If you are planning a trip from Lawrence to Hadley, you are looking at a 92.2-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 16 minutes to complete. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $15 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for a quick getaway within Massachusetts. Navigating through the Northeast, you will transition from the urban influence of Lawrence toward the distinct landscape of Hadley. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this straightforward drive offers a reliable way to connect these two points without overcomplicating your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.1 miles from Lawrence, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Concord Turnpike
31.4 mi
43m
I 495
19.9 mi
22m
Daniel Shays Highway
14.3 mi
23m
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
10.9 mi
14m
Amherst Road
4.2 mi
8m
Russell Street
2.3 mi
4m
Main Street
1.3 mi
2m
North Maple Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Concord Turnpike
— 31.4 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lawrence, MA and Hadley, 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, MarlboroUse 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-AToward US 3: Burlington, Nashua New HampshireUse 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 78BToward 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
31 mi·43 min·Concord Turnpike
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 71Toward US 202 South: Athol, Belchertown
19
Turn left onto US 202
14 mi·23 min·Daniel Shays Highway
20
Turn right onto Amherst Road
4.2 mi·8 min·Amherst Road
21
Continue on Pelham Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Pelham Road
22
Continue on Main Street
1.3 mi·2 min·Main Street
23
At end of road, turn right onto North Pleasant Street
65 ft·9 sec·North Pleasant Street
24
Turn left onto Amity Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Amity Street
25
Continue on Rocky Hill Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Rocky Hill Road
26
Turn left onto North Maple Street
1.0 mi·1 min·North Maple Street
27
Turn right onto MA 9
2.3 mi·4 min·Russell Street
28
Turn left onto MA 47
252 ft·12 sec·Middle Street
29
Turn left
151 ft·11 sec
30
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though leaving early can help you avoid any potential congestion on the main roads. Because the total duration is just over two hours, you likely won't require a formal break, but pacing your speed is wise as you transition from the interstate onto the Daniel Shays Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you hit the road to ensure you stay within your estimated $15 budget. Since there are no mandatory stops included in this route, you have the freedom to drive straight through to Hadley, but feel free to pull over whenever you need a quick reset. Checking traffic conditions for the Concord Turnpike before you depart will help ensure your travel time stays as close to the 2h 16m estimate as possible.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.1 miles from Lawrence, MA, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.4 miles.
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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.1 miles or 1h 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hadley, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 92.2 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Lawrence, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Concord Turnpike for about 31.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 66.2 — 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
8
66.2 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward US 202 South: Athol, Belchertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 71
Toward US 202 South: Athol, Belchertown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.76 one way
$29.51 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$16.09
$32.18
premium
$4.82
$17.51
$35.01
diesel
$5.61
$20.36
$40.71
Estimated Tolls: $2.20
Concord Turnpike
(31.4 mi)$2.20
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.7
0
$9.68
$4.43
Efficient EV
23.1
0
$8.07
$3.69
EV Truck/SUV
36.9
0
$12.91
$5.90
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lawrence, MA
Night
in Lawrence on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hadley, MA
Night
in Hadley on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Orange, MA
46 mi in
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
16 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
2h 16m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Lowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Lowell’s water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation – including immigrant families and early female factory workers – into an uncertain new industrial era. Nearly 200 years later, the changes t...
From the Sound to the summits: the New England Trail covers 235 miles from Long Island Sound across long ridges to scenic mountain summits in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail offers panoramic...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 92.2
At Minute Man National Historical Park the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and structures associated with April 19, 1775, and witness the Ameri...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 19.1
Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 3.2
Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 9.5
. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach o...
27 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 6.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a mixed profile, balancing faster highway segments with more localized travel. You will spend roughly 56% of your time on highways, utilizing major arteries like I-495 and the Concord Turnpike. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 31.4-mile run on the Concord Turnpike, which provides a steady rhythm before the road transitions toward the Daniel Shays Highway. Expect the atmosphere behind the wheel to shift as you move away from the high-speed interstate sections and onto more traditional road types. By the time you reach the final leg, the pace of the drive feels significantly different than the initial highway portion, offering a varied experience for the driver.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.4 mi on Concord Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 Effort10/10
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 21 significant decision points across 92.2 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,110 ft44 ft
Total Climb
1,721 ft
Total Descent
1,632 ft
Highest Point
1,110 ft
~80.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,065 ft
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 Hadley, MA, road signs point toward Nashua New Hampshire and Belchertown.
Nashua New Hampshire
11.5 mi in|~15m
Belchertown
66.2 mi in|~1h 28m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 16m. Total distance: 92.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). 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 31.4 miles on Concord Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.20 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 Hadley, MA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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, New England National Scenic Trail and Minute Man 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 Hadley, MA before heading back.
