Origin
Hudson, MA
Morning in Hudson on Tuesday
Local time
8:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hudson, 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
33m
Distance
24.4 mi
39 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hudson, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
This quick 24.4-mile drive from Hudson, MA to Lowell, MA can be completed in about 33 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $4, it's an economical journey. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with about 73% of the drive on interstates and major roads. You'll spend the longest uninterrupted stretch of 17.7 miles on I-495. Both locations are within the Northeast region and the state of Massachusetts, so you won't be crossing any state lines. This trip is straightforward and efficient for those looking for a short hop within the region.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 17.7 mi | 20m |
| Chelmsford Street | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Hudson Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Lincoln Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Hale Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Cambridge Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 17.7 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hudson, MA and Lowell, MA.
1
Start on this road
228 ft
·
18 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto MA 62
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Main Street
3
Enter roundabout onto MA 62; MA 85
42 ft
·
0 sec
·
Washington Street
4
Continue on MA 62; MA 85
247 ft
·
4 sec
·
Washington Street
5
Turn straight onto MA 85
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Lincoln Street
6
Continue on MA 85
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Hudson Road
7
At end of road, turn left onto MA 117
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Main Street
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
9
Merge onto I 495
18 mi
·
20 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 88
Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
11
Turn right onto MA 110
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Chelmsford Street
12
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
314 ft
·
14 sec
·
Cambridge Street
13
Turn left onto Hale Street
486 ft
·
13 sec
·
Hale Street
14
Arrive at destination
Hale Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 21.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MA 62 / Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto MA 62 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MA 62; MA 85 / Washington Street
Enter roundabout onto MA 62; MA 85 / Washington Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
MA 117 / Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto MA 117 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
3.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
21.4 mi into trip
|
~27m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.90 one way
$7.81 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.26 | $8.52 |
| premium | $4.82 | $4.63 | $9.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.39 | $10.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.56 | $1.17 |
| Efficient EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.42 | $1.56 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Morning in Lowell on Tuesday
Local time
8:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
33m 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 highway-focused experience on this route, with 73% of your journey utilizing major roads like I-495, Chelmsford Street, and Hudson Road. The drive offers a significant uninterrupted stretch of 17.7 miles on I-495, allowing for consistent speed. While primarily an interstate experience, you may encounter some local road transitions as you approach your destination. The road character is geared towards efficient travel rather than scenic exploration, making it a functional drive for getting from point A to point B.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.7 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and Chelmsford Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MA 62 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 33m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MA 62 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (MA 62; MA 85 / Washington Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.2 miles (MA 117 / Main Street): Navigation decision point.
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.
On the drive from Hudson, MA to Lowell, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Lawrence along the way.
Lawrence
3.4 mi in
|
~6m
About the Cities
Starting in Hudson, MA
Full guide →Hudson is a town in Middlesex County, MetroWest with a population of 20,000 (2020).
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 33m. Total distance: 24.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.7 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 62 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (MA 62; MA 85 / Washington Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.2 miles (MA 117 / Main Street): Navigation decision point.
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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