Traveling from New Bedford to Lawrence covers 85.1 miles through the Northeast corner of Massachusetts. You should plan for a total drive time of approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, making this a straightforward day trip that does not require an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of about $12, the route remains an economical choice for those looking to traverse the state. Because you will be navigating local roads rather than major interstate corridors, you should prepare for a drive that demands your full attention. This journey is ideal if you prefer a direct, local path over the monotony of high-speed highway travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.5 miles from New Bedford, MA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 93
33.2 mi
41m
Amvets Highway
23.3 mi
26m
Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway
15.8 mi
18m
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
3.2 mi
5m
I 495
2.2 mi
2m
Purchase Street
1.8 mi
3m
Mount Pleasant Street
0.9 mi
1m
South Union Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 93
— 33.2 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Bedford, MA and Lawrence, MA.
1
Start on Pleasant Street
0.3 mi·32 sec·Pleasant Street
2
Continue on Purchase Street
1.8 mi·3 min·Purchase Street
3
Continue on Nauset Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·Nauset Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto Hathaway Road
302 ft·6 sec·Hathaway Road
5
Continue on Mount Pleasant Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Mount Pleasant Street
6
Turn right onto Kings Highway
0.2 mi·38 sec·Kings Highway
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward MA 140 North: Taunton, Boston
8
Merge onto MA 140
16 mi·18 min·Alfred Bessette Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·54 sec
Exit 20AToward MA 24 North: Boston
10
Merge onto MA 24
23 mi·26 min·Amvets Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 41AToward I 93 North, US 1 North: BostonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 93; US 1
12 mi·15 min·I 93; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
3.2 mi·5 min·John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93
22 mi·25 min·I 93
Toward I 93 North: Concord NHUse the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 40AToward I 495 North: LawrenceUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 495
2.2 mi·2 min·I 495
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·52 sec
Exit 99BToward MA 28 North: LawrenceUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto MA 28
0.2 mi·22 sec·Union Street
19
Keep slight right at fork onto South Union Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South Union Street
20
Turn left onto MA 114
0.3 mi·36 sec·Winthrop Avenue
21
Continue on MA 114
0.5 mi·55 sec·Parker Street
22
Continue on Amesbury Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·Amesbury Street
23
Turn right onto Canal Street
282 ft·6 sec·Canal Street
24
Turn left onto Lawrence Street
492 ft·18 sec·Lawrence Street
25
Turn left onto Essex Street
498 ft·11 sec·Essex Street
26
Arrive at destination
Essex Street
Trip Plan
Since this 1 hour and 50-minute drive relies entirely on local roads, departure timing is key to avoiding peak congestion. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to ensure your travel time stays close to the estimated duration. Because there are no scheduled stops, you have the flexibility to pull over whenever you need a break, though you should factor this into your total arrival time. Keep your fuel level in mind before you head out, as the $12 estimated cost is based on typical transit efficiency. A helpful tip for this specific route is to double-check your GPS settings to ensure you are comfortable with the turn-heavy nature of the local streets before you start the engine.
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 42.5 miles from New Bedford, MA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.2 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.5 miles or 53m 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 32m
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 New Bedford, MA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from New Bedford, MA
This is one driving day of about 85.1 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from New Bedford, MA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 93 for about 33.2 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 82.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in|Hathaway Road
At end of road, turn right onto Hathaway Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
9
43 mi into trip|~53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 41A
Toward I 93 North, US 1 North: Boston
7
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 15m 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
7
79.8 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lawrence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40A
Toward I 495 North: Lawrence
7
82.5 mi into trip|~1h 45m 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
$13.62 one way
$27.24 round trip
$4.07/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$14.85
$29.70
premium
$4.82
$16.16
$32.32
diesel
$5.61
$18.79
$37.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.5
0
$8.94
$4.08
Efficient EV
21.3
0
$7.45
$3.40
EV Truck/SUV
34
0
$11.91
$5.45
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
New Bedford, MA
Late night
in New Bedford on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
SW 8 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lawrence, MA
Late night
in Lawrence on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
1 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 50m 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.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
National Historical Park
"The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in, in all New England..nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses, parks and gardens more opulent, than in New Bedford…all t...
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.
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...
. . . 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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 52.8
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 79.2
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 67.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a turn-heavy, local profile that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. You will rely on roads like Purchase Street, Nauset Street, and Hathaway Road to navigate the distance, as the route contains zero highway mileage. Unlike a standard interstate grind, the personality of this drive is defined by frequent turns and shifting local traffic patterns. Expect a consistent pace throughout the entire 85.1-mile stretch, as there are no long, uninterrupted highway segments to zone out on. Staying alert is essential, as the lack of highway infrastructure means you will be managing intersections and local transit for the duration of your trip.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.2 mi on I 93.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near Hathaway Road.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.1 miles you will encounter 16 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 2.3 miles (Hathaway Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 43 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.2 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
New Bedford is in Massachusetts on the southern coast. New Bedford's excellent harbor made it a natural fishing and whaling center. It was the world's premier whaling port in the 19th century, and, for a time, "the richest city in the world" and "the city that lit the world" because of whale oil production.
New Bedford neighbor Acushnet is the birthplace of the Titleist golf ball.
Top landmarks
•Effie M. Morrissey — museum ship in Massachusetts
•New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park — national Historical Park of the United States
•Central New Bedford Historic District — historic district in Massachusetts, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 85.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.2 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 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 2.3 miles (Hathaway Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 43 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.2 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, Boston 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 Lawrence, MA before heading back.
