Origin
Harvard, MA
Morning in Harvard on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Harvard, 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
28m
Distance
19.7 mi
32 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Harvard, MA
Wikimedia Commons
City of Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
If you are planning to head from Harvard to Lowell, you are looking at a quick 21.1-mile journey that typically takes about 26 minutes behind the wheel. This short commute is easily manageable as a day trip, requiring no overnight stops along the way. You can expect to spend approximately $3 on fuel for the entire excursion, making it a very budget-friendly transit within the Northeast region. By utilizing Massachusetts Avenue, I-495 North, and MA-110, you will find a straightforward connection between these two Massachusetts locations. This route serves as a practical link for those needing to move between the towns without the hassle of a long-haul itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 13.1 mi | 15m |
| Chelmsford Street | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Massachusetts Avenue | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Westford Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Grand Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Middlesex Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Arch Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 13.1 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harvard, MA and City of Lowell, MA.
1
Start on MA 111
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Massachusetts Avenue
2
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 111
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Massachusetts Avenue
3
Continue on MA 111
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Massachusetts Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
5
Merge onto I 495
13 mi
·
15 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 88
Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
7
Turn right onto MA 110
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Chelmsford Street
8
Turn sharp left onto MA 3A
458 ft
·
10 sec
·
Westford Street
9
Turn right onto Grand Street
448 ft
·
23 sec
·
Grand Street
10
At end of road, turn left onto Middlesex Street
383 ft
·
18 sec
·
Middlesex Street
11
Turn sharp right onto Arch Street
15 ft
·
5 sec
·
Arch Street
12
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 19.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
16.2 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 88
Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
5
19.4 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
MA 3A / Westford Street
Turn sharp left onto MA 3A / Westford Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
19.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
Arch Street
Turn sharp right onto Arch Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.15 one way
$6.31 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $3.44 | $6.88 |
| premium | $4.82 | $3.74 | $7.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.35 | $8.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.95 |
| Efficient EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.72 | $0.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.76 | $1.26 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
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
23 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
28m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that requires your full attention as you navigate through the area. While the route connects to I-495 North, the highway share is effectively zero, meaning you will spend the vast majority of your time on local roads rather than cruising on an interstate. The journey lacks long, uninterrupted stretches, instead favoring a series of turns that keep the driving experience engaging and dynamic. As you transition between Harvard and Lowell, the road profile remains consistent in its local character, demanding a steady pace rather than high-speed driving.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.1 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and Chelmsford Street. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 19.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 2.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.1 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Harvard, MA and City of Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Lawrence and Lowell.
Lawrence
2.7 mi in
|
~4m
Lowell
16.2 mi in
|
~20m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 19.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.1 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 2.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.1 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 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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