Origin
Oxford, MA
Morning in Oxford on Tuesday
Local time
6:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oxford, MA to Lowell, 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
1h 7m
Distance
52.9 mi
85 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oxford, MA
Michael D Beckwith
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
Oxford to Lowell is 52.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 7 minutes via I-495, I-290, and I-395, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive keeps you within Massachusetts for the entirety of the trip, moving you steadily from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a straightforward journey designed for efficiency, making it a solid choice if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Consider this route for a quick commute or a simple leg of a larger New England adventure.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 22.8 mi | 26m |
| I 290 | 20.1 mi | 25m |
| I 395 | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| Chelmsford Street | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Sutton Avenue | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Hale Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Cambridge Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 495
— 22.8 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oxford, MA and Lowell, MA.
1
Start on MA 12
100 ft
·
5 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto Sutton Avenue
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
Sutton Avenue
Use the right lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
4
Merge onto I 395
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
I 395
5
Continue on I 290
20 mi
·
25 min
·
I 290
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
2 min
Exit 32B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
7
Merge onto I 495
23 mi
·
26 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 88
Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
9
Turn right onto MA 110
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Chelmsford Street
10
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
314 ft
·
14 sec
·
Cambridge Street
11
Turn left onto Hale Street
486 ft
·
13 sec
·
Hale Street
12
Arrive at destination
Hale Street
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 26.4 miles from Oxford, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 52.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Sutton Avenue
Turn right onto Sutton Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
26.4 mi into trip
|
~33m 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
27.1 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
49.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 88
Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
4
52.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
Cambridge Street
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.47 one way
$16.93 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.23 | $18.47 |
| premium | $4.82 | $10.04 | $20.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.68 | $23.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 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 | 15.9 | 0 | $5.55 | $2.54 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.63 | $2.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.41 | $3.39 |
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
Lowell, MA
Morning in Lowell on Tuesday
Local time
6:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Berlin, MA
26 mi in
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 7m 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 is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 91% of the 52.9 miles spent on major interstates. You'll spend a good chunk of your time on I-495, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 22.8 miles. Expect smooth sailing and consistent speeds for most of the journey. The character of the drive is defined by its efficiency, as you transition between I-395, I-290, and finally I-495, all designed for rapid transit. This isn't a route for leisurely sightseeing, but rather for covering ground quickly.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.8 mi on I 495.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and I 290. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Sutton Avenue.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 7m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Sutton Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 27.1 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 7m. Total distance: 52.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.8 miles on I 495. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (Sutton Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 27.1 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Lowell National Historical Park, Minute Man National Historical Park and Boston 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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