Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 13m
Distance
99.4 mi
160 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lawrence, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Falmouth, MA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Lawrence, MA to Falmouth, MA covers 99.4 miles and takes about 2h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MA 3, I 93, Pilgrims Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.9 miles on MA 3. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.58 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.7 miles from Lawrence, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MA 3 | 30.9 mi | 39m |
| I 93 | 19.6 mi | 23m |
| Pilgrims Highway | 12 mi | 15m |
| MA 28 | 9.5 mi | 13m |
| Southeast Expressway | 8 mi | 10m |
| General MacArthur Boulevard | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| Sandwich Road | 3 mi | 5m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 3 mi | 4m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 758 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~5,611 veh/hr typical · worst 6,560
Quietest
2 AM
~456 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Lawrence, MA and Falmouth, MA.
Start on Essex Street
Turn right onto Amesbury Street
Continue on MA 114
Continue on MA 114
Turn right onto South Union Street
Continue on Connector Road
Turn straight onto MA 28
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Merge onto I 93
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
Merge onto I 93; US 1
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 3
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 3
Continue on MA 3
Continue on US 6
Continue on US 6
Take the exit onto MA 6A
At end of road, turn left onto Sandwich Road
Continue on Sandwich Road
Enter roundabout onto MA 28
Continue on MA 28
Enter roundabout onto MA 28
Continue on MA 28
Turn straight onto MA 28
Turn left onto MA 28
Turn right onto Elm Arch Way
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 22 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.7 miles or 1h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Falmouth, MA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lawrence, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lawrence, MA
This is one driving day of about 99.4 miles and 2h 13m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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.
A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 49.7 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 85.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 93 South: Boston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 3 toward MA 3 South: Cape Cod
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto MA 6A toward MA 6A: Sagamore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn left onto Sandwich Road
Lane positioning matters here
Enter roundabout onto MA 28 / General MacArthur Boulevard toward MA 28 South: Woods Hole, Joint Base Cape Cod, National Cemetery
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$16.58 one way
$33.16 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $18.26 | $36.51 |
| premium | $5.06 | $19.79 | $39.58 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $21.91 | $43.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.44 | $4.77 |
| Efficient EV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.70 | $3.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.92 | $6.36 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Lawrence on Wednesday
Local time
1:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Falmouth on Wednesday
Local time
1:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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99.4 mi in 2h 13m, mostly highway — 30.9 mi of that is on MA 3.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MA 3 and I 93. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 99.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 38 miles (MA 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.8 miles (MA 6A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
385 ft
Total Descent
412 ft
Highest Point
175 ft
~7.1 mi in
Elevation Range
162 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lawrence, MA and Falmouth, MA, road signs point toward Joint Base Cape Cod and National Cemetery.
Joint Base Cape Cod
National Cemetery
Founded 1655
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).
Top landmarks
Founded 1660
Falmouth is a town in Massachusetts on Cape Cod's southwest corner. It includes the villages of Woods Hole, West Falmouth, North Falmouth, Hatchville, Silver Beach, East Falmouth, Teaticket, and Waquoit. It is the Cape's second most populous town.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 99.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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