Origin
Boxford, MA
Late night in Boxford on Tuesday
Local time
5:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Boxford, 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
36m
Distance
19.9 mi
32 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boxford, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
Boxford, MA to Lowell, MA is 19.9 miles and takes about 36 minutes via I 495 and Salem Street, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Northeast region and Massachusetts, making it a convenient local excursion. The drive offers a mixed route, ideal for a quick transition between towns without significant time commitment. You'll find it a straightforward journey, perfect for a day trip or a simple point-to-point drive when you need to cover this specific stretch.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| Salem Street | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| Boxford Street | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Haverhill Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Lawrence Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| Andover Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Moore Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 7.8 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boxford, MA and Lowell, MA.
1
Start on Topsfield Road
81 ft
·
9 sec
·
Topsfield Road
2
Continue on Topsfield Road Extension
375 ft
·
7 sec
·
Topsfield Road Extension
3
Continue on Main Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
4
Turn slight left onto Lawrence Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Lawrence Road
5
Continue on Boxford Street
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Boxford Street
6
Continue on Salem Street
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Salem Street
7
Continue on Johnson Street
499 ft
·
12 sec
·
Johnson Street
8
Enter roundabout onto Andover Street
227 ft
·
4 sec
·
Andover Street
9
Continue on Andover Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Andover Street
10
Continue on MA 133
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Peters Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on MA 133
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Haverhill Street
12
Turn right onto MA 28
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Main Street
13
Continue on MA 28
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Union Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 495 South: Lowell, Marlboro
15
Merge onto I 495
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 91
Toward South Lowell, North Billerica
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto Woburn Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Woburn Street
18
Turn left onto Lawrence Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lawrence Street
19
Turn left onto Moore Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Moore Street
20
At end of road, turn right onto MA 3A
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Gorham Street
21
Continue on MA 3A
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Thorndike Street
22
Turn left onto YMCA Drive
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
YMCA Drive
23
Continue on Hale Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Hale Street
24
Arrive at destination
Hale Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 6.7 and 17.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
Andover Street
Enter roundabout onto Andover Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
8.9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
MA 28 / North Main Street
Turn right onto MA 28 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
9.5 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 South: Lowell, Marlboro
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 495 South: Lowell, Marlboro
5
9.9 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
17.7 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward South Lowell, North Billerica
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 91
Toward South Lowell, North Billerica
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.18 one way
$6.37 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $3.47 | $6.95 |
| premium | $4.82 | $3.78 | $7.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.39 | $8.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6 | 0 | $2.09 | $0.96 |
| Efficient EV | 5 | 0 | $1.74 | $0.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8 | 0 | $2.79 | $1.27 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
5:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
20 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
36m 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 route presents a mixed drive experience, with 39% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on I 495, including one continuous segment of 7.8 miles, offering a taste of highway cruising. The remainder of the drive will likely involve local roads like Salem Street and Boxford Street, shifting the pace from faster highway speeds to more typical town driving. Expect a blend of both, transitioning between quicker travel and navigating through more developed areas.
39% 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: 7.8 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.7 miles in near Andover Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 19.9 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: at 6.7 miles (Andover Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.9 miles (MA 28 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.5 miles: 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 Boxford, MA and Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Marlboro and Billerica.
Marlboro
9.5 mi in
|
~20m
Billerica
17.7 mi in
|
~30m
About the Cities
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 36m. Total distance: 19.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). 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 7.8 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 6.7 miles (Andover Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.9 miles (MA 28 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Lowell National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Salem Maritime 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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