Origin
Lawrence, MA
Late night in Lawrence on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lawrence, MA to Ayer, 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
37m
Distance
28.1 mi
45 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lawrence, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Ayer, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lawrence, MA to Ayer, MA is 28.1 miles and takes about 37 minutes via I 495, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick drive keeps you within Massachusetts, making it a convenient hop between two points in the Northeast region. Expect a straightforward journey primarily on highways, ideal for those looking for a no-fuss trip. Given its short duration, this route is perfectly suited for a same-day excursion, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 18.7 mi | 21m |
| 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 |
| South Union Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Parker Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Amesbury Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 18.7 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lawrence, MA and Ayer, 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
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 79
Toward MA 2A, MA 110: Littleton, Ayer
16
At end of road, turn left onto MA 2A; MA 110
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
King Street
17
Continue on MA 2A; MA 110
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Ayer Road
18
Continue on MA 2A; MA 110
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Littleton Road
19
Enter roundabout onto MA 2A; MA 111
228 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Main Street
20
Continue on MA 2A; MA 111
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
21
Turn right onto MA 2A; MA 111
420 ft
·
6 sec
·
Park Street
22
Arrive at destination
MA 2A; MA 111
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 22.3 — 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
6
22.3 mi into trip
|
~27m 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
$4.50 one way
$8.99 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.90 | $9.81 |
| premium | $4.82 | $5.34 | $10.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.20 | $12.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.95 | $1.35 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.46 | $1.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.93 | $1.80 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Ayer, MA
Late night in Ayer on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°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
19 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
37m 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 predominantly highway-focused, with 66% of the journey taking place on the interstate. You'll experience a solid stretch of 18.7 miles on I 495, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your travel. While the majority of the route involves highway driving, you will transition onto local roads like Littleton Road and Ayer Road as you approach your destination. This shift from faster highway speeds to more local thoroughfares provides a noticeable change in the driving environment as you get closer to Ayer.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.7 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and Littleton Road. 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
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 13 decision points packed into just 28.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
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.
Between Lawrence, MA and Ayer, MA, road signs point toward Marlboro and Nashua New Hampshire.
Marlboro
2 mi in
|
~3m
Nashua New Hampshire
11.5 mi in
|
~15m
About the Cities
Starting in Lawrence, MA
Full guide →Lawrence is a city in Massachusetts with a population of about 89,000 (2020). Methuen is a city in Massachusetts with a population of 53,000 (2020).
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 37m. Total distance: 28.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.7 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 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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