Origin
Somerville, MA
Late night in Somerville on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Somerville, MA to 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
36m
Distance
24 mi
39 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Somerville, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
Somerville, MA to Lowell, MA is 24 miles and takes about 36 minutes via US 3, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, short drive connecting two points within the Northeast region, specifically within Massachusetts. Expect a mixed drive that offers a blend of highway speed and local road navigation. Given its brief duration, this trip is ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing for plenty of time to explore your destination upon arrival. It's a practical option for a quick commute or a brief getaway without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 3 | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| Cambridge Road | 2 mi | 2m |
| Cambridge Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Winthrop Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Chelmsford Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Yankee Division Highway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Medford Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 3
— 10.9 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Somerville, MA and Lowell, MA.
1
Start on this road
163 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Highland Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Highland Avenue
3
Turn right onto Sycamore Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Sycamore Street
4
Turn left onto Medford Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Medford Street
5
Continue on Medford Street
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Medford Street
6
Continue on Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
7
Turn left onto Summer Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Summer Street
8
At end of road, turn right onto Winthrop Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
Winthrop Street
9
Enter roundabout onto Winthrop Street
117 ft
·
2 sec
·
Winthrop Street
10
Continue on Winthrop Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Winthrop Street
11
Continue on MA 38
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
Main Street
12
Enter roundabout onto Bacon Street
94 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bacon Street
13
Continue on Bacon Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bacon Street
14
Turn left onto Church Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Church Street
15
Turn right onto US 3
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cambridge Street
16
Continue on US 3
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Cambridge Road
17
Continue on US 3
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
Cambridge Street
18
Take the exit onto US 3
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 3
Toward I 95 South, US 3 North: Waltham, Lowell
19
Merge onto I 95; US 3; MA 128
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Yankee Division Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
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.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 3
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
22
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
23
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
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.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 81C
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
27
Turn right onto MA 110
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Chelmsford Street
28
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
314 ft
·
14 sec
·
Cambridge Street
29
Turn left onto Hale Street
486 ft
·
13 sec
·
Hale Street
30
Arrive at destination
Hale Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 10.8 and 22.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
10.8 mi into trip
|
~19m 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,...
7
11 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
US 3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3 toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
7
11.2 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
US 3
Keep slight right at fork onto US 3 toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 50A
Toward US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire
8
21.5 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
22.2 mi into trip
|
~33m 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
$3.84 one way
$7.68 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.19 | $8.38 |
| premium | $4.82 | $4.56 | $9.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.30 | $10.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.52 | $1.15 |
| Efficient EV | 6 | 0 | $2.10 | $0.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.36 | $1.54 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Late night in Lowell on Sunday
Local time
12:15 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
36m 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 offers a mixed drive experience, with about 45% of the journey on highways. You'll find yourself on US 3 for a significant portion, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 10.9 miles, which likely provides a faster-paced experience. As you transition between main roads like Cambridge Road and Cambridge Street, you may encounter more local traffic and slower speeds. The character of the drive shifts, moving from more open highway to potentially more built-up areas as you approach Lowell. It's not a monotonous interstate grind, but rather a dynamic route with varying road conditions.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 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?
9/10
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 10.8 miles in near US 3.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 21 decision points packed into just 24 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.8 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11 miles (US 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.2 miles (US 3): 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 Somerville, MA and Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire, Marlboro and Chelmsford.
Middlesex Turnpike
10.8 mi in
|
~19m
|
via US 3
Burlington
10.8 mi in
|
~19m
|
via US 3
Nashua New Hampshire
10.8 mi in
|
~19m
|
via US 3
Marlboro
21.5 mi in
|
~32m
Chelmsford
21.9 mi in
|
~33m
About the Cities
Starting in Somerville, MA
Full guide →Older Bostonians might still derisively call it "Slummerville", but today that tired old moniker couldn't be further from the truth. Packed with upwardly mobile professionals and longtime residents, Somerville is often voted an "All-America City" and the best-run city in Massachusetts. It would seem civically engaged folks can achieve uncommon results; and Somerville fosters an environment of cooperation like no other. Its 81,000 residents (2020) are quick to enjoy the fruits of their artistry, and you'll find top notch options for dinner, drinks, and dancing all in abundance within Somerville's borders. Lurking just to the south, big brothers Boston and Cambridge provide options and opportunities for many of Somerville's creative class residents.
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 36m. Total distance: 24 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). 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 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 10.8 miles (US 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11 miles (US 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.2 miles (US 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Lowell National Historical Park, Boston National Historical Park and Minute Man 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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