Origin
Lowell, MA
Late night in Lowell on Wednesday
Local time
4:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lowell, MA to Shutesbury, MA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
68.1 mi
110 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 30m
★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Shutesbury, MA
Banx Photography
Trip Overview
The drive from Lowell, MA to Shutesbury, MA covers 68.1 miles and takes about 1h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Concord Turnpike, Captain Isaac Davis Highway, I 495 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.4 miles on Concord Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.36 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34 miles from Lowell, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Concord Turnpike | 31.4 mi | 43m |
| Captain Isaac Davis Highway | 10.9 mi | 14m |
| I 495 | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| Daniel Shays Highway | 10 mi | 16m |
| Prescott Road | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Lowell Connector | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Chelmsford Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Cooleyville Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Concord Turnpike
— 31.4 mi, about 43m
Traffic on I-495
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 98 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,466 veh/hr typical · worst 5,144
Quietest
2 AM
~346 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.9×
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 Shutesbury, 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
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lowell Connector
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 2B-A
Toward I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nashua New Hampshire
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 2A
Toward I 495 South: Worcester
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
10
Merge onto I 495
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 78B
Toward MA 2 West: Leominster
12
Merge onto MA 2
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
31 mi
·
43 min
·
Concord Turnpike
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 71
Toward US 202 South: Athol, Belchertown
15
Turn left onto US 202
10 mi
·
16 min
·
Daniel Shays Highway
16
Turn right onto Prescott Road
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Prescott Road
17
Continue on Cooleyville Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Cooleyville Road
18
Turn right onto Wendell Road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Wendell Road
19
Arrive at destination
Wendell Road
Trip Plan
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 34 miles from Lowell, MA, or about 45m 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 15 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34 miles or 45m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shutesbury, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lowell, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lowell, MA
This is one driving day of about 68.1 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Lowell, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 56.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2B-A
Toward I 495 South, US 3 North: Worcester, Nash...
8
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 South: Worcester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2A
Toward I 495 South: Worcester
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 South: Marlboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
5
2.8 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
56.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m 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
$11.36 one way
$22.72 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $12.51 | $25.01 |
| premium | $5.06 | $13.56 | $27.12 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $15.01 | $30.02 |
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
$11
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.15 | $3.27 |
| Efficient EV | 17 | 0 | $5.96 | $2.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.2 | 0 | $9.53 | $4.36 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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
Shutesbury, MA
Late night in Shutesbury on Wednesday
Local time
4:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Gardner, MA
34 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
2 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
1h 37m 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?
68.1 mi in 1h 37m, mostly highway — 31.4 mi of that is on Concord Turnpike.
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: 31.4 mi on Concord Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.1 miles you will encounter 16 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,226 ft
117 ft
Total Climb
1,762 ft
Total Descent
652 ft
Highest Point
1,226 ft
~68.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,110 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 Shutesbury, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Belchertown along the way.
Belchertown
56.1 mi in
|
~1h 16m
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 Shutesbury, MA
Full guide →Founded 1735
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 1h 37m. Total distance: 68.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 Shutesbury, 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 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Shutesbury, 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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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