Traffic Predict

Best Time to Drive from Boston to Lowell

Right now (4:02 pm EDT): about 93 minutes via I-93 North, usually 68 at this time.

Only 48% 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 32-mile drive from Boston to Lowell (via I-93 North) usually takes as little as 42 minutes and up to 77 minutes, when leaving around 3:30 pm on Mondays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 45 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 5 am on Sundays (44 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Lowell to Boston

Freeway, about 15 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 16 miles: 28 to 54 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 central Boston (Franklin Avenue) 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 Boston to Lowell by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave5am6am7am8am9am10am11am12pm1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm9pm
Mon4444444444444446475059686552444247
Tue4244527066504745465158636470504444
Wed4444444444444444444444444444444444
Thu4444444444444444444444444444444444
Fri4444444444444444444444444444444444
Sat4444444444444444444444444444444444
Sun4444444444444444444444444444444444

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 Boston to Lowell?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 42 minutes then, versus up to 77 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 32-mile drive usually takes 42 to 77 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 45 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Boston to Lowell?

Leaving around 3:30 pm on Mondays is usually slowest, about 77 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

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

Boston traffic right now

More drives

Lowell to Boston (return trip) · Boston to Braintree · Boston to Andover · Boston to Plymouth MA

Open the live traffic map →