Origin
North Pembroke, MA
Morning in North Pembroke on Sunday
Local time
6:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Pembroke, 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
1h 17m
Distance
54 mi
87 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Pembroke, MA
Erik Mclean
City of Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
This 54-mile drive from North Pembroke to the City of Lowell, Massachusetts, will take you approximately 1 hour and 17 minutes. It's a straightforward, single-day trip, making it ideal for a quick getaway or a day of exploration. You'll be navigating primarily via US 3 and MA 3, with a portion on Pilgrims Highway. With a fuel cost estimated at around $9, this is an economical journey within the Northeast region. The mixed drive profile suggests a varied experience on the road. This route is well-suited for a day trip, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 3 | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| Pilgrims Highway | 10.7 mi | 13m |
| MA 3 | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| Washington Street | 3.6 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 |
Longest stretch:
US 3
— 10.9 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Pembroke, MA and City of Lowell, MA.
1
Start on Water Street
136 ft
·
9 sec
·
Water Street
2
Turn right onto MA 53
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
3
Continue on MA 53; MA 139
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Columbia Road
4
Continue on MA 53
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Washington Street
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward MA 3 North: Braintree, Boston
6
Merge onto MA 3
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Pilgrims Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on MA 3
8.4 mi
·
11 min
·
MA 3
Exit 43B
Toward I 93 North: Boston
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
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27 miles from North Pembroke, 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 27.8 and 51.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
27.8 mi into trip
|
~39m 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
30.9 mi into trip
|
~43m 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
40.3 mi into trip
|
~58m 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
51 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m 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
51.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m 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
$8.64 one way
$17.28 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.42 | $18.85 |
| premium | $4.82 | $10.25 | $20.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.92 | $23.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.56 | $3.46 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
City of Lowell, MA
Morning in City of Lowell on Sunday
Local time
6:53 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
3 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
1h 17m 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 mixed drive on this 54-mile route, with 49% of it being highway. You'll encounter stretches on US 3, MA 3, and Pilgrims Highway, offering a blend of faster-paced travel and potentially more local road sections. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 10.9 miles on US 3, providing a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. This combination means the road's character will likely shift throughout the journey, moving from more open highway driving to potentially more varied conditions as you approach your destination.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
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 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 27.8 miles in near I 93.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54 miles you will encounter 26 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 27.8 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.3 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 North Pembroke, MA and City of Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Boston, Arlington, Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington and Nashua New Hampshire - among others.
Boston
5.1 mi in
|
~8m
Arlington
30.9 mi in
|
~43m
Lowell
39 mi in
|
~56m
|
via US 3
Middlesex Turnpike
40.3 mi in
|
~58m
|
via US 3
Burlington
40.3 mi in
|
~58m
|
via US 3
Nashua New Hampshire
40.3 mi in
|
~58m
|
via US 3
Marlboro
51 mi in
|
~1h 11m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 54 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). 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 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 27.8 miles (I 93): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.3 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Adams National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park and Lowell 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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