Origin
Norwell, MA
Morning in Norwell on Sunday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norwell, 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 15m
Distance
52.3 mi
84 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norwell, MA
Efstathios Selimis
City of Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
This 52.3-mile drive from Norwell, MA to the City of Lowell, MA is a manageable 1-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $8, it's an economical journey. The route primarily utilizes US 3 and MA 3, making up about 51% of the drive. This is a straightforward trip within the Northeast region, perfect for a quick excursion without needing an overnight stay. You'll find it's a practical option for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 3 | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| Pilgrims Highway | 10.7 mi | 13m |
| MA 3 | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| Main Street | 3.4 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 Norwell, MA and City of Lowell, MA.
1
Start on MA 123
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Main Street
2
Continue on MA 123
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Webster Street
3
Turn left onto MA 53
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Washington Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward MA 3 North: Braintree, Boston
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto MA 3
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Pilgrims Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on MA 3
8.4 mi
·
11 min
·
MA 3
Exit 43B
Toward I 93 North: Boston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
John F. Fitzgerald Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 22
Toward MA 16 West: Mystic Valley Parkway, Arlington
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on MA 16
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Mystic Valley Parkway
11
Turn right onto MA 38
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Winthrop Street
Use the right lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto Winthrop Street
117 ft
·
2 sec
·
Winthrop Street
13
Continue on Winthrop Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Winthrop Street
14
Continue on MA 38
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
Main Street
15
Enter roundabout onto Bacon Street
94 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bacon Street
16
Continue on Bacon Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bacon Street
17
Turn left onto Church Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Church Street
18
Turn right onto US 3
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cambridge Street
19
Continue on US 3
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Cambridge Road
20
Continue on US 3
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
Cambridge Street
21
Take the exit onto US 3
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 3
Toward I 95 South, US 3 North: Waltham, Lowell
22
Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
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.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 3
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
25
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
26
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
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.
28
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
29
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 81C
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
30
Turn right onto MA 110
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Chelmsford Street
31
Turn sharp left onto MA 3A
458 ft
·
10 sec
·
Westford Street
32
Turn right onto Grand Street
448 ft
·
23 sec
·
Grand Street
33
At end of road, turn left onto Middlesex Street
383 ft
·
18 sec
·
Middlesex Street
34
Turn sharp right onto Arch Street
15 ft
·
5 sec
·
Arch Street
35
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
36
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 26.2 miles from Norwell, 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 3.5 and 50 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward MA 3 North: Braintree, Boston
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward MA 3 North: Braintree, Boston
8
29.3 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
38.7 mi into trip
|
~56m 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
49.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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
50 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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
$8.37 one way
$16.74 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.13 | $18.26 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.93 | $19.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.55 | $23.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.49 | $2.51 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.58 | $2.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.32 | $3.35 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
City of Lowell, MA
Morning in City of Lowell on Sunday
Local time
8:10 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
24 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 15m 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 route, with a significant portion on highways. The highway share is 51%, indicating a balance between faster-paced travel and potentially more local roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 10.9 miles on US 3. This suggests periods of steady driving punctuated by changes in road type as you progress towards Lowell. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, moving you effectively between your starting point and destination.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 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 3.5 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 52.3 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 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.7 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 Norwell, MA and City of Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Boston, Arlington, Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington and Nashua New Hampshire - among others.
Boston
3.5 mi in
|
~6m
Arlington
29.3 mi in
|
~41m
Lowell
37.4 mi in
|
~54m
|
via US 3
Middlesex Turnpike
38.7 mi in
|
~56m
|
via US 3
Burlington
38.7 mi in
|
~56m
|
via US 3
Nashua New Hampshire
38.7 mi in
|
~56m
|
via US 3
Marlboro
49.4 mi in
|
~1h 9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 52.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). 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 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.7 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, Adams 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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