How far is Salem, MA from Lowell, MA?

The driving distance from Salem, MA to Lowell, MA is about 33 miles (53.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 41m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 22.7 miles (36.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 22m 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
33.03 mi
00h 41m
Flight
22.75 mi
36.61 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Salem.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
22.75 mi
Kilometers
36.61 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
33.03 mi
Kilometers
53.15 km
Drive Time
00h 41m

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 41m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lowell
Thu, Apr 23, 12:14 AM EDT
Return by in Salem
Thu, Apr 23, 12:55 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Salem
2026-04-22T23:32
Arrive Lowell
Thu, Apr 23, 12:14 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 41m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:41 AM to 7:41 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:08 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Salem
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Woburn
MA

A city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

From Salem
15.9 mi
00h 20m
To Lowell
17.1 mi
00h 20m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
49°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Light Rain then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph S
Destination
46°F
Wednesday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Gedney Street

    134 m · 21 sec · Gedney Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Broad Street

    1525 ft · 39 sec · Broad Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Dalton Parkway

    805 ft · 23 sec · Dalton Parkway

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Highland Avenue

    55 m · 3 sec · Highland Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on Essex Street

    145 m · 15 sec · Essex Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Boston Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · Boston Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Main Street

    2548 ft · 1 min · Main Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Lowell Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Lowell Street

  9. 9

    Take the ramp right toward MA 128 South: Boston

    578 ft · 16 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Yankee Division Highway

    15.3 mi · 21 min · Yankee Division Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 3 North: Lowell, Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, Nashua New Hampshire

    626 ft · 15 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire

    1377 ft · 34 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on US 3 North: Lowell, Nashua New Hampshire

    9.8 mi · 12 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    2462 ft · 32 sec

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward MA 110, I 495 South: Chelmsford, Marlboro

    2299 ft · 43 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford

    1368 ft · 21 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on MA 110: Lowell, Chelmsford

    842 ft · 24 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Chelmsford Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Chelmsford Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Cambridge Street

    96 m · 15 sec · Cambridge Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Hale Street

    148 m · 13 sec · Hale Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Hale Street

Car Route Details

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

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
21 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
63.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Yankee Division Highway
15.3 mi · 46%
US 3 North
10.7 mi · 32%
Chelmsford Street
1.45 mi · 4%
Lowell Street
1.37 mi · 4%
MA 110
0.85 mi · 3%
Boston Street
0.79 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Yankee Division Highway

Merge slight left onto Yankee Division Highway

15.3 mi · 00h 21m

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 41m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.3 mi
22.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Woburn
00h 20m from Salem
Leave By
7:08 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Light Rain then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Salem and Light Rain Likely near Lowell.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 33 miles (53.1 km) and usually takes 00h 41m 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?

Woburn is a useful midpoint, sitting about 15.9 miles from Salem and 17.1 miles from Lowell.

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

The direct path is about 22.7 miles (36.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.3 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 7:08 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.51 one way or $9.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Light Rain then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Salem and Light Rain Likely near Lowell.

Stop Ideas Near Woburn

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 Woburn and the surrounding midpoint area.
Cocobeet - Boston
Food stop 11 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 11.1 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
Salem City Hall
Meeting point 13.7 mi away

Salem City Hall

Salem , MA
93 Washington St, Salem, MA 01970
Rating 4.2/5 84 reviews City Hall,City government office
City Hall Plaza
Scenic stop 10.9 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 Woburn.

RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

4 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.
RAIL

North Station

15 mi away
100 Legends Way
RAIL

Back Bay station

16 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.
RAIL

South Station

16 mi away
2 South Station

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Salem and Lowell. Straight-line distance: 22.75 mi (36.61 km).

Salem

#1 Salem

The capital of Massachusetts.

Population43,581
Coordinates42.5195400, -70.8967200
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Lowell

#2 Lowell

The third most populous city in Massachusetts.

Population110,904
Coordinates42.6334200, -71.3161700
Altitude36
CountryUnited States
Start: Gedney Street (-70.896727, 42.519261)
End: Hale Street (-71.316165, 42.633415)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 53 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 33m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.16 gal
4.41 L · about $4.51
Round trip
$9.02
2.32 gal · 8.82 L
Estimated CO2
10.3 kg one way
Round trip: 20.6 kg / 45 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $4.51 $9.02
Mid-grade $4.40 $5.10 $10.20
Premium $4.80 $5.57 $11.13
Diesel $4.49 $5.21 $10.41

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Salem and Lowell. The current time is 23:32:40.

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.