Origin
City of Lowell, MA
Morning in City of Lowell on Sunday
Local time
6:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from City of Lowell, MA to Ashburnham, 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 1m
Distance
39.4 mi
63 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
City of Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Ashburnham, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Lowell to Ashburnham is a straightforward 39.4-mile journey that typically takes about an hour and one minute. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate via a combination of I-495, the Concord Turnpike, and Captain Isaac Davis Highway. Budgeting approximately $6 for fuel makes this an economical excursion within the Northeast region. Since both cities are located within Massachusetts, you will remain in a familiar geographic area throughout the drive. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of scenery, the trip is short enough to offer plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Isaac Davis Highway | 10.9 mi | 14m |
| I 495 | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| Concord Turnpike | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Ashburnham State Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Fitchburg Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Water Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Ashburnham Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Kimball Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
— 10.9 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Lowell, MA and Ashburnham, MA.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi
·
40 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Arch Street
15 ft
·
8 sec
·
Arch Street
3
Turn sharp left onto Middlesex Street
383 ft
·
12 sec
·
Middlesex Street
4
Turn right onto Grand Street
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
Grand Street
5
Turn right onto MA 110
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Chelmsford Street
6
Turn left onto Plain Street
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Plain Street
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
8
Merge onto Lowell Connector
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lowell Connector
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 2B-A
Toward I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nashua New Hampshire
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 2A
Toward I 495 South: Worcester
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
12
Merge onto I 495
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 78B
Toward MA 2 West: Leominster
14
Merge onto MA 2
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
15
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Concord Turnpike
16
Turn right onto Abbott Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Abbott Avenue
17
At end of road, turn left onto MA 12
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Water Street
18
Turn left onto MA 2A; MA 12
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Laurel Street
19
Turn slight right onto MA 2A; MA 12
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Kimball Street
20
Enter roundabout onto MA 2A; MA 12; MA 31
71 ft
·
3 sec
·
River Street
21
Continue on MA 2A; MA 12; MA 31
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
River Street
22
Turn right onto Mayland Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Mayland Street
23
Continue on Fairview Street
508 ft
·
28 sec
·
Fairview Street
24
Turn left onto Westminster Hill Road
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Westminster Hill Road
25
Turn right onto MA 12
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Ashburnham Street
26
Continue on MA 12
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Ashburnham State Road
27
Continue on MA 12
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Fitchburg Road
28
Continue on MA 12
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Main Street North
29
Turn right onto MA 101
136 ft
·
2 sec
·
Water Street
30
Arrive at destination
MA 101
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.7 miles from City of Lowell, 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 215 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 3.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Middlesex Street
Turn sharp left onto Middlesex Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nashua New Hampshire
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 2B-A
Toward I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nash...
8
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 South: Worcester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2A
Toward I 495 South: Worcester
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 South: Marlboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
5
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.31 one way
$12.61 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.88 | $13.75 |
| premium | $4.82 | $7.48 | $14.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.70 | $17.40 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.26
Concord Turnpike
(3.8 mi)
$0.26
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$0
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.45 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Ashburnham, MA
Morning in Ashburnham on Sunday
Local time
6:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°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
25 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 1m 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 drive offers a mixed-road profile, transitioning between faster interstate segments and local highway driving. Roughly 37% of your travel time will be spent on highways, providing a balance between speed and local navigation. You should prepare for a consistent pace, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 10.9 miles along Captain Isaac Davis Highway. The road character shifts as you move away from the busier I-495 corridors toward the more localized sections of the route. Expect a functional, mixed-terrain experience that keeps you attentive as the landscape transitions from the urbanized feel of Lowell toward the quieter surroundings of Ashburnham.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.9 mi on Captain Isaac Davis Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.1 miles in near Middlesex Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 39.4 miles you will encounter 21 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 0.1 miles (Middlesex Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 City of Lowell, MA to Ashburnham, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Nashua New Hampshire along the way.
Nashua New Hampshire
2.2 mi in
|
~4m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 39.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). 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 Captain Isaac Davis Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.26 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 Ashburnham, 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 0.1 miles (Middlesex Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Ashburnham, 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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