Origin
Gloucester, MA
Morning in Gloucester on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gloucester, 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 6m
Distance
47.3 mi
76 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gloucester, MA
Wikimedia Commons
City of Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
Spanning 47.3 miles across Massachusetts, this transition from the coast to the historic industrial heartland is a straightforward day trip. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 6 minutes behind the wheel, making it an ideal excursion for those looking to explore the Northeast without a heavy travel burden. With a fuel cost of approximately $8, the route is highly budget-friendly and requires no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via the Yankee Division Highway, US 3, and Chelmsford Street to reach your destination. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, it offers a functional way to connect Gloucester to Lowell while keeping your itinerary flexible.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Yankee Division Highway | 32.4 mi | 44m |
| US 3 | 10.7 mi | 13m |
| Chelmsford Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Washington Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Westford Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Grand Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Middlesex Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Yankee Division Highway
— 32.4 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gloucester, MA and City of Lowell, MA.
1
Start on Dale Avenue
266 ft
·
15 sec
·
Dale Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto Hancock Street
351 ft
·
24 sec
·
Hancock Street
3
Turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn right onto Washington Street
299 ft
·
5 sec
·
Washington Street
5
Continue on Washington Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
6
Enter roundabout onto MA 128
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
Yankee Division Highway
7
Continue on MA 128
32 mi
·
44 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 3
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
10
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
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 81C
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
15
Turn right onto MA 110
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Chelmsford Street
16
Turn sharp left onto MA 3A
458 ft
·
10 sec
·
Westford Street
17
Turn right onto Grand Street
448 ft
·
23 sec
·
Grand Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto Middlesex Street
383 ft
·
18 sec
·
Middlesex Street
19
Turn sharp right onto Arch Street
15 ft
·
5 sec
·
Arch Street
20
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.6 miles from Gloucester, 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 33.6 and 45 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
33.6 mi into trip
|
~46m 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,...
7
33.7 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
US 3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3 toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
7
34 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
US 3
Keep slight right at fork onto US 3 toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 50A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
8
44.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 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 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m 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
$7.57 one way
$15.14 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.26 | $16.51 |
| premium | $4.82 | $8.98 | $17.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.44 | $20.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 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 | $4.97 | $2.27 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.62 | $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.
Destination
City of Lowell, MA
Morning in City of Lowell on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 3 mph
21% chance
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
26 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 6m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This journey is defined by a mix of fast-paced highway segments and technical local maneuvering. You will spend about 23% of your travel time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 32.4 miles on the Yankee Division Highway. Once you transition off the main arteries, the character of the road shifts into a more turn-heavy, local driving experience. The road surface and traffic density change significantly as you move away from the coast and navigate toward the City of Lowell. Prepare for a dynamic driving environment that requires your full attention as you transition between high-speed infrastructure and city streets.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.4 mi on Yankee Division Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 33.6 miles in near US 3.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.3 miles you will encounter 19 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 33.6 miles (US 3): 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): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34 miles (US 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gloucester, MA and City of Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire, Marlboro and Chelmsford.
Middlesex Turnpike
33.6 mi in
|
~46m
|
via US 3
Burlington
33.6 mi in
|
~46m
|
via US 3
Nashua New Hampshire
33.6 mi in
|
~46m
|
via US 3
Marlboro
44.3 mi in
|
~1h
Chelmsford
44.7 mi in
|
~1h
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 47.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.4 miles on Yankee Division 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 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 33.6 miles (US 3): 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): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34 miles (US 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Lowell National Historical Park, Salem Maritime National Historical Park and Minute Man 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.
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