Best Time to Drive from BOS to Lowell

Right now (4:02 pm EDT): about 93 minutes via I-93 North, usually 70 at this time.

Only 51% of this drive is measured by working traffic sensors right now. The rest is estimated from nearby sensors, typical speeds and street traffic, so times can be off. Why so few sensors work.

On weekdays the 34-mile drive from BOS to Lowell (via I-93 North) usually takes as little as 45 minutes and up to 81 minutes, when leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 47 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 5 am on Sundays (46 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Lowell to BOS

Freeway, about 17 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 16 miles: 29 to 53 minutes on weekdays, estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time (we don't have street sensors yet). Drive times are measured from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to central Lowell (Hale Street) along the route shown. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from BOS to Lowell by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	50	56	70	70	52	54	47	59
Tue	45	45	47	62	72	47	49	46	49	50	57	63	66	74	52	46	46
Wed	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46
Thu	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46
Fri	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46
Sat	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46
Sun	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46

Simulated from typical freeway speeds at each point of the drive for the time you would reach it, from every 5-minute reading we have recorded. We don't have sensors on surface streets yet, so the time on them is estimated from how congested the freeways around each end of the drive are at that time, in both directions: streets jam when the freeways do.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from BOS to Lowell?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 45 minutes then, versus up to 81 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 34-mile drive usually takes 45 to 81 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 47 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from BOS to Lowell?

Leaving around 8:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 81 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

I-93 North in Boston (14 miles) · I-90 West in Boston (2 miles) · I-495 South in Boston (1 mile)

Boston traffic right now

More drives

Lowell to BOS (return trip) · BOS to Woburn · BOS to Braintree · BOS to Dedham · BOS to Andover · BOS to Plymouth MA

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	50	56	70	70	52	54	47	59
Tue	45	45	47	62	72	47	49	46	49	50	57	63	66	74	52	46	46
Wed	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46
Thu	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46
Fri	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46
Sat	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46
Sun	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	50	56	70	70	52	54	47	59
Tue	45	45	47	62	72	47	49	46	49	50	57	63	66	74	52	46	46
Wed	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46
Thu	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46
Fri	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46
Sat	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46
Sun	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	50	56	70	70	52	54	47	59
Tue	45	45	47	62	72	47	49	46	49	50	57	63	66	74	52	46	46
Wed	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46
Thu	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46
Fri	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46
Sat	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46
Sun	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46