Origin
City of Lowell, MA
Morning in City of Lowell on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from City of Lowell, MA to Sterling, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
32.9 mi
53 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 44m
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
Sterling, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Lowell to Sterling, you can expect a manageable 32.9-mile journey that typically takes about 46 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination with minimal time behind the wheel. Budgeting around $5 for fuel makes this an incredibly cost-effective excursion within the Northeast region. Because the drive is short, you have plenty of flexibility to explore Sterling at your own pace without needing an overnight stay. It is a straightforward trip that links two Massachusetts communities efficiently, making it an ideal choice for a stress-free getaway.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Isaac Davis Highway | 10.9 mi | 14m |
| I 495 | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| I 190 | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| Leominster Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Lowell Connector | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Chelmsford Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Leominster Connector | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Grand Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
— 10.9 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Lowell, MA and Sterling, 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
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 78B
Toward MA 2 West: Leominster
14
Merge onto MA 2
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto Leominster Connector
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Leominster Connector
Exit 101
Toward I 190 South: Worcester
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
17
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
this road
18
Merge onto I 190
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
I 190
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 6
Toward MA 12: Sterling, Clinton
20
Enter roundabout onto MA 12
225 ft
·
3 sec
·
Leominster Road
21
Continue on MA 12
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Leominster Road
22
Enter roundabout onto MA 12
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
Leominster Road
23
Continue on MA 12
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Leominster Road
24
Turn straight onto MA 12; MA 62
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Main Street
25
Turn sharp right onto Meetinghouse Hill Road
55 ft
·
1 sec
·
Meetinghouse Hill Road
26
Arrive at destination
Meetinghouse Hill Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 32.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.5 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 205 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 30.8 — 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
6
25.2 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
Leominster Connector
Keep slight right at fork onto Leominster Connector toward I 190 South: Worcester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 101
Toward I 190 South: Worcester
6
30.8 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward MA 12: Sterling, Clinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 6
Toward MA 12: Sterling, Clinton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.27 one way
$10.53 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $5.74 | $11.48 |
| premium | $4.82 | $6.25 | $12.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.26 | $14.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.45 | $1.58 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.88 | $1.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.61 | $2.11 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
Sterling, MA
Morning in Sterling on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°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
8 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
46m 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 trip offers a mixed driving experience, balancing highway efficiency with local transitions. You will spend roughly 47% of your time on major interstates, specifically utilizing I-495 and I-190 to cover ground quickly. The longest uninterrupted segment you will encounter is a 10.9-mile stretch along the Captain Isaac Davis Highway. As you move through the route, the road transitions from faster, multi-lane environments into the character of the local landscape. Expect a functional drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, technical backroads.
47% 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: 10.9 mi on Captain Isaac Davis 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 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 20 decision points packed into just 32.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
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.
Between City of Lowell, MA and Sterling, MA, road signs point toward Nashua New Hampshire and Clinton.
Nashua New Hampshire
2.2 mi in
|
~4m
Clinton
30.8 mi in
|
~42m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 32.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). 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 10.9 miles on Captain Isaac Davis 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 Sterling, 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 Sterling, 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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