Ludlow, MA to Lawrence, MA is 97.7 miles and takes about 1h 59m via Massachusetts Turnpike and I 495, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Northeast region and the state of Massachusetts for its entirety. Given its short duration and predominantly highway profile, it's a straightforward drive for a single day trip. You'll primarily be on major roadways, making it a functional choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.9 miles from Ludlow, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Massachusetts Turnpike
50.8 mi
58m
I 495
41.4 mi
47m
South Union Street
0.7 mi
1m
Parker Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Amesbury Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Center Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Sewall Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Winthrop Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Massachusetts Turnpike
— 50.8 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ludlow, MA and Lawrence, MA.
1
Start on this road
130 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn right
181 ft·14 sec
3
Turn right
73 ft·11 sec
4
Turn left onto Walnut Street
285 ft·14 sec·Walnut Street
5
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.1 mi·39 sec·Oak Street
6
At end of road, turn left onto Howard Street
0.1 mi·30 sec·Howard Street
7
Turn right onto Sewall Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·Sewall Street
8
At end of road, turn right onto MA 21
0.3 mi·49 sec·Center Street
Use the right lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Use the right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 90
51 mi·58 min·Massachusetts Turnpike
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 106Toward I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, TauntonUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth New Hampshire
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth NHUse the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 495
41 mi·47 min·I 495
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·52 sec
Exit 99BToward MA 28 North: LawrenceUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto MA 28
0.2 mi·22 sec·Union Street
18
Keep slight right at fork onto South Union Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South Union Street
19
Turn left onto MA 114
0.3 mi·36 sec·Winthrop Avenue
20
Continue on MA 114
0.5 mi·55 sec·Parker Street
21
Continue on Amesbury Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·Amesbury Street
22
Turn right onto Canal Street
282 ft·6 sec·Canal Street
23
Turn left onto Lawrence Street
492 ft·18 sec·Lawrence Street
24
Turn left onto Essex Street
498 ft·11 sec·Essex Street
25
Arrive at destination
Essex Street
Trip Plan
Given this route is under 2 hours and primarily highway, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning, perhaps around 9 AM, should help you avoid the worst of any potential commuter traffic. With only one recommended day, there's no need to plan overnight stops, and you can easily complete this drive in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without an obvious exit point is over 50 miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike, and budget around $16 for gas.
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 48.9 miles from Ludlow, MA, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.8 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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.9 miles or 59m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lawrence, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ludlow, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ludlow, MA
This is one driving day of about 97.7 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Ludlow, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Massachusetts Turnpike for about 50.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 95.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|MA 21 / Center Street
At end of road, turn right onto MA 21 / Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
52.7 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Taunton
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 106
Toward I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Taunton
7
52.9 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth New Hamp...
8
53.1 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth NH
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth NH
7
95.2 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward MA 28 North: Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 99B
Toward MA 28 North: Lawrence
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.64 one way
$31.27 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$17.05
$34.10
premium
$4.82
$18.55
$37.10
diesel
$5.61
$21.57
$43.14
Estimated Tolls: $3.05
Massachusetts Turnpike
(50.8 mi)$3.05
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
$16
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.3
0
$10.26
$4.69
Efficient EV
24.4
0
$8.55
$3.91
EV Truck/SUV
39.1
0
$13.68
$6.25
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Ludlow, MA
Late night
in Ludlow on Sunday
Local time
3:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Patchy Fog
S 8 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lawrence, MA
Late night
in Lawrence on Sunday
Local time
3:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Patchy Fog then Patchy Drizzle
SE 1 to 5 mph17% chanceLive 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
2 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
1h 59m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 94% of the route on major roads like the Massachusetts Turnpike and I-495. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 50.8 miles on the Massachusetts Turnpike before transitioning. After the Massachusetts Turnpike, you'll connect to I-495, and eventually transition to surface roads like South Union Street as you approach your destination. Expect a high volume of exits on the highway sections.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.8 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 0.7 miles in near MA 21 / Center Street.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 97.7 miles you will encounter 20 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 0.7 miles (MA 21 / Center Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 52.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ludlow, MA and Lawrence, MA, road signs point toward Taunton, Portsmouth New Hampshire and Portsmouth.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 97.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.8 miles on Massachusetts Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.05 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 Lawrence, 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 0.7 miles (MA 21 / Center Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 52.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lawrence, MA before heading back.
