Origin
Hopkinton, MA
Morning in Hopkinton on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hopkinton, 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
47m
Distance
38.2 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
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.
Hopkinton, MA
Italo Melo
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
This 38.2-mile drive from Hopkinton, MA to Lowell, MA is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in about 47 minutes, making it ideal for a single-day excursion. The primary roads you'll be on are I-495 and sections of Chelmsford Street and Main Street. With a highway share of 88%, expect a predominantly fast-paced journey. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $6, which is quite budget-friendly. Given its short duration and direct nature, this route is perfect for a quick trip without the need for an overnight stay, offering convenience for those traveling within the Northeast region.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 33.5 mi | 38m |
| Chelmsford Street | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Hale Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Cambridge Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 33.5 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hopkinton, MA and Lowell, MA.
1
Start on this road
136 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto MA 135
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
4
Merge onto I 495
33 mi
·
38 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 88
Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
6
Turn right onto MA 110
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Chelmsford Street
7
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
314 ft
·
14 sec
·
Cambridge Street
8
Turn left onto Hale Street
486 ft
·
13 sec
·
Hale Street
9
Arrive at destination
Hale Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.1 miles from Hopkinton, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 38.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MA 135 / Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto MA 135 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
35.2 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
4
38.1 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
Cambridge Street
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
Navigation decision point
4
38.2 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
Hale Street
Turn left onto Hale Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.11 one way
$12.23 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.67 | $13.33 |
| premium | $4.82 | $7.25 | $14.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.43 | $16.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 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 | 11.5 | 0 | $4.01 | $1.83 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.34 | $1.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.35 | $2.44 |
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.
Destination
Lowell, MA
Morning in Lowell on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Bolton, MA
19 mi in
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
2 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
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?
The character of this drive is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 88% of the journey taking place on faster roads. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 33.5 miles on I-495, which forms the backbone of this trip. While the majority of the route prioritizes speed and efficiency, you will transition to Chelmsford Street and Main Street towards the end, offering a slight change in pace as you approach Lowell. This road profile means you'll spend most of your time in a driving environment typical of interstate travel, with minimal exposure to slower, local roads.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.5 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and Chelmsford Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MA 135 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hopkinton, MA to Lowell, MA is easy. At 47m with 88% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MA 135 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 47m. Total distance: 38.2 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 (88%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.5 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: near the start (MA 135 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.2 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 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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