How far is Lowell, MA from Boston, MA?

The driving distance from Lowell, MA to Boston, MA is about 30.3 miles (48.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 23.1 miles (37.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 11m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
30.34 mi
00h 35m
Flight
23.06 mi
37.11 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lowell.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
23.06 mi
Kilometers
37.11 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
30.34 mi
Kilometers
48.83 km
Drive Time
00h 35m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Boston
Wed, Apr 22, 6:37 PM EDT
Return by in Lowell
Wed, Apr 22, 7:13 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lowell
2026-04-22T18:01
Arrive Boston
Wed, Apr 22, 6:37 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:36 AM to 7:36 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:18 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Lowell
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Burlington
MA

Town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States

From Lowell
13.6 mi
00h 17m
To Boston
16.7 mi
00h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
46°F
Wednesday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 mph S
Destination
47°F
Wednesday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lowell and Boston.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lowell and Boston.

  1. 1

    Start on Hale Street

    148 m · 15 sec · Hale Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Cambridge Street

    96 m · 16 sec · Cambridge Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Chelmsford Street

    2924 ft · 58 sec · Chelmsford Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Plain Street

    587 ft · 12 sec · Plain Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight

    1210 ft · 30 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Lowell Connector

    1 mi · 1 min · Lowell Connector

  7. 7

    Continue on Lowell Connector

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Lowell Connector

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    9.1 mi · 11 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 95 North, US 3 South: Boston, Peabody

    1 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    1528 ft · 43 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Yankee Division Highway

    1.5 km · 1 min · Yankee Division Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 3 South: Winchester

    1045 ft · 32 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Cambridge Street

    2354 ft · 35 sec · Cambridge Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Cambridge Road

    2 mi · 2 min · Cambridge Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Cambridge Street

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Cambridge Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Church Street

    1781 ft · 38 sec · Church Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Bacon Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Bacon Street

  18. 18

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Main Street

    11 m · 1 sec · Main Street

  19. 19

    Exit the roundabout onto Main Street

    2683 ft · 45 sec · Main Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Winthrop Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Winthrop Street

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Winthrop Street

    30 m · 4 sec · Winthrop Street

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto Winthrop Street

    760 ft · 28 sec · Winthrop Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Mystic Valley Parkway

    2577 ft · 1 min · Mystic Valley Parkway

  24. 24

    Continue on Mystic Valley Parkway

    608 ft · 10 sec · Mystic Valley Parkway

  25. 25

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 93: Boston, Concord New Hampshire

    584 ft · 14 sec

  26. 26

    Keep slight right to continue on I 93 South: Boston

    1322 ft · 32 sec

  27. 27

    Merge slight left

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  28. 28

    Keep slight left to continue on Interstate 93 HOV lane

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Interstate 93 HOV lane

  29. 29

    Keep slight left to continue on Interstate 93 HOV lane

    1.4 km · 1 min · Interstate 93 HOV lane

  30. 30

    Merge slight right onto John F. Fitzgerald Expressway

    2482 ft · 38 sec · John F. Fitzgerald Expressway

  31. 31

    Take the exit slight right toward MA 1A Toll: Airport, Government Center

    889 ft · 22 sec

  32. 32

    Keep slight right to continue on Government Center

    1028 ft · 31 sec

  33. 33

    Turn straight onto John F. Fitzgerald Surface Road

    598 ft · 27 sec · John F. Fitzgerald Surface Road

  34. 34

    Turn right onto State Street

    1486 ft · 55 sec · State Street

  35. 35

    Continue on Court Street

    144 m · 20 sec · Court Street

  36. 36

    Turn left onto Tremont Street

    102 m · 12 sec · Tremont Street

  37. 37

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Tremont Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lowell and Boston.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
37 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
6 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
122.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Lowell Connector
11.3 mi · 37%
Interstate 93 HOV lane
2.51 mi · 8%
Cambridge Road
2 mi · 7%
Cambridge Street
1.61 mi · 5%
Winthrop Street
1.42 mi · 5%
I 93 South
1.36 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Lowell Connector

Merge slight left

9.15 mi · 00h 11m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 35m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.2 mi
23.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Burlington
00h 17m from Lowell
Leave By
7:18 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Light Rain Likely leaving Lowell and Light Rain Likely near Boston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lowell to Boston?

The road trip is about 30.3 miles (48.8 km) and usually takes 00h 35m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Burlington is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.6 miles from Lowell and 16.7 miles from Boston.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 23.1 miles (37.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:18 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.16 one way or $8.32 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Light Rain Likely around Lowell and Light Rain Likely near Boston.

Stop Ideas Near Burlington

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Burlington and the surrounding midpoint area.
Cocobeet - Boston
Food stop 11.3 mi away

Cocobeet - Boston

Boston , MA
100 City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA 02108
Rating 4.4/5 198 reviews Health food restaurant,Juice shop,Raw food restaurant,Vegan restaurant
Boston's Old City Hall
Scenic stop 11.4 mi away

Boston's Old City Hall

Boston , MA
45 School St, Boston, MA 02108, United States
Rating 4.6/5 346 reviews Tourist attraction,Historical landmark
Cambridge City Hall
Meeting point 9.4 mi away

Cambridge City Hall

Cambridge , MA
795 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
Rating 4.4/5 47 reviews City Hall,City government office
City Hall Plaza
Scenic stop 11.3 mi away

City Hall Plaza

Boston , MA
1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02203
Rating 4.4/5 208 reviews City park

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Burlington.

RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

5 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.
RAIL

North Station

19 mi away
100 Legends Way
RAIL

Back Bay station

20 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.
RAIL

South Station

21 mi away
2 South Station

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lowell and Boston. Straight-line distance: 23.06 mi (37.11 km).

Lowell

#1 Lowell

The third most populous city in Massachusetts.

Population110,904
Coordinates42.6334200, -71.3161700
Altitude36
CountryUnited States
Boston

#2 Boston

The twenty-first most populous city in the United States and the center of the Boston metropolitan area.

Population691,531
Coordinates42.3584300, -71.0597700
Altitude14
CountryUnited States
Start: Hale Street (-71.316165, 42.633415)
End: Tremont Street (-71.060061, 42.358547)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 49 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.07 gal
4.05 L · about $4.16
Round trip
$8.32
2.14 gal · 8.1 L
Estimated CO2
9.5 kg one way
Round trip: 19 kg / 42 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $4.16 $8.32
Mid-grade $4.40 $4.70 $9.41
Premium $4.80 $5.13 $10.27
Diesel $4.49 $4.80 $9.60

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Massachusetts · Apr 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Lowell and Boston. The current time is 18:01:56.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.