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Trip from Haverhill, MA to Ayer, MA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

47m

Distance

36.3 mi

58 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 43m ★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States

Haverhill, MA

Wikimedia Commons

town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States of America

Ayer, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Haverhill, MA to Ayer, MA is 36.3 miles and takes about 47 minutes via I-495 and River Street, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Northeast region and entirely within Massachusetts. It’s a straightforward drive, mostly on highways, making it ideal for a quick local excursion or an add-on to a longer journey. You'll primarily be navigating interstate conditions, so expect a consistent pace for most of the 47 minutes. The minimal duration suggests it's easily manageable in a single day, even with potential for light traffic.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 495 26.2 mi 30m
River Street 2.1 mi 3m
Littleton Road 1.9 mi 2m
Ayer Road 1.8 mi 2m
East Main Street 1.1 mi 2m
King Street 0.8 mi 1m
Merrimack Street 0.3 mi <1m
Washington Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 495 — 26.2 mi, about 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Haverhill, MA and Ayer, MA.

1

Start on MA 125

442 ft · 14 sec · Main Street
2

Turn right onto MA 113

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Merrimack Street
3

Continue on MA 110; MA 113

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Washington Street
4

Continue on MA 110; MA 113

218 ft · 5 sec · Washington Street
5

Continue on MA 110; MA 113

2.1 mi · 3 min · River Street
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward I 495 South: Lawrence
7

Merge onto I 495

17 mi · 19 min · I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 14 sec
Exit 89C-B-A Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 17 sec
Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 25 sec
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
12

Merge onto I 495

9.4 mi · 10 min · I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 50 sec
Exit 79 Toward MA 2A, MA 110: Littleton, Ayer
14

At end of road, turn left onto MA 2A; MA 110

0.8 mi · 1 min · King Street
15

Continue on MA 2A; MA 110

1.8 mi · 2 min · Ayer Road
16

Continue on MA 2A; MA 110

1.9 mi · 2 min · Littleton Road
17

Enter roundabout onto MA 2A; MA 111

228 ft · 3 sec · East Main Street
18

Continue on MA 2A; MA 111

1.0 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
19

Turn right onto MA 2A; MA 111

420 ft · 6 sec · Park Street
20

Arrive at destination

MA 2A; MA 111

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Lowell, MA, MA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lowell, MA

18 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

Boxborough, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lowell, MA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.2 miles from Haverhill, 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 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 30.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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.
8
19.8 mi into trip | ~24m in

Take the exit toward US 3: 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 89C-B-A Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
7
20 mi into trip | ~25m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire

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

Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
5
20.6 mi into trip | ~25m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 South: Marlboro

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
6
30.5 mi into trip | ~37m in

Take the exit toward MA 2A, MA 110: Littleton, Ayer

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 79 Toward MA 2A, MA 110: Littleton, Ayer

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.81 one way

$11.62 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $6.34 $12.67
premium $4.82 $6.89 $13.79
diesel $5.61 $8.01 $16.03

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10.9 0 $3.81 $1.74
Efficient EV 9.1 0 $3.18 $1.45
EV Truck/SUV 14.5 0 $5.08 $2.32

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Haverhill, MA

Late night in Haverhill on Sunday

Local time

12:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ayer, MA

Late night in Ayer on Sunday

Local time

12:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

40°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 cooler at arrival

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

Road read

47m 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 drive is heavily focused on highway travel, with 72% of the route utilizing major roadways like I-495. You'll experience a consistent, faster pace for the majority of your journey, particularly during the longest stretch of 26.2 miles on I-495. As you transition from the interstate, roads like River Street and Littleton Road will offer a change of pace, though the overall character remains quite highway-oriented. Expect a straightforward driving experience with minimal complexities, designed for efficiency rather than scenic detours.

72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.2 mi on I 495.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and River Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near I 495.

Driving Effort 9/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 36.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20 miles: 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.

On the drive from Haverhill, MA to Ayer, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Nashua New Hampshire along the way.

Nashua New Hampshire

19.8 mi in | ~24m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 36.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

47m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 26.2 miles on I 495. 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 Ayer, 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 3.1 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ayer, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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