Origin
Watertown, MA
Morning in Watertown on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Watertown, 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
37m
Distance
22.6 mi
36 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 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
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.
Watertown, MA
Wikimedia Commons
City of Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
This straightforward 22.6-mile trip from Watertown, MA, to the City of Lowell, MA, will take you about 37 minutes to complete. It's an easy one-day drive, so no need to worry about overnight stays. The main roads you'll encounter are US 3, Lowell Street, and Chelmsford Street, with a highway share of 48%. Expect a mixed drive profile, offering a bit of variety without being overly complex. With a fuel cost estimated at $4, this is a budget-friendly excursion. Since there are no designated stops, you have the flexibility to create your own breaks along the way, making it a convenient option for a quick journey within the Northeast region.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 3 | 10.3 mi | 12m |
| Lowell Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Chelmsford Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Maple Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Mill Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Winter Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Watertown Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Orchard Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 3
— 10.3 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Watertown, MA and City of Lowell, MA.
1
Start on Oliver Street
428 ft
·
26 sec
·
Oliver Street
2
Turn sharp left onto Church Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Church Street
3
Enter roundabout onto Orchard Street
153 ft
·
2 sec
·
Orchard Street
4
Continue on Orchard Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Orchard Street
5
Turn right onto Waverley Avenue
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Waverley Avenue
6
Continue on White Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
White Street
7
At end of road, turn left onto Trapelo Road
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Trapelo Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto Mill Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Mill Street
9
Turn straight onto Concord Avenue
416 ft
·
8 sec
·
Concord Avenue
10
Turn slight right onto Winter Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Winter Street
11
Continue on Watertown Street
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
Watertown Street
12
Enter roundabout onto MA 4; MA 225
35 ft
·
0 sec
·
Pleasant Street
13
Continue on MA 4; MA 225
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Pleasant Street
14
At end of road, turn left onto MA 4; MA 225
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Massachusetts Avenue
15
Turn right onto MA 2A
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Maple Street
16
Turn left onto Lowell Street
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Lowell Street
17
Continue on Middlesex Turnpike
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Middlesex Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 95 South, US 3 North, MA 128 South: Waltham, Lowell, Providence Rhode Island
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
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
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 3
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
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.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 81C
Toward MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford
24
Turn right onto MA 110
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Chelmsford Street
25
Turn sharp left onto MA 3A
458 ft
·
10 sec
·
Westford Street
26
Turn right onto Grand Street
448 ft
·
23 sec
·
Grand Street
27
At end of road, turn left onto Middlesex Street
383 ft
·
18 sec
·
Middlesex Street
28
Turn sharp right onto Arch Street
15 ft
·
5 sec
·
Arch Street
29
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
30
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 20.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Church Street
Turn sharp left onto Church Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
1.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Trapelo Road
At end of road, turn left onto Trapelo Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
9.3 mi into trip
|
~18m 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
19.6 mi into trip
|
~31m 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
20.3 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
$3.62 one way
$7.23 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $3.94 | $7.89 |
| premium | $4.82 | $4.29 | $8.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.99 | $9.98 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.04
Middlesex Turnpike
(0.6 mi)
$0.04
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$0
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.37 | $1.08 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.98 | $0.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.45 |
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
City of Lowell, MA
Morning in City of Lowell on Sunday
Local time
11:12 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
37m 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?
The drive begins with a mixed character, transitioning between local streets and highway segments. You'll spend less than half the time on highways, with a 48% highway share, indicating a blend of faster-paced driving and more local road navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 10.3 miles on US 3, offering a period of consistent travel. As you progress, the route shifts between these different road types, providing a dynamic driving experience that avoids monotony. This varied profile means you'll experience different speeds and surroundings throughout your 37-minute journey.
48% 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: 10.3 mi on US 3.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 0.1 miles in near Church Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 21 decision points packed into just 22.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Church Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 1.6 miles (Trapelo Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 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 Watertown, MA and City of Lowell, MA, road signs point toward Lowell, Providence Rhode Island, Nashua New Hampshire, Marlboro and Chelmsford.
Lowell
9 mi in
|
~17m
Providence Rhode Island
9 mi in
|
~17m
Nashua New Hampshire
9.3 mi in
|
~18m
|
via US 3
Marlboro
19.6 mi in
|
~31m
Chelmsford
20.1 mi in
|
~31m
About the Cities
Starting in Watertown, MA
Full guide →Watertown is a city in the Greater Boston metropolitan area of Massachusetts.
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 37m. Total distance: 22.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). 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 10.3 miles on US 3. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.04 in tolls one way, starting with Middlesex 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 0.1 miles (Church Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 1.6 miles (Trapelo Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles (US 3): 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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