Origin
Northborough, MA
Morning in Northborough on Tuesday
Local time
6:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Northborough, MA to Lawrence, 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
54m
Distance
41.8 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Northborough, MA
Phil Evenden
Lawrence, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Northborough to Lawrence, you are looking at a straightforward 41.8-mile trip that typically takes about 54 minutes. This drive is designed as a quick day trip, making it an easy task to complete in a single outing without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-495, I-290, and Hudson Street, which keeps the journey efficient for commuters or casual travelers. With a fuel budget of approximately $7, the trip is quite economical for a solo driver or a small group. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region of Massachusetts, you will remain in familiar territory throughout the duration of your transit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 34.2 mi | 39m |
| I 290 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Hudson Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| South Union Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Parker Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Solomon Pond Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Amesbury Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Winthrop Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 34.2 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Northborough, MA and Lawrence, MA.
1
Start on this road
44 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto US 20
13 ft
·
4 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto Hudson Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Hudson Street
4
Continue on Solomon Pond Road
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Solomon Pond Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 290 East: Marlboro
6
Merge onto I 290
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 290
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
2 min
Exit 32B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
8
Merge onto I 495
34 mi
·
39 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 99B
Toward MA 28 North: Lawrence
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn straight onto MA 28
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Union Street
11
Keep slight right at fork onto South Union Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Union Street
12
Turn left onto MA 114
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Winthrop Avenue
13
Continue on MA 114
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Parker Street
14
Continue on Amesbury Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Amesbury Street
15
Turn right onto Canal Street
282 ft
·
6 sec
·
Canal Street
16
Turn left onto Lawrence Street
492 ft
·
18 sec
·
Lawrence Street
17
Turn left onto Essex Street
498 ft
·
11 sec
·
Essex Street
18
Arrive at destination
Essex Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.9 miles from Northborough, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 41.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 20 / Main Street
Turn left onto US 20 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 32B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
5
5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
39.2 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
5
41.7 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
Essex Street
Turn left onto Essex Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.69 one way
$13.38 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $7.30 | $14.59 |
| premium | $4.82 | $7.94 | $15.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.23 | $18.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.39 | $2.01 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.66 | $1.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.85 | $2.68 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Lawrence, MA
Morning in Lawrence on Tuesday
Local time
6:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
19 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
54m 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?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with about 86% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 34.2 miles along I-495. While the start of your trip involves local navigation on Hudson Street and I-290, the transition to the interstate is seamless. Expect a functional, point-to-point drive rather than a winding scenic tour. The personality of this road is defined by its utility, offering a consistent experience that allows you to cover the distance with minimal stop-and-go traffic.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.2 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and I 290. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 20 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 41.8 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (US 20 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 5 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
380 ft
44 ft
Total Climb
248 ft
Total Descent
505 ft
Highest Point
380 ft
~8.9 mi in
Elevation Range
336 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Lawrence, MA
Full guide →Lawrence is a city in Massachusetts with a population of about 89,000 (2020). Methuen is a city in Massachusetts with a population of 53,000 (2020).
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 54m. Total distance: 41.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.2 miles on I 495. 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: near the start (US 20 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 5 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Lawrence, 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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