Origin
Lowell, MA
Late night in Lowell on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lowell, MA to North Reading, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
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
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
North Reading, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Lowell to North Reading, you are in for a quick 21-mile journey that typically takes about 29 minutes. This route is designed as a simple day trip, meaning you certainly won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting is straightforward here, as you can expect to spend roughly $3 on fuel for the entire distance. Since both towns are located within the Northeast region, you will remain in familiar territory throughout the trip. It is a practical, no-fuss drive that serves as an efficient connection between these two Massachusetts locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| I 93 | 6.1 mi | 7m |
| Park Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Lowell Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Salem Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Lowell Connector | 1 mi | 1m |
| Winter Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Chelmsford Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 6.7 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lowell, MA and North Reading, 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
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1B
Toward I 495 North: Lawrence
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 495
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 97A
Toward I 93 South: Boston
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 93
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 93
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 34
Toward MA 62: North Reading, Wilmington
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto MA 62
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Route 62
13
Continue on MA 62
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Salem Street
14
Continue on MA 62
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Lowell Road
15
At end of road, turn right onto MA 28; MA 62
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Main Street
16
Turn left onto MA 62
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Winter Street
17
Continue on MA 62
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Park Street
18
Turn left onto Haverhill Street
427 ft
·
11 sec
·
Haverhill Street
19
Arrive at destination
Haverhill Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 16.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 1B
Toward I 495 North: Lawrence
5
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.
7
9.6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 93 South: Boston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 97A
Toward I 93 South: Boston
5
10.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 93
Merge onto I 93
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
16.2 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward MA 62: North Reading, Wilmington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 34
Toward MA 62: North Reading, Wilmington
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.
Destination
North Reading, MA
Late night in North Reading on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°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
21 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
29m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will spend your time navigating local roads like Cambridge Street, Chelmsford Street, and Plain Street, which keep the pace steady and require your full attention. Because the path relies entirely on local streets, there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches to settle into. Instead, you will find the road character remains consistent from start to finish, emphasizing frequent turns over open-road cruising. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local infrastructure.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.7 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and I 93. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 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 29m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 North Reading, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Wilmington along the way.
Wilmington
16.2 mi in
|
~20m
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 29m. Total distance: 21 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.7 miles on I 495. 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 North Reading, 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 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 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 North Reading, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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