Origin
City of Lowell, MA
Morning in City of Lowell on Sunday
Local time
8:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from City of Lowell, MA to Medford, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
33m
Distance
22.3 mi
36 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 31m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m
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
Medford, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lowell to Medford is 22.3 miles and takes about 33 minutes via US 3, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically moving across Massachusetts. You'll experience a mixed drive that's mostly highway but offers a relatively short travel time, making it ideal for a quick relocation or a day trip. Given its brevity, it's a straightforward journey with minimal planning required, perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 3 | 10.7 mi | 13m |
| Lowell Connector | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Cambridge Road | 2 mi | 2m |
| Cambridge Street | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| Winthrop Street | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Yankee Division Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Bacon Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Chelmsford Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 3
— 10.7 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Lowell, MA and Medford, 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
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lowell Connector
9
Continue on Lowell Connector
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Lowell Connector
Exit 1A
Toward US 3 South: Boston
10
Merge onto US 3
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
US 3
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 3
Exit 72A
Toward I 95 North, US 3 South: Boston, Peabody
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
US 3
13
Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
14
Take the exit onto US 3
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 3
Exit 51A
Toward US 3 South: Winchester
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto US 3
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Cambridge Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Continue on US 3
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Cambridge Road
17
Continue on US 3
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cambridge Street
18
Turn left onto Church Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Church Street
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Bacon Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bacon Street
20
Enter roundabout onto MA 38
37 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
21
Continue on MA 38
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
Main Street
22
Continue on MA 38
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Winthrop Street
23
Enter roundabout onto MA 60
150 ft
·
3 sec
·
High Street
24
Continue on MA 60
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
High Street
25
Continue on MA 60
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Riverside Avenue
26
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 60
525 ft
·
18 sec
·
City Hall Mall
27
Turn right onto MA 60
52 ft
·
0 sec
·
Salem Street
Use the right lane.
28
Arrive at destination
MA 60
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 22.3 — 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
9
12.7 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
US 3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3 toward I 95 North, US 3 South: Boston, Peabody
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 72A
Toward I 95 North, US 3 South: Boston, Peabody
7
15 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
US 3
Take the exit onto US 3 toward US 3 South: Winchester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 51A
Toward US 3 South: Winchester
5
15.2 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
US 3 / Cambridge Street
Merge onto US 3 / Cambridge Street
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
22.3 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
MA 60 / Salem Street
Turn right onto MA 60 / Salem Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.57 one way
$7.14 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $3.89 | $7.78 |
| premium | $4.82 | $4.23 | $8.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.92 | $9.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.34 | $1.07 |
| Efficient EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.95 | $0.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.12 | $1.43 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Medford, MA
Morning in Medford on Sunday
Local time
8:11 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
33m 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 48% of it being highway. You'll encounter stretches on US 3, the Lowell Connector, and Cambridge Road, blending faster-paced travel with more local road segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 10.7 miles on US 3, allowing for a good period of consistent speed before you transition. Expect the drive to feel primarily like a straightforward commute, with some sections offering a more open-road feel before you navigate through more built-up areas as you approach Medford.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.7 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 0.1 miles in near Middlesex Street.
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 19 decision points packed into just 22.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 33m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Middlesex Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 12.7 miles (US 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Medford, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Peabody along the way.
Peabody
12.7 mi in
|
~17m
|
via US 3
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 33m. Total distance: 22.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). 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 10.7 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 Medford, 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 12.7 miles (US 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Medford, 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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