Origin
City of Lowell, MA
Late night in City of Lowell on Sunday
Local time
12:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 43m
Distance
78.8 mi
127 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
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
Ocean Grove, MA
David Kanigan
Lowell, MA to Ocean Grove, MA is 78.8 miles and takes about 1h 43m via Amvets Highway and US 3, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the Northeast region, entirely in Massachusetts. Expect a local, turn-heavy drive for most of the journey. Given the short duration and modest fuel cost, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, offering a straightforward transition between two points in the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.4 miles from City of Lowell, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Amvets Highway | 32.7 mi | 37m |
| Yankee Division Highway | 22.7 mi | 30m |
| US 3 | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| US 1 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Wilbur Avenue | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Lowell Connector | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Western Fall River Expressway | 2 mi | 2m |
| Chelmsford Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between City of Lowell, MA and Ocean Grove, MA.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Arch Street
Turn sharp left onto Middlesex Street
Turn right onto Grand Street
Turn right onto MA 110
Turn left onto Plain Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto Lowell Connector
Continue on Lowell Connector
Merge onto US 3
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95; MA 128
Take the exit onto US 1
Take the exit
Continue on MA 24
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 79
Take the exit
Merge onto US 6; MA 138
Take the exit onto MA 138
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto MA 138
Enter roundabout onto MA 103
Continue on MA 103
Turn left onto Coleman Street
Turn left onto Puffer Avenue
Turn right onto Clancy Street
Arrive at destination
With a total drive time under two hours and a fuel cost around $13, this route offers excellent flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps after a morning coffee in Lowell. Since it's a short trip, you won't need to plan extensive stops, but keep an eye out for local services if you need to stretch your legs or refuel. The 'turn-heavy' nature means paying close attention to navigation, especially as you approach Ocean Grove.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.4 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ocean Grove, MA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving City of Lowell, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from City of Lowell, MA
This is one driving day of about 78.8 miles and 1h 43m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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.
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 39.4 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 72.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn sharp left onto Middlesex Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South: Providence Rhode Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 1 toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MA 24 South: Fall River
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 79 / Western Fall River Expressway toward MA 79 South: North Fall River, Somerset
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$12.61 one way
$25.22 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $13.75 | $27.51 |
| premium | $4.82 | $14.96 | $29.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.40 | $34.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.27 | $3.78 |
| Efficient EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.90 | $3.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.5 | 0 | $11.03 | $5.04 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in City of Lowell on Sunday
Local time
12:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Ocean Grove on Sunday
Local time
12:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive is characterized as 'turn-heavy' and local, with only 18% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a dynamic route that shifts between faster stretches and more intricate local roads. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 32.7 miles along Amvets Highway. Be prepared for frequent changes in speed and direction as you navigate through various towns and communities.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.8 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 12.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles (US 1): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Ocean Grove, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Somerset along the way.
Somerset
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 78.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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