Skip to main content

Trip from Cohasset, MA to City of Lowell, 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 15m

Distance

47.4 mi

76 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 10m ★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m

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

Trip Overview

Traveling from Cohasset to Lowell covers 47.4 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. This route transitions from the coastal Northeast region into the heart of Massachusetts, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $8 on fuel for the journey. You will navigate a mix of major arteries, including the Southeast Expressway and the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway, before transitioning onto US 3. Because the distance is relatively short, you have the flexibility to complete the trip in a single morning or afternoon. It is a straightforward commute that serves as a practical connection between these two Massachusetts locations.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 3 10.9 mi 13m
Southeast Expressway 3.3 mi 4m
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway 3.2 mi 5m
I 93 3.1 mi 4m
Newport Avenue 2.3 mi 4m
Cambridge Road 2 mi 2m
Justice Cushing Way 1.9 mi 2m
Chelmsford Street 1.8 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 3 — 10.9 mi, about 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cohasset, MA and City of Lowell, MA.

1

Start on North Main Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
2

Turn left onto King Street

0.2 mi · 29 sec · King Street
3

Turn right onto MA 3A

0.8 mi · 1 min · Chief Justice Cushing Highway
4

Continue on MA 3A

1.9 mi · 2 min · Justice Cushing Way
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5

Enter roundabout onto MA 3A

353 ft · 6 sec · Summer Street
6

Continue on MA 3A

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Summer Street
7

Continue on MA 3A

0.6 mi · 1 min · Otis Street
8

Continue on MA 3A

0.6 mi · 55 sec · Broad Cove Road
9

Continue on MA 3A

1.5 mi · 2 min · Lincoln Street
10

Continue on MA 3A

1.7 mi · 2 min · Bridge Street
11

Continue on MA 3A

0.3 mi · 1 min · Fore River Bridge
12

Continue on MA 3A

464 ft · 7 sec · Washington Street
13

Enter roundabout onto MA 3A

190 ft · 3 sec · Washington Street
14

Continue on MA 3A

1.6 mi · 2 min · Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Continue on Hancock Street

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Hancock Street
Use the straight lane.
16

Keep slight left at fork onto Adams Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Adams Street
17

Turn right onto Newport Avenue

2.3 mi · 4 min · Newport Avenue
Use the right lane.
18

Turn slight left onto MA 3A

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Hancock Street
19

Continue on MA 3A

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Neponset Avenue
20

Merge onto MA 3A

247 ft · 6 sec · William T. Morrissey Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
21

Take the exit onto MA 3A

0.3 mi · 34 sec · MA 3A
Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
22

Merge onto I 93; US 1; MA 3

3.3 mi · 4 min · Southeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3

3.2 mi · 5 min · John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Keep slight right at fork onto I 93

3.1 mi · 4 min · I 93
Toward I 93 North: Concord NH Use the straight / slight left lanes.
25

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 22 Toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlington Use the slight right lane.
26

Continue on MA 16

1.1 mi · 2 min · Mystic Valley Parkway
27

Turn right onto MA 38

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Winthrop Street
Use the right lane.
28

Enter roundabout onto Winthrop Street

117 ft · 2 sec · Winthrop Street
29

Continue on Winthrop Street

1.3 mi · 1 min · Winthrop Street
30

Continue on MA 38

0.5 mi · 46 sec · Main Street
31

Enter roundabout onto Bacon Street

94 ft · 1 sec · Bacon Street
32

Continue on Bacon Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Bacon Street
33

Turn left onto Church Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Church Street
34

Turn right onto US 3

1.1 mi · 1 min · Cambridge Street
35

Continue on US 3

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cambridge Road
36

Continue on US 3

0.6 mi · 47 sec · Cambridge Street
37

Take the exit onto US 3

0.2 mi · 27 sec · US 3
Toward I 95 South, US 3 North: Waltham, Lowell
38

Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128

1.1 mi · 1 min · Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
39

Take the exit onto US 3

0.1 mi · 15 sec · US 3
Exit 50B-A Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40

Keep slight left at fork onto US 3

0.3 mi · 34 sec · US 3
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
41

Keep slight right at fork onto US 3

9.8 mi · 11 min · US 3
Exit 50A Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
42

Keep slight left at fork onto US 3

0.5 mi · 32 sec · US 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Exit 81B-C Toward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlboro Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 21 sec
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
45

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 81C Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
46

Turn right onto MA 110

1.8 mi · 2 min · Chelmsford Street
47

Turn sharp left onto MA 3A

458 ft · 10 sec · Westford Street
48

Turn right onto Grand Street

448 ft · 23 sec · Grand Street
49

At end of road, turn left onto Middlesex Street

383 ft · 18 sec · Middlesex Street
50

Turn sharp right onto Arch Street

15 ft · 5 sec · Arch Street
51

Turn left

0.1 mi · 38 sec
52

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

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

capital and largest city of Massachusetts, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Boston, MA

24 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.

Popular next leg

Boston, MA to City of Lowell, MA

27.7 mi · 43m

Pacing Suggestions

Quincy, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

City of Somerville, MA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Cohasset, 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 32

5 decision points cluster between mile 21.2 and 45.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
21.2 mi into trip | ~37m in | I 93

Keep slight right at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 North: Concord NH

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward I 93 North: Concord NH
8
24.3 mi into trip | ~41m in

Take the exit toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlington

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 22 Toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlin...
8
33.7 mi into trip | ~56m in | US 3

Take the exit onto US 3 toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire

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 50B-A Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike,...
8
44.4 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in

Take the exit toward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlboro

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 81B-C Toward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlbor...
8
45.1 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in

Keep slight right at fork toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 81C Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.59 one way

$15.17 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $8.27 $16.55
premium $4.82 $9.00 $18.00
diesel $5.61 $10.47 $20.93

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.2 0 $4.98 $2.28
Efficient EV 11.9 0 $4.15 $1.90
EV Truck/SUV 19 0 $6.64 $3.03

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 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 15, 2026

Origin

Cohasset, MA

Morning in Cohasset on Sunday

Local time

6:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

City of Lowell, MA

Morning in City of Lowell on Sunday

Local time

6:36 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

10 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 15m 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 is best characterized as a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While you will spend about 45% of your time on highways, the route frequently shifts between fast-paced expressways and more technical local roads. You won't find long, monotonous stretches here; in fact, the longest uninterrupted segment is just 10.9 miles along US 3. Expect the road personality to change as you leave the coastal area and head toward Lowell. The combination of varied road types ensures you stay engaged throughout the hour-plus drive.

Only 45% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
52 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.9 mi on US 3.

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 21.2 miles in near I 93.

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 47.4 miles you will encounter 32 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 21.2 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.7 miles (US 3): 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.

Between Cohasset, MA and City of Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Arlington, Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire and Marlboro - among others.

Arlington

24.3 mi in | ~41m

Lowell

32.4 mi in | ~54m | via US 3

Middlesex Turnpike

33.7 mi in | ~56m | via US 3

Burlington

33.7 mi in | ~56m | via US 3

Nashua New Hampshire

33.7 mi in | ~56m | via US 3

Marlboro

44.4 mi in | ~1h 9m

Chelmsford

44.8 mi in | ~1h 10m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 47.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 10.9 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 City of Lowell, 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 21.2 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.7 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Adams National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park and Lowell 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 City of Lowell, 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

City of Lowell, MA to Cohasset, MA

Plan the drive back the other way.

47.6 mi 1h 15m

Explore more options from Cohasset, MA or browse trips ending in City of Lowell, MA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MA road trips.