Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
53.8 mi
87 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Athol, MA
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a trip from Lowell to Athol, expect a 53.8-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 16 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. Budget roughly $9 for fuel to cover the distance across this stretch of the Northeast. Because the drive relies entirely on local roads rather than interstates, it offers a consistent, steady pace rather than high-speed highway travel. It is a straightforward trip that connects two distinct Massachusetts communities without the need for complex route planning.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Concord Turnpike | 25.7 mi | 35m |
| Captain Isaac Davis Highway | 10.9 mi | 14m |
| I 495 | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| Main Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Templeton Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Lowell Connector | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Chelmsford Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Crescent Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lowell, MA and Athol, MA.
Start on Hale Street
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
Turn left onto MA 110
Turn left onto Plain Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto Lowell Connector
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Merge onto MA 2
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
Take the exit
Turn left onto MA 2A
Continue on MA 2A; MA 32
Turn right onto MA 32
Turn left onto MA 32
Turn straight onto MA 32
Turn sharp right onto Fish Street
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.9 miles from Lowell, 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 1.8 and 50.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nashua New Hampshire
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 South: Worcester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 South: Marlboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MA 2A: Athol, Phillipston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$8.61 one way
$17.22 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.39 | $18.78 |
| premium | $4.82 | $10.22 | $20.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.88 | $23.76 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.80
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.65 | $2.58 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.71 | $2.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.53 | $3.44 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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 Lowell on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Athol on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
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.
Prepare for a turn-heavy, local experience, as this entire 53.8-mile path avoids highways altogether. Your journey will take you along Cambridge Street, Chelmsford Street, and Plain Street, keeping you off the fast-paced interstates. Because the route is composed of local roads, you will experience a more technical drive that requires your full attention compared to a monotonous freeway commute. There are no significant long stretches of open road, so expect a drive defined by navigating local transitions. Staying focused on the frequent turns is the best way to handle this winding, regional path.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Concord Turnpike and Captain Isaac Davis Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.8 miles you will encounter 18 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 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lowell, MA to Athol, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Phillipston along the way.
Phillipston
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 53.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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