How far is Watertown, MA from Lowell, MA?

The driving distance from Watertown, MA to Lowell, MA is about 25.1 miles (40.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 19.4 miles (31.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 06m 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
25.08 mi
00h 33m
Flight
19.37 mi
31.17 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Watertown.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
19.37 mi
Kilometers
31.17 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
25.08 mi
Kilometers
40.37 km
Drive Time
00h 33m

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 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lowell
Wed, Apr 22, 9:46 PM EDT
Return by in Watertown
Wed, Apr 22, 10:19 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Watertown
2026-04-22T21:13
Arrive Lowell
Wed, Apr 22, 9:46 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:33 AM to 7:33 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:24 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Watertown
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
Bedford
MA

Town in Massachusetts

From Watertown
11.1 mi
00h 16m
To Lowell
14 mi
00h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
49°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Light Rain then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 10 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 Watertown and Lowell.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Oliver Street

    131 m · 26 sec · Oliver Street

  2. 2

    Turn sharp left onto Church Street

    1285 ft · 35 sec · Church Street

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward Orchard Street

    47 m · 3 sec · Orchard Street

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout onto Orchard Street

    3139 ft · 1 min · Orchard Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Waverley Avenue

    1141 ft · 41 sec · Waverley Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on White Street

    2541 ft · 1 min · White Street

  7. 7

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Trapelo Road

    2258 ft · 51 sec · Trapelo Road

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Mill Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · Mill Street

  9. 9

    Turn straight onto Concord Avenue

    127 m · 8 sec · Concord Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn slight right onto Winter Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · Winter Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Watertown Street

    1 km · 60 sec · Watertown Street

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Pleasant Street

    11 m · 1 sec · Pleasant Street

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto Pleasant Street

    2589 ft · 50 sec · Pleasant Street

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Massachusetts Avenue

    2542 ft · 55 sec · Massachusetts Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Maple Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Maple Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Lowell Street

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Lowell Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Middlesex Turnpike

    3225 ft · 1 min · Middlesex Turnpike

  18. 18

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 95 South, US 3 North, MA 128 South: Waltham, Lowell, Providence Rhode Island

    1746 ft · 48 sec

  19. 19

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

    9.8 mi · 12 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    2462 ft · 32 sec

  21. 21

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

    2299 ft · 43 sec

  22. 22

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

    1368 ft · 21 sec

  23. 23

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

    842 ft · 24 sec

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Chelmsford Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Chelmsford Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Cambridge Street

    96 m · 15 sec · Cambridge Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Hale Street

    148 m · 13 sec · Hale Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Hale Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Watertown 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
27 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
0 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
107.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 3 North
10.3 mi · 41%
Lowell Street
1.94 mi · 8%
Chelmsford Street
1.45 mi · 6%
Maple Street
0.98 mi · 4%
Mill Street
0.88 mi · 4%
MA 110
0.85 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

US 3 North

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

9.83 mi · 00h 12m

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 33m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.7 mi
19.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bedford
00h 16m from Watertown
Leave By
7:24 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Light Rain then Chance Rain Showers leaving Watertown 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 Watertown to Lowell?

The road trip is about 25.1 miles (40.4 km) and usually takes 00h 33m 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?

Bedford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.1 miles from Watertown and 14 miles from Lowell.

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

The direct path is about 19.4 miles (31.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.7 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:24 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.42 one way or $6.85 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Bedford

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 Bedford and the surrounding midpoint area.
Cocobeet - Boston
Food stop 13.1 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 13.2 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 11.2 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 13.1 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 Bedford.

RAIL

Anderson Regional Transportation Center

11 mi away
100 Atlantic Ave.
RAIL

North Station

22 mi away
100 Legends Way
RAIL

Back Bay station

23 mi away
145 Dartmouth St.
RAIL

South Station

24 mi away
2 South Station

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Watertown and Lowell. Straight-line distance: 19.37 mi (31.17 km).

Watertown

#1 Watertown

City in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States

Population36,125
Coordinates42.3709300, -71.1828300
Altitude19
CountryUnited States
Lowell

#2 Lowell

The third most populous city in Massachusetts.

Population110,904
Coordinates42.6334200, -71.3161700
Altitude36
CountryUnited States
Start: Oliver Street (-71.182812, 42.370949)
End: Hale Street (-71.316165, 42.633415)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 40 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 50m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 37m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.88 gal
3.35 L · about $3.42
Round trip
$6.85
1.76 gal · 6.7 L
Estimated CO2
7.8 kg one way
Round trip: 15.6 kg / 34 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.89 $3.42 $6.85
Mid-grade $4.40 $3.87 $7.74
Premium $4.80 $4.22 $8.45
Diesel $4.49 $3.95 $7.90

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 Watertown and Lowell. The current time is 21:13:27.

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.