How far is Sterling, MA from Lawrence, MA?

The driving distance from Sterling, MA to Lawrence, MA is about 44.4 miles (71.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 35.7 miles (57.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 35m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
44.38 mi
00h 47m
Flight
35.65 mi
57.37 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sterling.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
35.65 mi
Kilometers
57.37 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
44.38 mi
Kilometers
71.42 km
Drive Time
00h 47m

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 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lawrence
Wed, Apr 15, 6:19 PM EDT
Return by in Sterling
Wed, Apr 15, 7:07 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sterling
2026-04-15T17:31
Arrive Lawrence
Wed, Apr 15, 6:19 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:48 AM to 10:48 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:54 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sterling
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Littleton Common
MA

Census-designated place in Middlesex County, Massachusetts

From Sterling
21.4 mi
00h 23m
To Lawrence
23 mi
00h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 3:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph W
Destination
60°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 4:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Sterling and Lawrence.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sterling and Lawrence.

  1. 1

    Start on Meetinghouse Hill Road

    88 m · 11 sec · Meetinghouse Hill Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Park Street

    77 m · 11 sec · Park Street

  3. 3

    Turn slight left onto Main Street

    587 ft · 20 sec · Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn slight left onto Leominster Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Leominster Road

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Leominster Road

    37 m · 2 sec · Leominster Road

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto Leominster Road

    1485 ft · 28 sec · Leominster Road

  7. 7

    Take the ramp slight right

    1555 ft · 44 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    4.4 mi · 5 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward MA 2 East: Boston

    1093 ft · 27 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on MA 2 East: Boston

    1853 ft · 45 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Leominster Connector

    640 ft · 16 sec · Leominster Connector

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Concord Turnpike

    11.1 mi · 15 min · Concord Turnpike

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 495 North: Lowell

    2445 ft · 59 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 495 North: Lowell, Lawrence

    974 ft · 24 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    21.5 mi · 25 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward MA 28 North: Lawrence

    1561 ft · 52 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto Union Street

    1199 ft · 22 sec · Union Street

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on South Union Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · South Union Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Winthrop Avenue

    1401 ft · 36 sec · Winthrop Avenue

  20. 20

    Continue on Parker Street

    2490 ft · 56 sec · Parker Street

  21. 21

    Continue on Amesbury Street

    1825 ft · 41 sec · Amesbury Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Canal Street

    86 m · 6 sec · Canal Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Lawrence Street

    150 m · 19 sec · Lawrence Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Essex Street

    152 m · 12 sec · Essex Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Essex Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Sterling and Lawrence.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
25 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
56.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 495 North
22.2 mi · 50%
Concord Turnpike
11.1 mi · 25%
Leominster Road
6.09 mi · 14%
South Union Street
0.72 mi · 2%
MA 2 East
0.56 mi · 1%
Parker Street
0.47 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 495 North

Merge slight left

21.5 mi · 00h 25m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 47m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.7 mi
35.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Littleton Common
00h 23m from Sterling
Leave By
4:54 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear leaving Sterling and Mostly Clear near Lawrence.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Sterling to Lawrence?

The road trip is about 44.4 miles (71.4 km) and usually takes 00h 47m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Littleton Common is a useful midpoint, sitting about 21.4 miles from Sterling and 23 miles from Lawrence.

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

The direct path is about 35.7 miles (57.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.7 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:54 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.11 one way or $12.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Sterling and Mostly Clear near Lawrence.

Stop Ideas Near Littleton Common

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Littleton Common, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Littleton Common.

BUS

Nashua, NH

27 mi away
8 North Southwood Drive
RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

28 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.
RAIL

Framingham station

30 mi away
417 Waverly St.
RAIL

Back Bay station

39 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sterling and Lawrence. Straight-line distance: 35.65 mi (57.37 km).

Sterling

#1 Sterling

Town in Massachusetts

Population8,166
Coordinates42.4375900, -71.7606300
Altitude153
CountryUnited States
Lawrence

#2 Lawrence

The third most populous city in Massachusetts.

Population80,007
Coordinates42.7070400, -71.1631100
Altitude14
CountryUnited States
Start: Meetinghouse Hill Road (-71.760618, 42.43763)
End: Essex Street (-71.163081, 42.707003)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 71 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 06m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 38m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.57 gal
5.93 L · about $6.11
Round trip
$12.21
3.14 gal · 11.86 L
Estimated CO2
14 kg one way
Round trip: 27.9 kg / 62 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $6.11 $12.21
Mid-grade $4.40 $6.90 $13.81
Premium $4.80 $7.53 $15.07
Diesel $4.49 $7.05 $14.09

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Sterling and Lawrence. The current time is 17:31:46.

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.