Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
51.8 mi
83 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norwell, MA
Efstathios Selimis
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Norwell, MA to Lowell, MA is 51.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 13 minutes via US 3, Pilgrims Highway, and MA 3, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically Massachusetts, making it a straightforward local journey. The drive offers a mixed experience, balancing highway speeds with some local road transitions. It's a practical option if you need to get from the South Shore area to the Merrimack Valley without a long commitment. Consider this route for its efficiency and manageable duration.
| 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 |
| Cambridge Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Norwell, MA and Lowell, MA.
Start on MA 123
Continue on MA 123
Turn left onto MA 53
Take the ramp
Merge onto MA 3
Continue on MA 3
Continue on I 93; US 1; MA 3
Keep slight right at fork onto I 93
Take the exit
Continue on MA 16
Turn right onto MA 38
Enter roundabout onto Winthrop Street
Continue on Winthrop Street
Continue on MA 38
Enter roundabout onto Bacon Street
Continue on Bacon Street
Turn left onto Church Street
Turn right onto US 3
Continue on US 3
Continue on US 3
Take the exit onto US 3
Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128
Take the exit onto US 3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
Keep slight right at fork onto US 3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto MA 110
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
Turn left onto Hale Street
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.9 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.
5 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.
Take the ramp toward MA 3 North: Braintree, Boston
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
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
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
Keep slight right at fork toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$8.29 one way
$16.58 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.04 | $18.08 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.84 | $19.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.44 | $22.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 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 | 15.5 | 0 | $5.44 | $2.49 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.25 | $3.32 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Norwell on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Areas Of Fog
Destination
Late night in Lowell on Sunday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Areas Of Fog then Mostly Cloudy
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route features a 51% highway share, meaning you'll experience a good portion of faster-paced driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.9 miles on US 3, offering a period of consistent travel. As you progress, the drive transitions between clearly defined highways and potentially more varied road types. Expect a mixed drive profile that keeps things interesting without becoming overly complex. This blend of speeds and road types makes for a dynamic, yet predictable, 1-hour journey.
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.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.8 miles you will encounter 23 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Norwell, MA and Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Boston, Arlington, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington and Nashua New Hampshire.
Boston
Arlington
Middlesex Turnpike
Burlington
Nashua New Hampshire
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 51.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m 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.
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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