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Trip from Lowell, MA to Arlington, MA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

28m

Distance

21 mi

34 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 8 min
4 AM
0h 26m ★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Lowell, MA, MA

Lowell, MA

Phil Evenden

town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States

Arlington, MA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling the 21 miles from Lowell to Arlington is a straightforward transit through Massachusetts that typically takes about 28 minutes. Since this is a short trip, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via US 3, the Lowell Connector, and Cambridge Street to complete your journey. With an estimated fuel cost of just $3, this is an incredibly budget-friendly route for commuters or weekend travelers. Because both the origin and destination are located within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent atmosphere throughout the drive. It is a practical, efficient path that connects two distinct local hubs with minimal logistical effort.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 3 10.7 mi 13m
Cambridge Street 2.4 mi 3m
Lowell Connector 2.1 mi 2m
Cambridge Road 2 mi 2m
Mystic Street 1.6 mi 2m
Yankee Division Highway 0.9 mi 1m
Chelmsford Street 0.6 mi <1m
Massachusetts Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 3 — 10.7 mi, about 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Hale Street

486 ft · 14 sec · Hale Street
2

Turn right onto Cambridge Street

314 ft · 16 sec · Cambridge Street
3

Turn left onto MA 110

0.6 mi · 56 sec · Chelmsford Street
4

Turn left onto Plain Street

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Plain Street
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec
6

Merge onto Lowell Connector

1.0 mi · 1 min · Lowell Connector
7

Continue on Lowell Connector

1.1 mi · 1 min · Lowell Connector
Exit 1A Toward US 3 South: Boston
8

Merge onto US 3

9.1 mi · 10 min · US 3
9

Keep slight left at fork onto US 3

1.0 mi · 2 min · US 3
Exit 72A Toward I 95 North, US 3 South: Boston, Peabody Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto US 3

0.3 mi · 43 sec · US 3
11

Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128

0.9 mi · 1 min · Yankee Division Highway
12

Take the exit onto US 3

0.2 mi · 31 sec · US 3
Exit 51A Toward US 3 South: Winchester Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto US 3

0.4 mi · 34 sec · Cambridge Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
14

Continue on US 3

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cambridge Road
15

Continue on US 3

1.9 mi · 2 min · Cambridge Street
16

Continue on US 3

1.6 mi · 2 min · Mystic Street
17

Turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Massachusetts Avenue
Use the right lane.
18

Turn left onto Academy Street

320 ft · 18 sec · Academy Street
19

Turn left

203 ft · 14 sec
20

Arrive at destination

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 20.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Cambridge Street

Turn right onto Cambridge Street

Navigation decision point

9
12.3 mi into trip | ~15m in | US 3

Keep slight left at fork onto US 3 toward I 95 North, US 3 South: Boston, Peabody

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 72A Toward I 95 North, US 3 South: Boston, Peabody
7
14.6 mi into trip | ~19m in | US 3

Take the exit onto US 3 toward US 3 South: Winchester

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 51A Toward US 3 South: Winchester
5
14.8 mi into trip | ~20m in | US 3 / Cambridge Street

Merge onto US 3 / Cambridge Street

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
5
20.7 mi into trip | ~27m in | Massachusetts Avenue

Turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.36 one way

$6.72 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $3.67 $7.33
premium $4.82 $3.99 $7.98
diesel $5.61 $4.64 $9.27

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 7.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6.3 0 $2.20 $1.01
Efficient EV 5.3 0 $1.84 $0.84
EV Truck/SUV 8.4 0 $2.94 $1.34

Gas CO2

7 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (71% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Lowell, MA

Late night in Lowell on Sunday

Local time

3:42 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arlington, MA

Late night in Arlington on Sunday

Local time

3:42 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

28m 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 21-mile trip offers a mixed driving profile, balancing highway speed with local transitions. Approximately 51% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a quick transition between cities before you move into local road networks. You can expect your longest uninterrupted stretch to be 10.7 miles while cruising along US 3. As you move away from the Lowell Connector, the road character shifts from high-speed highway lanes to the more localized feel of Cambridge Street. Expect a functional, no-frills driving experience that emphasizes utility over scenic detours.

51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.7 mi on US 3.

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 0.1 miles in near Cambridge Street.

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 14 decision points packed into just 21 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Cambridge Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.3 miles (US 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.6 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

195 ft 52 ft

Total Climb

130 ft

Total Descent

171 ft

Highest Point

195 ft

~7.5 mi in

Elevation Range

144 ft

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 Lowell, MA to Arlington, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Peabody along the way.

Peabody

12.3 mi in | ~15m | via US 3

About the Cities

Starting 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 28m. Total distance: 21 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

28m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (51%). 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 10.7 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 Arlington, 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 0.1 miles (Cambridge Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.3 miles (US 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.6 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Lowell National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Boston 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 Arlington, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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