Origin
Lowell, MA
Morning in Lowell on Friday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lowell, MA to Southwick, MA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 11m
Distance
103 mi
166 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 2m
★
6 AM
2h 11m
8 AM
2h 30m
10 AM
2h 18m
12 PM
2h 16m
3 PM
2h 19m
5 PM
2h 29m
8 PM
2h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Southwick, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lowell, MA to Southwick, MA covers 103 miles and takes about 2h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Massachusetts Turnpike, I 495, I 290 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.7 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.18 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
51.5 miles from Lowell, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Turnpike | 38.7 mi | 44m |
| I 495 | 23.4 mi | 27m |
| I 290 | 19.6 mi | 24m |
| Springfield Expressway | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| MA 147 | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Feeding Hills Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Southwick Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| River Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 38.7 mi, about 44m
Traffic on I-290
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 164 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,556 veh/hr typical · worst 4,165
Quietest
2 AM
~239 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.9×
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 Southwick, 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
23 mi
·
27 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 65B
Toward I 290 West: Worcester
12
Merge onto I 290
20 mi
·
24 min
·
I 290
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 12B
Toward MA 12 South: Webster
14
Turn left onto Oxford Street
466 ft
·
10 sec
·
Oxford Street
15
At end of road, turn right onto MA 12
446 ft
·
9 sec
·
Southbridge Street
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 West
18
Merge onto I 90
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
28 mi
·
31 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 51
Toward I 291: Springfield, Hartford Connecticut
21
Keep slight right at fork
348 ft
·
9 sec
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
23
Continue on I 291
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Springfield Expressway
24
Continue on US 20
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
US 20
Exit 1B-2B
Toward I 91 North, US 20 West: West Springfield
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 2B
Toward Dwight Street
26
Turn right onto Dwight Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Dwight Street
27
Turn left onto MA 20A
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Carew Street
28
Turn slight right onto MA 20A
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Plainfield Street
29
Continue on US 20
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
West Street
30
Continue on US 20
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
North End Bridge
31
Enter roundabout onto US 20
285 ft
·
3 sec
·
Park Street
32
Continue on US 20
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Street
33
Turn left onto River Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
River Street
34
At end of road, turn right onto MA 147
375 ft
·
6 sec
·
Memorial Avenue
35
Turn straight onto MA 147
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
MA 147
36
Continue on MA 57
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Southwick Street
37
Continue on MA 57
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Feeding Hills Road
38
At end of road, turn left onto US 202; MA 10; MA 57
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
College Highway
39
Turn right onto MA 57
60 ft
·
1 sec
·
Granville Road
40
Arrive at destination
MA 57
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 51.5 miles from Lowell, MA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.7 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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.5 miles or 1h 4m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southwick, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lowell, MA
This is one driving day of about 103 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Lowell, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Massachusetts Turnpike for about 38.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.5 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 305 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 91.4 — 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
6
58.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
86.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
Take the exit toward I 291: Springfield, Hartford Connecticut
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 51
Toward I 291: Springfield, Hartford Connecticut
6
91.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward Dwight Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 2B
Toward Dwight Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.18 one way
$34.36 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $18.92 | $37.83 |
| premium | $5.06 | $20.51 | $41.01 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $22.70 | $45.41 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.32
Massachusetts Turnpike
(38.7 mi)
$2.32
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
$17
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.9 | 0 | $10.82 | $4.94 |
| Efficient EV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.01 | $4.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.42 | $6.59 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Southwick, MA
Morning in Southwick on Friday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
11 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
2h 11m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Lowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Lowell’s water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation – including immigrant families and early female factory workers – into an uncertain new industrial era. Nearly 200 years later, the changes t...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
New England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
From the Sound to the summits: the New England Trail covers 235 miles from Long Island Sound across long ridges to scenic mountain summits in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail offers panoramic...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 85.3
View on nps.gov
Minute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
At Minute Man National Historical Park the opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and structures associated with April 19, 1775, and witness the Ameri...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 7.1
View on nps.gov
Boston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 3.6
View on nps.gov
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach o...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
Free
near mile 3.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
103 mi in 2h 11m, mostly highway — 38.7 mi of that is on Massachusetts Turnpike.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.7 mi on Massachusetts Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Massachusetts Turnpike and I 495. 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
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 103 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 58.7 miles (I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
812 ft
117 ft
Total Climb
839 ft
Total Descent
713 ft
Highest Point
812 ft
~66.2 mi in
Elevation Range
695 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 Southwick, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Hartford Connecticut along the way.
Hartford Connecticut
86.3 mi in
|
~1h 45m
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 Southwick, MA
Full guide →Founded 1770
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 2h 11m. Total distance: 103 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.7 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.32 in tolls one way, starting with Massachusetts 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 Southwick, MA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 58.7 miles (I 90 / Massachusetts Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Lowell National Historical Park, New England National Scenic Trail and Minute Man 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 Southwick, 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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