Origin
Methuen, MA
Late night in Methuen on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Methuen, MA to Boston, MA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
28.6 mi
46 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Methuen, MA
Italo Melo
Boston, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Methuen to Boston is a straightforward 28.6-mile commute that typically takes about 36 minutes. Because this trip is entirely within the Northeast region of Massachusetts, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You will spend the vast majority of your journey on I-93, making it a highly efficient route. With fuel costs estimated at just $5, this is an incredibly budget-friendly drive. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, the short duration means you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations or multiple rest stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 93 | 22.5 mi | 26m |
| Interstate 93 HOV lane | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Lowell Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| State Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Surface Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Court Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Tremont Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 93
— 22.5 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Methuen, MA and Boston, MA.
1
Start on Osgood Street
76 ft
·
4 sec
·
Osgood Street
2
Turn left onto MA 113
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Lowell Street
3
Continue on MA 110; MA 113
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Lowell Street
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 93 South: Boston
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 93
23 mi
·
26 min
·
I 93
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate 93 HOV lane
Use the slight left lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate 93 HOV lane
8
Merge onto I 93; US 1
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 17B-A
Toward MA 1A Toll: Airport, Government Center
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 17A
Toward Government Center
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto John F. Fitzgerald Surface Road
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
John F. Fitzgerald Surface Road
12
Turn right onto State Street
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
State Street
13
Continue on Court Street
473 ft
·
20 sec
·
Court Street
14
Turn left onto Tremont Street
333 ft
·
11 sec
·
Tremont Street
15
Arrive at destination
Tremont Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 27.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 93 South: Boston
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 93 South: Boston
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 93
Merge onto I 93
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
24.7 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
I 93 / Interstate 93 HOV lane
Keep slight left at fork onto I 93 / Interstate 93 HOV lane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
27.7 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward MA 1A Toll: Airport, Government Center
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 17B-A
Toward MA 1A Toll: Airport, Government Center
9
27.8 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Government Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17A
Toward Government Center
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.58 one way
$9.15 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.99 | $9.98 |
| premium | $4.82 | $5.43 | $10.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.31 | $12.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.00 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.50 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Boston, MA
Late night in Boston on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Clear
W 6 mph
0% chance
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
18 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
36m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 89% of your travel occurring on major interstates. You will spend a significant portion of your time on I-93, including a long, uninterrupted 22.5-mile stretch that defines the core of the experience. The route begins with local access via Lowell Street before transitioning into the fast-paced flow of the highway system. Navigating the Interstate 93 HOV lane is a key part of the journey, requiring you to stay alert as you move from the quieter outskirts of Methuen into the denser traffic patterns approaching Boston.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.5 mi on I 93.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 93 and Interstate 93 HOV lane. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 28.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (I 93): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.7 miles (I 93 / Interstate 93 HOV lane): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
149 ft
9 ft
Total Climb
132 ft
Total Descent
206 ft
Highest Point
149 ft
~16.3 mi in
Elevation Range
140 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Boston, MA
Full guide →A city of history and tradition, Boston offers a proud legacy of culture, education, and numerous sporting championships. The "shining city on a hill"s independent spirit has been displayed to the world ever since colonists were angry over a British tax on their beloved tea and dumped shiploads of it into the harbor in protest. In the early 1600s, the peninsula in Massachusetts that would become known as Boston was controlled by Native Americans until John Smith (English soldier, explorer, colonial governor, Admiral of New England, and author) named the area New England to attract European settlers. Boston was founded in 1630 by John Winthrop, making it one of the oldest cities in the U.S. No other American city has made more of an effort to preserve its history, and you'll find buildings that pre-date the republic dotted throughout the region.
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 36m. Total distance: 28.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.5 miles on I 93. 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 Boston, 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 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (I 93): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.7 miles (I 93 / Interstate 93 HOV lane): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Lowell National Historical Park and Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (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 Boston, 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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