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Trip from City of Lowell, MA to Ocean Grove, 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 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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 36m ★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
1h 59m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 39m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown City of Lowell, MA, MA

City of Lowell, MA

Phil Evenden

Downtown Ocean Grove, MA, MA

Ocean Grove, MA

David Kanigan

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: Amvets Highway — 32.7 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between City of Lowell, MA and Ocean Grove, 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 right at fork

0.7 mi · 54 sec
Exit 72B Toward I 95 South: Providence Rhode Island Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Merge onto I 95; MA 128

23 mi · 30 min · Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit onto US 1

3.1 mi · 4 min · US 1
Exit 26 Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 4 Toward MA 24 South: Fall River Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on MA 24

33 mi · 37 min · Amvets Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight right at fork onto MA 79

2.0 mi · 2 min · Western Fall River Expressway
Exit 7 Toward MA 79 South: North Fall River, Somerset
17

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
18

Merge onto US 6; MA 138

0.1 mi · 1 min · Veterans Memorial Bridge
19

Take the exit onto MA 138

0.2 mi · 20 sec · MA 138
Toward MA 103 West, MA 138 North: Somerset, Warren Rhode Island
20

Keep slight left at fork

228 ft · 11 sec
Toward MA 103 West: Warren Rhode Island
21

Turn left onto MA 138

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Riverside Avenue
22

Enter roundabout onto MA 103

11 ft · 0 sec · Wilbur Avenue
23

Continue on MA 103

2.8 mi · 4 min · Wilbur Avenue
24

Turn left onto Coleman Street

0.2 mi · 41 sec · Coleman Street
25

Turn left onto Puffer Avenue

84 ft · 5 sec · Puffer Avenue
26

Turn right onto Clancy Street

244 ft · 10 sec · Clancy Street
27

Arrive at destination

Clancy Street

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.4 miles from City of Lowell, MA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.7 miles.

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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from City of Lowell, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Amvets Highway for about 32.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in Massachusetts, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dedham, MA

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Waltham, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dedham, MA

Meal break

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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 22

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.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Middlesex Street

Turn sharp left onto Middlesex Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

8
12.7 mi into trip | ~17m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South: Providence Rhode Island

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 72B Toward I 95 South: Providence Rhode Island
8
36.1 mi into trip | ~49m in | US 1

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 26 Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
7
39.3 mi into trip | ~53m in

Take the exit toward MA 24 South: Fall River

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 4 Toward MA 24 South: Fall River
7
72.5 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in | MA 79 / Western Fall River Expressway

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

Exit 7 Toward MA 79 South: North Fall River, Somerset

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.61 one way

$25.22 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

City of Lowell, MA

Late night in City of Lowell on Sunday

Local time

12:52 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ocean Grove, MA

Late night in Ocean Grove on Sunday

Local time

12:52 AM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

9 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 43m 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 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.

Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.7 mi on Amvets Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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.

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 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.

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 Ocean Grove, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Somerset along the way.

Somerset

72.5 mi in | ~1h 32m | via MA 79

Who Is This Route For?

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 32.7 miles on Amvets Highway. 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 Ocean Grove, 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: 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ocean Grove, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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