Origin
Lowell, MA
Night in Lowell on Saturday
Local time
10:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lowell, MA to Nahant, MA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
32.8 mi
53 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 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Nahant, MA
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
Lowell to Nahant is 32.8 miles and takes about 52 minutes via US 3, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Massachusetts, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a fairly short trip, mostly on highways, making it a convenient option for a quick getaway or an easy commute. You'll find the roads are a mix of highway and surface streets, so expect some variation in your driving experience. It's a practical choice for a day trip without needing extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 3 | 10.5 mi | 13m |
| Yankee Division Highway | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| Walnut Street | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| West Water Street | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Nahant Road | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| Lowell Connector | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Prospect Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Common Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 3
— 10.5 mi, about 13m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 273 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~5,490 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~266 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lowell, MA and Nahant, 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
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 56A
Toward MA 28 South: Stoneham
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto MA 28
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Main Street
14
Turn sharp left onto North Street
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Street
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on Prospect Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Prospect Street
16
Turn right onto North Avenue
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto West Water Street
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
West Water Street
18
At end of road, turn right onto MA 129
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Walnut Street
19
Continue on MA 129
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Walnut Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto Kirtland Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Kirtland Street
21
Turn left onto Marion Street
363 ft
·
7 sec
·
Marion Street
22
Enter roundabout onto Federal Street
141 ft
·
2 sec
·
Federal Street
23
Continue on Federal Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Federal Street
24
Enter roundabout onto Market Square
264 ft
·
4 sec
·
Market Square
25
Continue on Market Square
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Market Square
26
Continue on South Common Street
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
South Common Street
27
Turn slight right onto Market Street
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Market Street
28
Turn left onto Lynnway
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
Lynnway
29
Enter roundabout onto Nahant Road
256 ft
·
3 sec
·
Nahant Road
30
Continue on Nahant Road
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Nahant Road
31
Turn left onto Ocean Street
297 ft
·
13 sec
·
Ocean Street
32
Turn right
263 ft
·
21 sec
33
Turn right
114 ft
·
8 sec
34
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 32.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.4 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 225 decision points cluster between mile 12.3 and 28.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
5
13.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 95; US 3; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway
Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
19.2 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward MA 28 South: Stoneham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 56A
Toward MA 28 South: Stoneham
8
19.7 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
North Street
Turn sharp left onto North Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
28.1 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
Federal Street
Enter roundabout onto Federal Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.47 one way
$10.94 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $6.02 | $12.05 |
| premium | $5.06 | $6.53 | $13.06 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $7.23 | $14.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.44 | $1.57 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.87 | $1.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Nahant, MA
Night in Nahant on Saturday
Local time
10:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Winchester, MA
16 mi in
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
15 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
52m 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?
About 32% of this 32.8-mile route is on highways, with the longest continuous stretch being 10.5 miles on US 3. You'll transition from highway driving to surface streets as you get closer to your destination. Expect a mixed driving profile with highway cruising and some urban merging. The Yankee Division Highway and Walnut Street are also part of this route.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.5 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 12.3 miles in near US 3.
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 22 decision points packed into just 32.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.3 miles (US 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.6 miles (I 95; US 3; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
199 ft
10 ft
Total Climb
204 ft
Total Descent
238 ft
Highest Point
199 ft
~14.1 mi in
Elevation Range
189 ft
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.
On the drive from Lowell, MA to Nahant, 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 →Founded 1653
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.
Top landmarks
- • Middlesex Canal — canal in Massachusetts, United States of America
- • Lowell National Historical Park — U.S. national park located in Massachusetts
- • St. Patrick's Church — church building in Massachusetts, United States of America
Arriving in Nahant, MA
Full guide →Nahant is a small town in the US state of Massachusetts with a population of about 3,000 (2020). It used to be a resort town, but changes in vacation preference and modes of travel left the town behind. Now the town is a charming suburb of Boston, with a very small population, a rocky shore, a small-boat "harbor" and direct-vote town meeting.
Top landmarks
- • Nahant Beach Boulevard — historic parkway in Massachusetts, USA
- • Greenlawn Cemetery — cemetery in Nahant, Massachusetts
- • Nahant Civic Historic District — historic district in Massachusetts, 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 52m. Total distance: 32.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). 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 10.5 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 Nahant, 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 12.3 miles (US 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.6 miles (I 95; US 3; MA 128 / Yankee Division Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Nahant, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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