Origin
Charlton, MA
Late night in Charlton on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charlton, MA to Lawrence, 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 26m
Distance
65.6 mi
105 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlton, MA
Italo Melo
Lawrence, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 65.6-mile drive from Charlton, MA to Lawrence, MA is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 26 minutes. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route is primarily highway-focused, making it a quick connection between two points within the Northeast region. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, so don't expect many opportunities for leisurely detours. This trip is best suited for those looking for efficient travel rather than a scenic adventure.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 34.2 mi | 39m |
| I 290 | 20.1 mi | 25m |
| Worcester Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Southbridge Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Southbridge Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South Union Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Parker Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| L Stevens Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 34.2 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlton, MA and Lawrence, MA.
1
Start on this road
65 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto MA 31
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto L Stevens Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
L Stevens Road
4
Turn right onto US 20
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Worcester Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 20
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
Southbridge Road
6
Enter roundabout onto US 20
111 ft
·
3 sec
·
Southbridge Road
7
Continue on US 20
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Southbridge Road
8
Continue on US 20; MA 12
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Southbridge Street
9
Continue on MA 12
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Southbridge Street
Use the left lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 290, I 395
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 290
12
Continue on I 290
20 mi
·
25 min
·
I 290
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
2 min
Exit 32B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
14
Merge onto I 495
34 mi
·
39 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 99B
Toward MA 28 North: Lawrence
Use 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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.8 miles from Charlton, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 63 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 20 / Worcester Road
Turn right onto US 20 / Worcester Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
7.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 290
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 290
5
28.1 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 32B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
5
28.8 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
63 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.50 one way
$21.00 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $11.45 | $22.90 |
| premium | $4.82 | $12.46 | $24.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.48 | $28.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 23 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.89 | $3.15 |
| Efficient EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.74 | $2.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.18 | $4.20 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Lawrence, MA
Late night in Lawrence on Sunday
Local time
3:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
2 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
1h 26m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for this 65.6-mile journey, with 83% of the drive taking place on major roadways like I-495 and I-290. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 34.2 miles on I-495, so be prepared for sustained highway driving. While Worcester Road offers a brief change of pace, the overall character is that of a fast-paced interstate connection. This route emphasizes efficiency, moving you quickly from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.2 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and I 290. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near US 20 / Worcester Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 65.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.8 miles (US 20 / Worcester Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 28.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Arriving in Lawrence, MA
Full guide →Lawrence is a city in Massachusetts with a population of about 89,000 (2020). Methuen is a city in Massachusetts with a population of 53,000 (2020).
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 26m. Total distance: 65.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.2 miles on I 495. 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.
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 0.8 miles (US 20 / Worcester Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 28.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Lawrence, 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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