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Trip from Hull, MA to Lowell, MA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 19m

Distance

49 mi

79 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 13m ★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m

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

Downtown Hull, MA, MA

Hull, MA

Google DeepMind

Downtown Lowell, MA, MA

Lowell, MA

Phil Evenden

Trip Overview

Hull, MA to Lowell, MA is 49 miles and takes about 1 hour 19 minutes via US 3, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Massachusetts, moving from the Southeast Expressway and John F. Fitzgerald Expressway onto US 3. Expect a drive with frequent turns rather than long stretches of highway. With only a 1 hour 19 minute estimated duration, this is a straightforward day trip, making it easy to fit into a busy schedule.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 3 10.9 mi 13m
Southeast Expressway 3.3 mi 4m
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway 3.2 mi 5m
I 93 3.1 mi 4m
Nantasket Avenue 2.9 mi 6m
Newport Avenue 2.3 mi 4m
Cambridge Road 2 mi 2m
George Washington Boulevard 1.8 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 3 — 10.9 mi, about 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hull, MA and Lowell, MA.

1

Start on Vautrinot Avenue

271 ft · 13 sec · Vautrinot Avenue
2

Turn right onto Main Street

325 ft · 6 sec · Main Street
3

Continue on Spring Street

0.5 mi · 51 sec · Spring Street
4

Continue on Nantasket Avenue

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Nantasket Avenue
5

Continue on Fitzpatrick Way

0.5 mi · 55 sec · Fitzpatrick Way
6

Continue on Nantasket Avenue

2.6 mi · 5 min · Nantasket Avenue
7

Turn right onto George Washington Boulevard

1.8 mi · 2 min · George Washington Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
8

Continue on Rockland Street

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Rockland Street
9

Continue on Summer Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Summer Street
10

Enter roundabout onto MA 3A

199 ft · 3 sec · Summer Street
11

Continue on MA 3A

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Summer Street
12

Continue on MA 3A

0.6 mi · 1 min · Otis Street
13

Continue on MA 3A

0.6 mi · 55 sec · Broad Cove Road
14

Continue on MA 3A

1.5 mi · 2 min · Lincoln Street
15

Continue on MA 3A

1.7 mi · 2 min · Bridge Street
16

Continue on MA 3A

0.3 mi · 1 min · Fore River Bridge
17

Continue on MA 3A

464 ft · 7 sec · Washington Street
18

Enter roundabout onto MA 3A

190 ft · 3 sec · Washington Street
19

Continue on MA 3A

1.6 mi · 2 min · Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Continue on Hancock Street

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Hancock Street
Use the straight lane.
21

Keep slight left at fork onto Adams Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Adams Street
22

Turn right onto Newport Avenue

2.3 mi · 4 min · Newport Avenue
Use the right lane.
23

Turn slight left onto MA 3A

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Hancock Street
24

Continue on MA 3A

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Neponset Avenue
25

Merge onto MA 3A

247 ft · 6 sec · William T. Morrissey Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
26

Take the exit onto MA 3A

0.3 mi · 34 sec · MA 3A
Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
27

Merge onto I 93; US 1; MA 3

3.3 mi · 4 min · Southeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3

3.2 mi · 5 min · John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

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.
30

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 22 Toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlington Use the slight right lane.
31

Continue on MA 16

1.1 mi · 2 min · Mystic Valley Parkway
32

Turn right onto MA 38

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Winthrop Street
Use the right lane.
33

Enter roundabout onto Winthrop Street

117 ft · 2 sec · Winthrop Street
34

Continue on Winthrop Street

1.3 mi · 1 min · Winthrop Street
35

Continue on MA 38

0.5 mi · 46 sec · Main Street
36

Enter roundabout onto Bacon Street

94 ft · 1 sec · Bacon Street
37

Continue on Bacon Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Bacon Street
38

Turn left onto Church Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Church Street
39

Turn right onto US 3

1.1 mi · 1 min · Cambridge Street
40

Continue on US 3

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cambridge Road
41

Continue on US 3

0.6 mi · 47 sec · Cambridge Street
42

Take the exit onto US 3

0.2 mi · 27 sec · US 3
Toward I 95 South, US 3 North: Waltham, Lowell
43

Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128

1.1 mi · 1 min · Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
44

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.
45

Keep slight left at fork onto US 3

0.3 mi · 34 sec · US 3
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
46

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
47

Keep slight left at fork onto US 3

0.5 mi · 32 sec · US 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48

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.
49

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 21 sec
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
50

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 81C Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
51

Turn right onto MA 110

1.4 mi · 2 min · Chelmsford Street
52

Turn right onto Cambridge Street

314 ft · 14 sec · Cambridge Street
53

Turn left onto Hale Street

486 ft · 13 sec · Hale Street
54

Arrive at destination

Hale Street

Where to Stop

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

capital and largest city of Massachusetts, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Boston, MA

25 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.

Popular next leg

Boston, MA to Lowell, MA

27.2 mi · 41m

Pacing Suggestions

Quincy, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Somerville, MA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from Hull, 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 29

5 decision points cluster between mile 23.3 and 47.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
23.3 mi into trip | ~42m 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
26.4 mi into trip | ~46m 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
35.9 mi into trip | ~1h 1m 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
46.5 mi into trip | ~1h 15m 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
47.2 mi into trip | ~1h 16m 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

$7.84 one way

$15.68 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $8.55 $17.10
premium $4.82 $9.30 $18.61
diesel $5.61 $10.82 $21.64

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.7 0 $5.15 $2.35
Efficient EV 12.3 0 $4.29 $1.96
EV Truck/SUV 19.6 0 $6.86 $3.14

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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 21, 2026

Origin

Hull, MA

Morning in Hull on Tuesday

Local time

8:00 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lowell, MA

Morning in Lowell on Tuesday

Local time

8:00 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

1 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

1h 19m 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 route leans towards a turn-heavy local drive, with 44% of the journey on highways. While there are highway segments, the overall feel is less about continuous high-speed travel and more about navigating through various towns. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.9 miles on US 3, so be prepared for changes in speed and traffic patterns. This means you'll be engaging with the road more actively, switching between faster highway sections and more typical local road driving.

Only 44% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
54 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

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.3 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 49 miles you will encounter 29 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 23.3 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.9 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.

Between Hull, MA and Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Arlington, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire and Marlboro.

Arlington

26.4 mi in | ~46m

Middlesex Turnpike

35.9 mi in | ~1h 1m | via US 3

Burlington

35.9 mi in | ~1h 1m | via US 3

Nashua New Hampshire

35.9 mi in | ~1h 1m | via US 3

Marlboro

46.5 mi in | ~1h 15m

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 19m. Total distance: 49 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads 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 23.3 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.9 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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