Origin
Lawrence, MA
Late night in Lawrence on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lawrence, MA to Ashburnham, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
49.1 mi
79 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lawrence, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Ashburnham, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lawrence, MA to Ashburnham, MA is 49.1 miles and takes about 1h 11m via I 495 and Captain Isaac Davis Highway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Massachusetts, moving from the Northeast region of the state towards its central area. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on well-maintained highways, making it a convenient option for a short excursion or a way to connect two points without a significant time commitment. You'll find the journey efficient, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 19.9 mi | 22m |
| Captain Isaac Davis Highway | 10.9 mi | 14m |
| Concord Turnpike | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Ashburnham State Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Fitchburg Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Water Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Ashburnham Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Kimball Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 19.9 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lawrence, MA and Ashburnham, MA.
1
Start on Essex Street
82 ft
·
5 sec
·
Essex Street
2
Turn right onto Amesbury Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Amesbury Street
3
Continue on MA 114
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Parker Street
4
Continue on MA 114
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Winthrop Avenue
5
Turn right onto South Union Street
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
South Union Street
6
Continue on Connector Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Connector Road
7
Turn straight onto MA 28
162 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Broadway
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 495 South: Lowell, Marlboro
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 495
9.2 mi
·
10 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
14
Merge onto I 495
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 78B
Toward MA 2 West: Leominster
16
Merge onto MA 2
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
17
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Concord Turnpike
18
Turn right onto Abbott Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Abbott Avenue
19
At end of road, turn left onto MA 12
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Water Street
20
Turn left onto MA 2A; MA 12
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Laurel Street
21
Turn slight right onto MA 2A; MA 12
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Kimball Street
22
Enter roundabout onto MA 2A; MA 12; MA 31
71 ft
·
3 sec
·
River Street
23
Continue on MA 2A; MA 12; MA 31
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
River Street
24
Turn right onto Mayland Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Mayland Street
25
Continue on Fairview Street
508 ft
·
28 sec
·
Fairview Street
26
Turn left onto Westminster Hill Road
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Westminster Hill Road
27
Turn right onto MA 12
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Ashburnham Street
28
Continue on MA 12
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Ashburnham State Road
29
Continue on MA 12
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Fitchburg Road
30
Continue on MA 12
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Main Street North
31
Turn right onto MA 101
136 ft
·
2 sec
·
Water Street
32
Arrive at destination
MA 101
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from Lawrence, 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 12.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 South: Lowell, Marlboro
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 495 South: Lowell, Marlboro
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
11.5 mi into trip
|
~15m 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
11.8 mi into trip
|
~15m 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
12.4 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 South: Marlboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.86 one way
$15.72 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.57 | $17.14 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.32 | $18.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.84 | $21.68 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.26
Concord Turnpike
(3.8 mi)
$0.26
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$0
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 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 | $5.16 | $2.36 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.30 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.87 | $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.
Destination
Ashburnham, MA
Late night in Ashburnham on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°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
18 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
1h 11m 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 is a mixed drive, with about 48% of the route on highways. You'll spend a significant portion on I 495, experiencing a faster pace for stretches like the longest uninterrupted segment of 19.9 miles. As you transition to roads like Captain Isaac Davis Highway and Concord Turnpike, the driving experience will likely shift, offering a different feel compared to the interstate. Expect a blend of highway speeds and potentially more local traffic depending on the specific sections you encounter as you get closer to Ashburnham.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.9 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.1 miles you will encounter 19 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 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles: 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.
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 Lawrence, MA to Ashburnham, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Nashua New Hampshire along the way.
Nashua New Hampshire
11.5 mi in
|
~15m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 49.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.9 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.26 in tolls one way, starting with Concord Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Ashburnham, 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 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Lowell National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Salem Maritime 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 Ashburnham, 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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