Origin
Norton, MA
Morning in Norton on Sunday
Local time
6:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norton, MA to 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
55.8 mi
90 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 22m
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.
Norton, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
Norton, MA to Lowell, MA is 55.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 17 minutes via Yankee Division Highway and I-95, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically Massachusetts, and offers a straightforward journey. It's a convenient option if you're looking for a relatively short drive with minimal time commitment. Consider this route for its efficiency and ease of navigation, perfect for a quick transit between these two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Yankee Division Highway | 21.9 mi | 29m |
| I 95 | 11.5 mi | 13m |
| US 3 | 9.9 mi | 11m |
| MA 140 | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Mansfield Avenue | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Chelmsford Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| University Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Yankee Division Highway
— 21.9 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norton, MA and Lowell, MA.
1
Start on this road
111 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto MA 140
175 ft
·
11 sec
·
Taunton Avenue
3
Turn left onto MA 123; MA 140
157 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Main Street
4
Turn right onto MA 140
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Mansfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on MA 140
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
6
Turn left onto MA 140
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
MA 140
Toward I 495 North, MA 140 North: Marlboro
7
Keep slight right at fork onto MA 140
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
MA 140
Exit 31 / Old Exit 12
Toward MA 140 North: Mansfield
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 95 North: Boston
9
Merge onto I 95
12 mi
·
13 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 25
Toward Dedham Street, Westwood, Canton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
329 ft
·
10 sec
Toward Dedham Street, Westwood
12
Turn left onto Dedham Street
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Dedham Street
Use the left / right lanes.
13
Continue on Canton Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Canton Street
14
Turn right onto University Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
University Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
16
Merge onto I 95; US 1; MA 128
22 mi
·
29 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 50A-B
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 50A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
this road
Exit 50A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
20
Continue on US 3
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
US 3
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
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.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 81C
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
25
Turn right onto MA 110
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Chelmsford Street
26
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
314 ft
·
14 sec
·
Cambridge Street
27
Turn left onto Hale Street
486 ft
·
13 sec
·
Hale Street
28
Arrive at destination
Hale Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 27.9 miles from Norton, 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 225 decision points cluster between mile 18.3 and 54.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
18.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward Dedham Street, Westwood, Canton
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 25
Toward Dedham Street, Westwood, Canton
8
42.6 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit 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 50A-B
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike,...
9
42.8 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 50A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
8
53.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m 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
54.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m 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
$8.93 one way
$17.86 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.74 | $19.48 |
| premium | $4.82 | $10.60 | $21.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.32 | $24.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.86 | $2.68 |
| Efficient EV | 14 | 0 | $4.88 | $2.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.81 | $3.57 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Lowell, MA
Morning in Lowell on Sunday
Local time
6:10 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
21 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?
This drive features a mixed profile, with 44% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the Yankee Division Highway, I-95, and US-3, offering a blend of driving experiences. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 21.9 miles on the Yankee Division Highway, providing a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. Expect a dynamic drive that transitions between different road types, keeping things engaging without being overly demanding.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.9 mi on Yankee Division Highway.
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 18.3 miles in.
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 55.8 miles you will encounter 22 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 18.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Norton, MA and Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Westwood, Canton, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington and Nashua New Hampshire.
Westwood
18.3 mi in
|
~25m
Canton
18.3 mi in
|
~25m
Middlesex Turnpike
42.6 mi in
|
~1h
Burlington
42.6 mi in
|
~1h
Nashua New Hampshire
42.6 mi in
|
~1h
About the Cities
Arriving in Lowell, MA
Full guide →Lowell is a city in Massachusetts about 40 minutes northwest of Boston. With over 115,000 residents (2020), it's the fifth largest city in Massachusetts, and has an important historical background. It was the first planned industrial city in the United States.
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 1h 17m. Total distance: 55.8 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 (44%). 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 21.9 miles on Yankee Division Highway. 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 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 18.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Lowell National Historical Park, Minute Man 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 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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