43 one way
$8.87 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.83 | $9.67 |
| premium | $4.82 | $5.26 | $10.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.12 | $12.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.91 | $1.33 |
| Efficient EV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.42 | $1.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.88 | $1.77 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
9:43 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
1 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
43m 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 trip offers a mixed driving profile that keeps the experience varied as you transition away from Boston. With a highway share of 53%, you will spend about half your time cruising on faster roads before shifting into local traffic patterns. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch along US 3, which spans 10.9 miles of the journey. The road personality shifts from dense city infrastructure to more fluid highway segments, providing a balanced feel for the driver. Expect a transition that requires steady attention as you move from major interstates onto the secondary roads that guide you into Lowell.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.9 mi on US 3.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 0.4 miles in near Cambridge Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 29 decision points packed into just 27.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (Cambridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.1 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Boston, MA and City of Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Arlington, Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire and Marlboro - among others.
Arlington
4.6 mi in
|
~8m
Lowell
12.7 mi in
|
~21m
|
via US 3
Middlesex Turnpike
14.1 mi in
|
~23m
|
via US 3
Burlington
14.1 mi in
|
~23m
|
via US 3
Nashua New Hampshire
14.1 mi in
|
~23m
|
via US 3
Marlboro
24.7 mi in
|
~37m
Chelmsford
25.2 mi in
|
~37m
About the Cities
Starting in Boston, MA
Full guide →A city of history and tradition, Boston offers a proud legacy of culture, education, and numerous sporting championships. The "shining city on a hill"s independent spirit has been displayed to the world ever since colonists were angry over a British tax on their beloved tea and dumped shiploads of it into the harbor in protest. In the early 1600s, the peninsula in Massachusetts that would become known as Boston was controlled by Native Americans until John Smith (English soldier, explorer, colonial governor, Admiral of New England, and author) named the area New England to attract European settlers. Boston was founded in 1630 by John Winthrop, making it one of the oldest cities in the U.S. No other American city has made more of an effort to preserve its history, and you'll find buildings that pre-date the republic dotted throughout the region.
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 43m. Total distance: 27.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.9 miles on US 3. 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 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: at 0.4 miles (Cambridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.1 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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