Origin
Hanover, MA
Late night in Hanover on Tuesday
Local time
4:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hanover, MA to Lowell, MA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
51.8 mi
83 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hanover, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
Hanover to Lowell is 51.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 13 minutes via US 3, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Massachusetts, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a fairly straightforward trip, mostly utilizing major highways, making it a convenient option for a quick journey. If you're looking for an easy, predictable drive with minimal fuss, this route fits the bill. You'll spend a good portion of your time on highways, so expect consistent travel speeds.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 3 | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| Pilgrims Highway | 10.7 mi | 13m |
| MA 3 | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| I 93 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Washington Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Cambridge Road | 2 mi | 2m |
| Cambridge 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 Hanover, MA and Lowell, MA.
1
Start on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
2
Turn left onto Rockland Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Rockland Street
3
Turn right onto MA 53
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Columbia Road
4
Continue on MA 53
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Washington Street
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward MA 3 North: Braintree, Boston
6
Merge onto MA 3
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Pilgrims Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on MA 3
8.4 mi
·
11 min
·
MA 3
Exit 43B
Toward I 93 North: Boston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 22
Toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlington
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on MA 16
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Mystic Valley Parkway
12
Turn right onto MA 38
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Winthrop Street
Use the right lane.
13
Enter roundabout onto Winthrop Street
117 ft
·
2 sec
·
Winthrop Street
14
Continue on Winthrop Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Winthrop Street
15
Continue on MA 38
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
Main Street
16
Enter roundabout onto Bacon Street
94 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bacon Street
17
Continue on Bacon Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bacon Street
18
Turn left onto Church Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Church Street
19
Turn right onto US 3
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cambridge Street
20
Continue on US 3
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Cambridge Road
21
Continue on US 3
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
Cambridge Street
22
Take the exit onto US 3
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 3
Toward I 95 South, US 3 North: Waltham, Lowell
23
Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
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.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 3
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
26
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
27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
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.
29
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
30
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 81C
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
31
Turn right onto MA 110
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Chelmsford Street
32
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
314 ft
·
14 sec
·
Cambridge Street
33
Turn left onto Hale Street
486 ft
·
13 sec
·
Hale Street
34
Arrive at destination
Hale Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.9 miles from Hanover, 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 235 decision points cluster between mile 26.1 and 50 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
26.1 mi into trip
|
~36m 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
29.3 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
38.7 mi into trip
|
~55m 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
49.3 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
50 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
$8.29 one way
$16.58 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.04 | $18.08 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.84 | $19.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.44 | $22.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.44 | $2.49 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.25 | $3.32 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Lowell, MA
Late night in Lowell on Tuesday
Local time
4:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Slight Chance Light Rain
S 3 mph
26% 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
6 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
1h 13m 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 route offers a mixed drive experience, with 51% of it being highway. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced travel on roads like US 3 and MA 3. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 10.9 miles on US 3, allowing for a solid period of consistent driving. As you transition between these main roads, you might notice shifts in traffic patterns and speed, but the overall feel is one of efficient transit between your starting and ending points. It's not an overly complicated drive, leaning more towards practical travel than scenic exploration.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 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
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 26.1 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 51.8 miles you will encounter 23 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 26.1 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.7 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hanover, MA and Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Boston, Arlington, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington and Nashua New Hampshire.
Boston
3.5 mi in
|
~5m
Arlington
29.3 mi in
|
~41m
Middlesex Turnpike
38.7 mi in
|
~55m
|
via US 3
Burlington
38.7 mi in
|
~55m
|
via US 3
Nashua New Hampshire
38.7 mi in
|
~55m
|
via US 3
About the Cities
Arriving in Lowell, MA
Full guide →Lowell is a city in Massachusetts about 40 minutes northwest of Boston. With over 115,000 residents (2020), it's the fifth largest city in Massachusetts, and has an important historical background. It was the first planned industrial city in the United States.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 51.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). 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 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 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 26.1 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.7 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 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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