Origin
Milton, MA
Morning in Milton on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Milton, MA to City of Lowell, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
36.6 mi
59 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Milton, MA
Wikimedia Commons
City of Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
This 36.6-mile drive from Milton, MA, to the City of Lowell, MA, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 56 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $6, it's an economical journey for a single day. The route is primarily highway-focused, making it a quick transit between two points within the Northeast region. You won't need to worry about breaking this up overnight; it's a perfect candidate for a day trip. The overall feel is that of efficient travel, designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 3 | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| Southeast Expressway | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| John F. Fitzgerald Expressway | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| I 93 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Cambridge Road | 2 mi | 2m |
| Chelmsford Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Cambridge Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Winthrop Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 3
— 10.9 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Milton, MA and City of Lowell, MA.
1
Start on Lodge Street
269 ft
·
14 sec
·
Lodge Street
2
Turn left onto Pleasant Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Pleasant Street
3
Continue on Edge Hill Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Edge Hill Road
4
Continue on Boulevard Street
438 ft
·
16 sec
·
Boulevard Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left onto Granite Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Granite Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward MA 3 North, I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
7
Merge onto I 93; US 1; MA 3
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Southeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
I 93
Toward I 93 North: Concord NH
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 22
Toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlington
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on MA 16
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Mystic Valley Parkway
12
Turn right onto MA 38
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Winthrop Street
Use the right lane.
13
Enter roundabout onto Winthrop Street
117 ft
·
2 sec
·
Winthrop Street
14
Continue on Winthrop Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Winthrop Street
15
Continue on MA 38
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
Main Street
16
Enter roundabout onto Bacon Street
94 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bacon Street
17
Continue on Bacon Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bacon Street
18
Turn left onto Church Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Church Street
19
Turn right onto US 3
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cambridge Street
20
Continue on US 3
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Cambridge Road
21
Continue on US 3
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
Cambridge Street
22
Take the exit onto US 3
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 3
Toward I 95 South, US 3 North: Waltham, Lowell
23
Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Take the exit onto US 3
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 3
Exit 50B-A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 3
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
26
Keep slight right at fork onto US 3
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
US 3
Exit 50A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 81B-C
Toward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlboro
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
30
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 81C
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
31
Turn right onto MA 110
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Chelmsford Street
32
Turn sharp left onto MA 3A
458 ft
·
10 sec
·
Westford Street
33
Turn right onto Grand Street
448 ft
·
23 sec
·
Grand Street
34
At end of road, turn left onto Middlesex Street
383 ft
·
18 sec
·
Middlesex Street
35
Turn sharp right onto Arch Street
15 ft
·
5 sec
·
Arch Street
36
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
37
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.3 miles from Milton, 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 265 decision points cluster between mile 10.4 and 34.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
10.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 93
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93 toward I 93 North: Concord NH
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 93 North: Concord NH
8
13.5 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlington
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 22
Toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlin...
8
23 mi into trip
|
~36m 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,...
8
33.6 mi into trip
|
~50m 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...
8
34.3 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 81C
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.86 one way
$11.71 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.39 | $12.78 |
| premium | $4.82 | $6.95 | $13.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.08 | $16.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.84 | $1.76 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.20 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
City of Lowell, MA
Morning in City of Lowell on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
56m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this 36.6-mile journey, with 62% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You'll navigate via US 3, the Southeast Expressway, and the John F. Fitzgerald Expressway, which means consistent higher speeds and less interaction with local traffic. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.9 miles on US 3, offering a solid period of steady driving. While not a winding scenic route, the highway focus ensures a predictable and efficient pace for the majority of your travel time.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.9 mi on US 3.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 3 and Southeast Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.4 miles in near I 93.
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 26 decision points packed into just 36.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.4 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Milton, MA and City of Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Arlington, Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire and Marlboro - among others.
Arlington
13.5 mi in
|
~22m
Lowell
21.6 mi in
|
~34m
|
via US 3
Middlesex Turnpike
23 mi in
|
~36m
|
via US 3
Burlington
23 mi in
|
~36m
|
via US 3
Nashua New Hampshire
23 mi in
|
~36m
|
via US 3
Marlboro
33.6 mi in
|
~50m
Chelmsford
34.1 mi in
|
~50m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 36.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.9 miles on US 3. 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 City of Lowell, 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 10.4 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Boston National Historical Park, Lowell National Historical Park and Adams 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 City of Lowell, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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