Origin
Shrewsbury, MA
Late night in Shrewsbury on Sunday
Local time
3:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shrewsbury, 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
48m
Distance
36.2 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shrewsbury, MA
Wikimedia Commons
City of Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
Planning a trip from Shrewsbury to Lowell? This 36.2-mile drive is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 48 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily be on major highways, with an 83% highway share, so expect a relatively quick commute. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $6, which is quite budget-friendly. Given the short duration and straightforward nature, you won't need to worry about overnight stays. This trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically within Massachusetts, so you're not crossing state lines or encountering significant regional shifts.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 495 | 22.8 mi | 26m |
| I 290 | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Chelmsford Street | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Boylston Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Westford Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Grand Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Middlesex Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Grafton 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 Shrewsbury, MA and City of Lowell, MA.
1
Start on this road
165 ft
·
14 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto MA 140
284 ft
·
8 sec
·
Grafton Street
3
Continue on MA 140
480 ft
·
16 sec
·
Boylston Street
4
Continue on MA 140
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Boylston Street
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 290 East: Marlboro
6
Merge onto I 290
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
I 290
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
2 min
Exit 32B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
8
Merge onto I 495
23 mi
·
26 min
·
I 495
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 88
Toward MA 110: Chelmsford, Lowell
10
Turn right onto MA 110
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Chelmsford Street
11
Turn sharp left onto MA 3A
458 ft
·
10 sec
·
Westford Street
12
Turn right onto Grand Street
448 ft
·
23 sec
·
Grand Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto Middlesex Street
383 ft
·
18 sec
·
Middlesex Street
14
Turn sharp right onto Arch Street
15 ft
·
5 sec
·
Arch Street
15
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.1 miles from Shrewsbury, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 9.1 and 36 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.1 mi into trip
|
~12m 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
9.8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
32.6 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
5
35.8 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
MA 3A / Westford Street
Turn sharp left onto MA 3A / Westford Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
36 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
Arch Street
Turn sharp right onto Arch Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.79 one way
$11.59 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.32 | $12.64 |
| premium | $4.82 | $6.87 | $13.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.99 | $15.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.80 | $1.74 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.17 | $1.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Late night in City of Lowell on Sunday
Local time
3:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Berlin, MA
18 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
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
48m 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 route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with a significant 83% of the journey taking place on interstates. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including a continuous segment of 22.8 miles on I-495. Expect the driving to feel efficient and direct, minimizing time spent navigating local traffic. The primary roads you'll utilize are I-495 and I-290, with a brief transition to Chelmsford Street towards the end. It’s a drive characterized by its speed and focus on getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 495 and I 290. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 9.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 36.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 9.8 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Shrewsbury, MA to City of Lowell, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Lowell along the way.
Lowell
32.6 mi in
|
~41m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 36.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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: at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 9.8 miles (I 495): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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