Origin
City of Lowell, MA
Morning in City of Lowell on Sunday
Local time
9:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from City of Lowell, MA to Barre, 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 20m
Distance
52.1 mi
84 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
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
Trip Overview
Traveling from Lowell to Barre covers a 52.1-mile stretch that typically takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete. Because this journey is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $8 on fuel for the trek, making it an affordable excursion within Massachusetts. The route transitions you from the urban-adjacent areas of the Northeast into the more rural landscape of Barre. Since there are no required stops, you have the flexibility to power through the drive or take your time as you transition across the state.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Isaac Davis Highway | 10.9 mi | 14m |
| I 495 | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| Concord Turnpike | 10.4 mi | 14m |
| South Street | 3.6 mi | 7m |
| New Westminster Road | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Hubbardston Road | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Barre Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Brigham Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
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 Barre, 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
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Concord Turnpike
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 92
Toward MA 2A, MA 140 South: Westminster
17
Keep slight right at fork
305 ft
·
8 sec
18
Turn straight onto MA 2A; MA 140
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
State Road East
19
Turn right onto MA 2A
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
20
Turn left onto South Street
3.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Street
21
Continue on New Westminster Road
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
New Westminster Road
22
Continue on Brigham Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Brigham Street
23
Continue on Elm Street
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Elm Street
24
Continue on Barre Road
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Barre Road
25
Turn right onto MA 62
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Old Boston Turnpike
26
Continue on MA 62
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Hubbardston Road
27
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 62
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Mechanic Street
28
Turn right onto MA 62
157 ft
·
3 sec
·
Exchange Street
29
Turn left onto MA 62
280 ft
·
14 sec
·
School Street North
30
Turn left onto MA 32; MA 122
142 ft
·
2 sec
·
Concert Mall
31
Arrive at destination
MA 32; MA 122
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26 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 225 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 35.6 — 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
6
35.6 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward MA 2A, MA 140 South: Westminster
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 92
Toward MA 2A, MA 140 South: Westminster
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.34 one way
$16.68 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.09 | $18.19 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.89 | $19.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.50 | $23.01 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.73
Concord Turnpike
(10.4 mi)
$0.73
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.29 | $3.33 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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
Barre, MA
Morning in Barre on Sunday
Local time
9:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Westminster, MA
26 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 20m 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, balancing high-speed transit with local road navigation. You will utilize a combination of the Captain Isaac Davis Highway, I-495, and the Concord Turnpike to bridge the gap between cities. About 41% of your travel time is spent on highways, providing a steady rhythm before you transition to secondary roads. Be prepared for a change in pace, as the longest uninterrupted stretch is 10.9 miles on the Captain Isaac Davis Highway. Expect the road personality to shift from structured interstate driving to a more localized feel as you approach your final destination.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 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?
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 0.1 miles in near Middlesex Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.1 miles you will encounter 22 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 52.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). 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 $0.73 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 Barre, 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 Barre, 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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