Lynn to Bernardston is 101.4 miles and takes about 2h 25m via Concord Turnpike and US 3, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Massachusetts, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. With over half of your travel on highways, expect a relatively straightforward drive. This route is best suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.7 miles from Lynn, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Concord Turnpike
37.2 mi
51m
Captain Isaac Davis Highway
10.9 mi
14m
US 3
10.7 mi
13m
I 495
10.7 mi
12m
Yankee Division Highway
5.6 mi
7m
MA 10
4.8 mi
7m
Gulf Road
4.3 mi
7m
Walnut Street
3.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Concord Turnpike
— 37.2 mi, about 51m
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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Lynn, MA and Bernardston, MA.
1
Start on Rogers Avenue
66 ft·3 sec·Rogers Avenue
2
Turn right onto Essex Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Essex Street
3
Continue on North Common Street
0.6 mi·55 sec·North Common Street
4
Continue on Market Square
0.1 mi·11 sec·Market Square
5
Enter roundabout onto Federal Street
109 ft·1 sec·Federal Street
6
Continue on Federal Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·Federal Street
7
Enter roundabout onto Marion Street
135 ft·2 sec·Marion Street
8
Continue on Marion Street
381 ft·6 sec·Marion Street
9
Turn right onto Kirtland Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·Kirtland Street
10
Turn left onto Walnut Street
0.3 mi·36 sec·Walnut Street
11
Continue on Walnut Street
3.1 mi·4 min·Walnut Street
12
Turn left onto MA 129
2.9 mi·4 min·Water Street
13
At end of road, turn right onto North Avenue
0.4 mi·43 sec·North Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto Prospect Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Prospect Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn slight right onto Hopkins Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Hopkins Street
16
Turn left onto MA 28
0.1 mi·13 sec·Main Street
17
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward I 95 South: Waltham, Providence Rhode Island
18
Merge onto I 95; MA 128
5.6 mi·7 min·Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit onto US 3
0.1 mi·15 sec·US 3
Exit 50B-AToward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New HampshireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.3 mi·34 sec·US 3
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
21
Keep slight right at fork onto US 3
9.8 mi·11 min·US 3
Exit 50AToward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
22
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.5 mi·32 sec·US 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Exit 81B-CToward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, MarlboroUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 81BToward I 495 South: Marlboro
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·33 sec
Toward I 495 South: Marlboro
26
Merge onto I 495
11 mi·12 min·I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 78BToward MA 2 West: Leominster
28
Merge onto MA 2
11 mi·14 min·Captain Isaac Davis Highway
29
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
37 mi·51 min·Concord Turnpike
30
Continue on MA 2
1.6 mi·2 min·East Main Street
31
Turn right onto North Street
2.4 mi·4 min·North Street
32
Continue on Gulf Road
4.3 mi·7 min·Gulf Road
33
Continue on Maple Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Maple Street
34
At end of road, turn left onto MA 10; MA 63
0.3 mi·33 sec·Main Street
35
Turn right onto MA 10
4.8 mi·7 min·MA 10
36
Turn left
61 ft·4 sec
37
Keep slight right at fork
11 ft·0 sec
38
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 25m duration, leaving Lynn in the morning should get you to Bernardston with plenty of time to spare. Since this is a relatively short trip, you won't need to plan for extensive stops to break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $16; it's always wise to fill up before embarking on a trip of this length, especially before heading into less populated areas. The longest continuous stretch is 37.2 miles on Concord Turnpike, so plan a quick break before or after that segment if needed.
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 50.7 miles from Lynn, MA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.2 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 22 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.7 miles or 1h 10m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bernardston, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lynn, 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 Lynn, MA
This is one driving day of about 101.4 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Lynn, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Concord Turnpike for about 37.2 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 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 26.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|Federal Street
Enter roundabout onto Federal Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
15.9 mi into trip|~25m in|US 3
Take the exit onto US 3 toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 50B-A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike,...
7
16 mi into trip|~25m in|US 3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3 toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
7
16.3 mi into trip|~26m in|US 3
Keep slight right at fork onto US 3 toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 50A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
8
26.5 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 81B-C
Toward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlbor...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.91 one way
$33.83 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.67
$18.62
$37.25
premium
$5.06
$20.19
$40.38
diesel
$5.60
$22.35
$44.70
Estimated Tolls: $2.61
Concord Turnpike
(37.2 mi)$2.61
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
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.4
0
$10.65
$4.87
Efficient EV
25.4
0
$8.87
$4.06
EV Truck/SUV
40.6
0
$14.20
$6.49
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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 Aug 30, 2026
Origin
Lynn, MA
Morning
in Lynn on Friday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Partly Sunny
SW 7 to 12 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bernardston, MA
Morning
in Bernardston on Friday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 2 to 6 mph12% chanceLive forecast
74°F
Townsend, MA
51 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 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 25m 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.
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...
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...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 17.5
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...
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.
. . . 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...
From the sweet little farm at the foot of Penn’s Hill to the gentleman’s country estate at Peace field, Adams National Historical Park is the story of “heroes, statesmen, philosophers…and learned wome...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 62% of this drive is on highways. You'll encounter a stretch of 37.2 miles on Concord Turnpike before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a significant number of exits and merges as you navigate the highway portions of the route. Once you leave the main highways, the driving will become more local.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.2 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 0.9 miles in near Federal Street.
Driving Effort10/10
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 27 significant decision points across 101.4 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 0.9 miles (Federal Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 15.9 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16 miles (US 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,045 ft33 ft
Total Climb
1,298 ft
Total Descent
956 ft
Highest Point
1,045 ft
~72.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,012 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lynn, MA and Bernardston, MA, road signs point toward Providence Rhode Island, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire and Marlboro.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 101.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m 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 37.2 miles on Concord Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.61 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.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Bernardston, 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. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (Federal Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 15.9 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16 miles (US 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Bernardston, MA before heading back.
