Origin
Phillipston, MA
Morning in Phillipston on Sunday
Local time
8:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Phillipston, 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 12m
Distance
50.4 mi
81 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 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Phillipston, MA
Max Flinterman
City of Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
Phillipston to Lowell is 50.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 12 minutes via MA 2 and I 495, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Massachusetts, taking you from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a relatively short, highway-focused trip, making it ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, so don't expect a winding country road experience. Plan this drive for when you need a straightforward and efficient journey between these two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MA 2 | 21.7 mi | 30m |
| Concord Turnpike | 12.3 mi | 16m |
| I 495 | 10.2 mi | 11m |
| Chelmsford Street | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Baldwinville Road | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| The Common | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Westford Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Grand Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MA 2
— 21.7 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Phillipston, MA and City of Lowell, MA.
1
Start on this road
141 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto The Common
185 ft
·
6 sec
·
The Common
3
Continue on The Common
310 ft
·
9 sec
·
The Common
4
Turn right onto Baldwinville Road
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Baldwinville Road
5
Turn right onto MA 2A
380 ft
·
7 sec
·
State Road
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
7
Merge onto MA 2
22 mi
·
30 min
·
MA 2
8
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Concord Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 113B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
Use the right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
11
Merge onto I 495
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 88
Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
13
Turn right onto MA 110
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Chelmsford Street
14
Turn sharp left onto MA 3A
458 ft
·
10 sec
·
Westford Street
15
Turn right onto Grand Street
448 ft
·
23 sec
·
Grand Street
16
At end of road, turn left onto Middlesex Street
383 ft
·
18 sec
·
Middlesex Street
17
Turn sharp right onto Arch Street
15 ft
·
5 sec
·
Arch Street
18
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.2 miles from Phillipston, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 23.7 and 50.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
23.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
MA 2 / Concord Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2 / Concord Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
36.1 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward I 495 North: Lowell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 113B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
6
36.6 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
6
46.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m 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
6
50.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
Arch Street
Turn sharp right onto Arch Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.07 one way
$16.13 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $8.80 | $17.59 |
| premium | $4.82 | $9.57 | $19.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.13 | $22.26 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.86
Concord Turnpike
(12.3 mi)
$0.86
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 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 | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.41 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.06 | $3.23 |
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
8:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Chance Light Rain
NE 1 to 8 mph
42% chance
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
28 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 12m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway experience, with 88% of the journey utilizing major roadways like MA 2 and I 495. You'll encounter the Concord Turnpike as well. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 21.7 miles on MA 2, offering a period of consistent speed. Expect a smooth, fast-paced drive for the majority of the trip, with fewer opportunities for spontaneous stops or scenic detours. The character remains largely consistent, emphasizing efficient travel over leisurely exploration.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.7 mi on MA 2.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MA 2 and Concord Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.7 miles in near MA 2 / Concord Turnpike.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 23.7 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Phillipston, MA and City of Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Lawrence and Lowell.
Lawrence
36.6 mi in
|
~53m
Lowell
46.9 mi in
|
~1h 5m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 50.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.7 miles on MA 2. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.86 in tolls one way, starting with Concord Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 23.7 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 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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