Origin
Chelsea, MA
Morning in Chelsea on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chelsea, 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
27.3 mi
44 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 51m
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.
Chelsea, MA
Italo Melo
City of Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
Chelsea, MA to the City of Lowell, MA is 27.3 miles and takes about 43m via US 3, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Massachusetts, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a mixed drive that balances highway speeds with some local road navigation. It's a straightforward journey, ideal for a single-day trip without feeling rushed. You'll find the drive is generally uncomplicated, making it a good choice for a quick hop between these two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 3 | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| Cambridge Road | 2 mi | 2m |
| Chelmsford Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Cambridge Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Second Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Winthrop Street | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Riverside Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Yankee Division Highway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 3
— 10.9 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chelsea, MA and City of Lowell, MA.
1
Start on Shawmut Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Shawmut Street
2
Turn right onto Central Avenue
523 ft
·
20 sec
·
Central Avenue
3
Turn right onto Hawthorn Street
173 ft
·
4 sec
·
Hawthorn Street
4
Turn sharp left onto Pearl Street
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Pearl Street
5
Turn right onto Congress Avenue
323 ft
·
16 sec
·
Congress Avenue
6
Turn left onto Broadway
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Broadway
7
Turn right onto Second Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Second Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto MA 99
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Broadway
9
Enter roundabout onto Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway
227 ft
·
4 sec
·
Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway
Toward MA 16 West: Medford, Somerville
10
Continue on Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway
Toward MA 16 West: Medford, Somerville
11
Enter roundabout
179 ft
·
5 sec
12
Continue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
13
Merge onto MA 16
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Revere Beach Parkway
14
Take the exit
200 ft
·
7 sec
15
Turn slight right onto MA 28
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Fellsway
16
Turn left onto Riverside Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Riverside Avenue
17
Continue on City Hall Mall
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
City Hall Mall
18
Turn left onto MA 60
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Salem Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Continue on MA 60
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
High Street
20
Enter roundabout onto Winthrop Street
67 ft
·
1 sec
·
Winthrop Street
21
Continue on Winthrop Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Winthrop Street
22
Continue on MA 38
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
Main Street
23
Enter roundabout onto Bacon Street
94 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bacon Street
24
Continue on Bacon Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bacon Street
25
Turn left onto Church Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Church Street
26
Turn right onto US 3
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cambridge Street
27
Continue on US 3
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Cambridge Road
28
Continue on US 3
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
Cambridge Street
29
Take the exit onto US 3
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 3
Toward I 95 South, US 3 North: Waltham, Lowell
30
Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
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.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 3
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
33
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
34
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
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.
36
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
37
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 81C
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
38
Turn right onto MA 110
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Chelmsford Street
39
Turn sharp left onto MA 3A
458 ft
·
10 sec
·
Westford Street
40
Turn right onto Grand Street
448 ft
·
23 sec
·
Grand Street
41
At end of road, turn left onto Middlesex Street
383 ft
·
18 sec
·
Middlesex Street
42
Turn sharp right onto Arch Street
15 ft
·
5 sec
·
Arch Street
43
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
44
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 335 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 25 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway
Enter roundabout onto Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway toward MA 16 West: Medford, Somerville
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MA 16 West: Medford, Somerville
7
5.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
MA 60 / Salem Street
Turn left onto MA 60 / Salem Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
13.6 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
24.3 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 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
$4.37 one way
$8.74 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.76 | $9.53 |
| premium | $4.82 | $5.18 | $10.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.03 | $12.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.6 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 | 8.2 | 0 | $2.87 | $1.31 |
| Efficient EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.39 | $1.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
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
11:12 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
23 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 route offers a mixed driving experience, with 42% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches that allow for steady progress, including a continuous segment of 10.9 miles on US 3. The drive isn't a pure interstate cruise; expect transitions onto and off of the main highway, incorporating roads like Cambridge Road and Chelmsford Street. This blend means you'll experience varying speed limits and road conditions, moving from faster-paced travel to more localized driving as you approach your destination.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
44 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 2.2 miles in near Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway.
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 33 decision points packed into just 27.3 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 2.2 miles (Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 miles (MA 60 / Salem Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 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 Chelsea, MA and City of Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Somerville, Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire and Marlboro - among others.
Somerville
2.2 mi in
|
~5m
|
via Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway
Lowell
12.3 mi in
|
~21m
|
via US 3
Middlesex Turnpike
13.6 mi in
|
~23m
|
via US 3
Burlington
13.6 mi in
|
~23m
|
via US 3
Nashua New Hampshire
13.6 mi in
|
~23m
|
via US 3
Marlboro
24.3 mi in
|
~37m
Chelmsford
24.8 mi in
|
~37m
About the Cities
Starting in Chelsea, MA
Full guide →Everett is a city in Massachusetts with a population of 49,000 (2020). Chelsea is a city with a population of 41,000 (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 43m. Total distance: 27.3 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 (42%). 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 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 2.2 miles (Krystyl K. Poirier Memorial Roadway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 miles (MA 60 / Salem Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Lowell National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park and Minute Man 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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