Embarking on a journey from Dalton to Lawrence, Massachusetts, covers 139.3 miles and will take approximately 2 hours and 39 minutes. This drive is well-suited for a single day trip, with a projected fuel cost of around $22. The route primarily utilizes local roads, including Glennon Avenue, Main Street, and North Street, with no highway segments, suggesting a more intimate, turn-heavy experience. Given its manageable distance and duration, you can comfortably complete this trip without needing an overnight stay. Plan for a leisurely pace as you navigate through familiar New England landscapes.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
67.2 miles from Dalton, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MA 2
53.5 mi
1h 17m
I 495
21.5 mi
24m
Concord Turnpike
12.3 mi
16m
Mohawk Trail
10 mi
15m
Route 9
8.1 mi
12m
Berkshire Trail
4.8 mi
6m
Ashfield Road
3.9 mi
6m
Plainfield Road
3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
MA 2
— 53.5 mi, about 1h 17m
Traffic on I-495
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 82 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,433 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~331 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dalton, MA and Lawrence, MA.
1
Start on Stockbridge Avenue
253 ft·13 sec·Stockbridge Avenue
2
Turn right onto Glennon Avenue
378 ft·17 sec·Glennon Avenue
3
Turn left onto MA 8; MA 9
0.3 mi·49 sec·Main Street
4
Turn left onto MA 9
2.7 mi·4 min·North Street
5
Continue on MA 8A; MA 9
8.1 mi·12 min·Route 9
6
Continue on MA 9
0.7 mi·1 min·Marine Corps League Highway
7
Continue on MA 9
4.8 mi·6 min·Berkshire Trail
8
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·Main Street
9
Turn left onto Plainfield Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Plainfield Road
10
Continue on South Central Street
0.4 mi·57 sec·South Central Street
11
Turn right onto Gloyd Street
1.2 mi·2 min·Gloyd Street
12
Continue on Pleasant Street
0.6 mi·58 sec·Pleasant Street
13
Turn slight right onto MA 116
1.5 mi·3 min·Plainfield Road
14
Continue on MA 116
2.4 mi·6 min·Spruce Corner Road
15
At end of road, turn left onto MA 112; MA 116
1.4 mi·2 min·Suburban Drive
16
Continue on MA 112
2.5 mi·3 min·Ashfield Mountain Road
17
Continue on MA 112
1.0 mi·1 min·Ashfield Road
18
Continue on MA 112
1.4 mi·2 min·Lower Street
19
Continue on MA 112
2.9 mi·5 min·Ashfield Road
20
Continue on MA 112
0.2 mi·28 sec·Connector Road
21
At end of road, turn left onto MA 2; MA 112
10.0 mi·15 min·Mohawk Trail
22
Enter roundabout onto MA 2
0.2 mi·12 sec·MA 2
23
Continue on MA 2
2.4 mi·2 min·MA 2
24
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 2
51 mi·1 hr 14 min·MA 2
Exit 27Toward MA 2 East: Boston
25
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
12 mi·16 min·Concord Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Exit 113BToward I 495 North: LowellUse the right lane.
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
28
Merge onto I 495
22 mi·24 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi·52 sec
Exit 99BToward MA 28 North: LawrenceUse the slight right lane.
30
Turn straight onto MA 28
0.2 mi·22 sec·Union Street
31
Keep slight right at fork onto South Union Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South Union Street
32
Turn left onto MA 114
0.3 mi·36 sec·Winthrop Avenue
33
Continue on MA 114
0.5 mi·55 sec·Parker Street
34
Continue on Amesbury Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·Amesbury Street
35
Turn right onto Canal Street
282 ft·6 sec·Canal Street
36
Turn left onto Lawrence Street
492 ft·18 sec·Lawrence Street
37
Turn left onto Essex Street
498 ft·11 sec·Essex Street
38
Arrive at destination
Essex Street
Trip Plan
For this 139.3-mile drive, consider an early morning departure to make the most of your day and potentially avoid some local traffic. With a duration of under three hours, you won't need to break this trip into segments; however, the single recommended stop provides a good opportunity for a short break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $22, and while there are no long highway stretches, refueling might be less frequent on these local roads. A practical tip for this turn-heavy route is to familiarize yourself with the main roads, Glennon Avenue, Main Street, and North Street, before you depart to anticipate changes in direction.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.2 miles from Dalton, MA, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.5 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 30 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.2 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lawrence, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dalton, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dalton, MA
This is one driving day of about 134.4 miles and 3h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Dalton, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on MA 2 for about 53.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway reset
4.5 mi from route
~11 min detour
$10 to $20
Wendell, Massachusetts
Hours: 6 pm–12 am
+19785442739
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 46.3 and 131.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
46.3 mi into trip|~1h 16m in|MA 2
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 2 toward MA 2 East: Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 27
Toward MA 2 East: Boston
6
97.3 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|MA 2 / Concord Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2 / Concord Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
109.6 mi into trip|~2h 48m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 113B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
6
110.1 mi into trip|~2h 49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
7
131.8 mi into trip|~3h 14m in
Take the exit toward MA 28 North: Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 99B
Toward MA 28 North: Lawrence
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.84 one way
$47.67 round trip
$4.51/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$25.92
$51.83
premium
$5.29
$28.00
$55.99
diesel
$5.35
$28.31
$56.62
Estimated Tolls: $0.86
Concord Turnpike
(12.3 mi)$0.86
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.3
0
$14.11
$6.45
Efficient EV
33.6
0
$11.76
$5.38
EV Truck/SUV
53.8
0
$18.82
$8.60
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Dalton, MA
Afternoon
in Dalton on Wednesday
Local time
3:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Patchy Fog
NW 2 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lawrence, MA
Afternoon
in Lawrence on Wednesday
Local time
3:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Chance Rain Showers
N 5 mph25% chanceLive forecast
75°F
Northfield, MA
67 mi in
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
3 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
3h 20m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 125.1
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 115.8
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...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 129.7
From the Sound to the summits: the New England Trail covers 235 miles from Long Island Sound across long ridges to scenic mountain summits in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail offers panoramic...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 55.6
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.
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 125.1
. . . 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...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 125.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a turn-heavy local drive with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be navigating through towns and local thoroughfares for the entire journey. You'll primarily be on roads like Glennon Avenue, Main Street, and North Street, which suggests a more engaging driving experience with frequent turns and varying speed limits. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the overall profile indicates a route that keeps you connected to the local environment rather than isolated on high-speed highways. Expect a drive that requires your attention as you move through populated areas.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.5 mi on MA 2.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MA 2 and I 495. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 46.3 miles in near MA 2.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 134.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 46.3 miles (MA 2): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 97.3 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 109.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Dalton is a town in the Berkshires, Massachusetts. Next to the city of Pittsfield, it is perhaps best known for Crane Currency, formerly Crane & Company, which produces the paper used in United States national currency. In addition to the architectural heritage of the Crane Currency mill buildings and associated housing, Dalton offers many outdoor activities.
Top landmarks
•Main Street Cemetery — cemetery in Dalton, Massachusetts
•East Main Street Cemetery — cemetery in Dalton, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States
•Fairview Cemetery — cemetery in Dalton, Massachusetts
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 20m. Total distance: 134.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.5 miles on MA 2. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.86 in tolls one way, starting with Concord Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 7 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 Lawrence, MA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 46.3 miles (MA 2): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 97.3 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 109.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Lowell National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Salem Maritime National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Lawrence, MA, but most travelers stay overnight.
