Origin
City of Lowell, MA
Morning in City of Lowell on Sunday
Local time
6:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from City of Lowell, MA to Harvard, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
27m
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 25m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
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
Harvard, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick excursion through Massachusetts, the 19.9-mile journey from Lowell to Harvard is an efficient choice. You can easily complete this trip in about 27 minutes, making it a perfect one-day outing that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $3 for fuel is sufficient for the transit, allowing for a very economical drive. Because this route avoids highways entirely, it offers a more personal, local experience compared to the standard interstate commute. Whether you are heading out for a change of scenery or visiting the area, this straightforward path keeps your travel logistics simple and stress-free.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 14 mi | 16m |
| Massachusetts Avenue | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Lowell Connector | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Chelmsford Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Grand Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Plain Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Middlesex Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Arch Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 14 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Lowell, MA and Harvard, 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
14 mi
·
16 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 75
Toward MA 111: Boxboro, Harvard
14
At end of road, turn left onto MA 111
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Massachusetts Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
MA 111
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 17.2 — 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
6
17.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward MA 111: Boxboro, Harvard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 75
Toward MA 111: Boxboro, Harvard
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
Harvard, MA
Morning in Harvard on Sunday
Local time
6:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
27m 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 turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. You will navigate primarily via Arch Street, Middlesex Street, and Grand Street, meaning you won't encounter any high-speed highway stretches on this 0% highway-share route. The road is defined by its local character, moving away from the typical fast-paced transit found on larger regional arteries. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches, you should be prepared for a steady pace that requires your full attention on navigating local turns. This is a purely surface-road experience that prioritizes local access over rapid transit.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and Massachusetts Avenue. 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
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 19.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 27m.
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 Harvard, 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 27m. Total distance: 19.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14 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 Harvard, 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 Harvard, 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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