Origin
Westminster, MA
Late night in Westminster on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Westminster, 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
51m
Distance
36.1 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 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Westminster, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Lowell, MA
Phil Evenden
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Westminster to Lowell, you are in for a quick 36.1-mile journey that typically takes about 51 minutes. This highway-focused route is perfect for a one-day trip, as it is short enough to be completed in under an hour without needing an overnight stop. You will primarily utilize MA 2, Concord Turnpike, and I-495 to navigate through the Northeast region of Massachusetts. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $6, this commute is highly economical for those moving between these two points. It is a straightforward, practical drive that prioritizes efficiency over leisure, making it ideal for a direct trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Concord Turnpike | 12.3 mi | 16m |
| I 495 | 10.2 mi | 11m |
| MA 2 | 8.9 mi | 13m |
| Chelmsford Street | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Pleasant Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Hale Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Cambridge Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Concord Turnpike
— 12.3 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Westminster, MA and Lowell, MA.
1
Start on Pleasant Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Pleasant Street
2
Turn left onto MA 2A
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
4
Merge onto MA 2
8.9 mi
·
13 min
·
MA 2
5
Keep slight left at fork onto MA 2
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Concord Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 113B
Toward I 495 North: Lowell
Use the right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence
8
Merge onto I 495
10 mi
·
11 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
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Chelmsford Street
11
Turn right onto Cambridge Street
314 ft
·
14 sec
·
Cambridge Street
12
Turn left onto Hale Street
486 ft
·
13 sec
·
Hale Street
13
Arrive at destination
Hale Street
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 miles from Westminster, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 9.9 and 33.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9.9 mi into trip
|
~15m 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
22.3 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
22.8 mi into trip
|
~33m 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
5
22.9 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 495
Merge onto I 495
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
33.1 mi into trip
|
~45m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.78 one way
$11.55 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.30 | $12.60 |
| premium | $4.82 | $6.85 | $13.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.97 | $15.94 |
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
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 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 | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
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
Lowell, MA
Late night in Lowell on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
2 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
51m 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 36.1-mile path is defined by its efficiency, with highways accounting for 87% of the total distance. You will spend the vast majority of your time at cruising speeds, specifically tackling a 12.3-mile stretch on the Concord Turnpike which serves as your longest uninterrupted segment. Because the route is so heavily focused on major thoroughfares like I-495 and MA 2, you can expect a consistent, fast-paced experience behind the wheel. Don't look for winding country roads here; instead, anticipate a disciplined, highway-heavy drive that gets you to your destination with minimal fuss. It is a functional, no-nonsense trip that keeps you moving steadily toward Lowell.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.3 mi on Concord Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Concord Turnpike and I 495. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.9 miles in near MA 2 / Concord Turnpike.
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 9 decision points packed into just 36.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.9 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,068 ft
114 ft
Total Climb
198 ft
Total Descent
1,149 ft
Highest Point
1,068 ft
Elevation Range
954 ft
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 Westminster, MA to Lowell, MA, road signs begin pointing toward Lawrence along the way.
Lawrence
22.8 mi in
|
~33m
About the Cities
Starting in Westminster, MA
Full guide →Westminster is a town in Massachusetts.
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 51m. Total distance: 36.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.3 miles on Concord Turnpike. 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 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 9.9 miles (MA 2 / Concord Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.8 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 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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