Best Time to Drive from Lawrence to Worcester

Right now (9:53 pm EDT): about 60 minutes via I-495 South and I-290 West, usually 48 at this time.

Only 60% 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.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Lawrence to Worcester 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	45	46	48	52	50	48	48	49	49	51	59	63	58	50	46	47	48
Tue	45	47	50	57	55	50	49	49	48	50	61	68	64	53	47	47	48
Wed	45	47	51	56	54	49	49	49	49	51	64	68	64	53	47	47	48
Thu	45	47	50	54	53	49	49	49	49	54	65	70	65	54	48	47	48
Fri	45	45	46	47	47	47	50	53	56	64	77	76	68	52	47	46	47
Sat	46	44	44	44	45	46	51	53	53	50	50	48	46	45	45	46	45
Sun	46	43	44	43	44	45	50	53	50	49	49	48	46	45	46	47	47

About this drive

On weekdays the 51-mile drive from Lawrence to Worcester (via I-495 South and I-290 West) usually takes as little as 45 minutes and up to 77 minutes, when leaving around 3 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 50 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Sundays (53 minutes).

Drive times are measured from central Lawrence to central Worcester along the route on the map. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

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 Lawrence to Worcester?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 45 minutes then, versus up to 77 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 51-mile drive usually takes 45 to 77 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 50 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Lawrence to Worcester?

Leaving around 3 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 77 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-495 South in Boston (39 miles) · I-290 West in Boston (12 miles)

Boston traffic right now · Boston traffic tomorrow

More drives

Worcester to Lawrence (return trip) · Lawrence to Boston · Lawrence to Providence

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	45	46	48	52	50	48	48	49	49	51	59	63	58	50	46	47	48
Tue	45	47	50	57	55	50	49	49	48	50	61	68	64	53	47	47	48
Wed	45	47	51	56	54	49	49	49	49	51	64	68	64	53	47	47	48
Thu	45	47	50	54	53	49	49	49	49	54	65	70	65	54	48	47	48
Fri	45	45	46	47	47	47	50	53	56	64	77	76	68	52	47	46	47
Sat	46	44	44	44	45	46	51	53	53	50	50	48	46	45	45	46	45
Sun	46	43	44	43	44	45	50	53	50	49	49	48	46	45	46	47	47

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	45	46	48	52	50	48	48	49	49	51	59	63	58	50	46	47	48
Tue	45	47	50	57	55	50	49	49	48	50	61	68	64	53	47	47	48
Wed	45	47	51	56	54	49	49	49	49	51	64	68	64	53	47	47	48
Thu	45	47	50	54	53	49	49	49	49	54	65	70	65	54	48	47	48
Fri	45	45	46	47	47	47	50	53	56	64	77	76	68	52	47	46	47
Sat	46	44	44	44	45	46	51	53	53	50	50	48	46	45	45	46	45
Sun	46	43	44	43	44	45	50	53	50	49	49	48	46	45	46	47	47

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	45	46	48	52	50	48	48	49	49	51	59	63	58	50	46	47	48
Tue	45	47	50	57	55	50	49	49	48	50	61	68	64	53	47	47	48
Wed	45	47	51	56	54	49	49	49	49	51	64	68	64	53	47	47	48
Thu	45	47	50	54	53	49	49	49	49	54	65	70	65	54	48	47	48
Fri	45	45	46	47	47	47	50	53	56	64	77	76	68	52	47	46	47
Sat	46	44	44	44	45	46	51	53	53	50	50	48	46	45	45	46	45
Sun	46	43	44	43	44	45	50	53	50	49	49	48	46	45	46	47	47