The City of Lowell, MA to Plympton, MA drive is 73.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 36 minutes via Yankee Division Highway and US 3, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Massachusetts, traversing the Northeast region. You'll experience a mix of highway and surface roads, making it a straightforward drive for a single day. It's a practical option if you're looking for a relatively short trip with minimal time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.8 miles from City of Lowell, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Yankee Division Highway
22.7 mi
30m
Amvets Highway
17.7 mi
20m
US 3
9.1 mi
10m
US 44
7.9 mi
8m
I 495
4.5 mi
5m
US 1
3.1 mi
4m
Lowell Connector
2.1 mi
2m
North Main Street
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Yankee Division Highway
— 22.7 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Lowell, MA and Plympton, 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 1AToward 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 72BToward I 95 South: Providence Rhode IslandUse 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 26Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: BostonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 4Toward MA 24 South: Fall RiverUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on MA 24
18 mi·20 min·Amvets Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 22AToward I 495 South: Cape CodUse the right lane.
17
Merge onto I 495
4.5 mi·5 min·I 495
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Exit 15Toward US 44: Middleboro, Plymouth
19
Turn right onto US 44
0.4 mi·34 sec·Harding Street
20
Enter roundabout onto US 44
446 ft·5 sec·US 44
21
Continue on US 44
7.8 mi·8 min·US 44
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward MA 58: Carver, Plympton
23
Keep slight left at fork
231 ft·10 sec
24
Turn left onto MA 58
2.0 mi·3 min·North Main Street
25
Turn left onto Parsonage Road
82 ft·1 sec·Parsonage Road
26
Arrive at destination
Parsonage Road
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour 36 minute drive, leaving in the mid-morning should help you avoid the worst of rush hour traffic out of Lowell. With only 73.5 miles, you can easily complete this trip in one day without needing extensive stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $12 and finding services might be less frequent once you're off the main highways. The flexibility of this shorter route means you can take your time and perhaps make an unplanned stop if something catches your eye.
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 36.8 miles from City of Lowell, MA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.7 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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.8 miles or 49m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Plympton, 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 73.5 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 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 Yankee Division Highway for about 22.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 57.5 — 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
57.5 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 495 South: Cape Cod
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 22A
Toward I 495 South: Cape Cod
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.76 one way
$23.53 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$12.83
$25.66
premium
$4.82
$13.96
$27.91
diesel
$5.61
$16.23
$32.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.1
0
$7.72
$3.53
Efficient EV
18.4
0
$6.43
$2.94
EV Truck/SUV
29.4
0
$10.29
$4.70
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 21, 2026
Origin
City of Lowell, MA
Afternoon
in City of Lowell on Tuesday
Local time
12:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Plympton, MA
Afternoon
in Plympton on Tuesday
Local time
12:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 36m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Lowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Lowell’s water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation – including immigrant families and early female factory workers – into an uncertain new industrial era. Nearly 200 years later, the changes t...
At Minute Man National Historical Park the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and structures associated with April 19, 1775, and witness the Ameri...
From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penn’s Hill to the gentleman’s country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of “heroes, statesmen, philosophers…and learned wome...
Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 27.9
. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach o...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 40.6
Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 12.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 73.5-mile route includes a 34% highway share. You'll drive for a longest stretch of 22.7 miles on the Yankee Division Highway. Expect the highway sections to transition into surface roads, offering a varied driving experience. The frequent exits on the highway portions suggest a need for attention to navigation as you approach your destination.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.7 mi on Yankee Division 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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.5 miles you will encounter 21 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 Plympton, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Plymouth along the way.
Plymouth
62.7 mi in|~1h 21m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 73.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). 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 22.7 miles on Yankee Division Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Plympton, 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 — Lowell National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Adams 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 Plympton, MA before heading back.
