Best Time to Drive from Lowell to Cambridge

Right now (4:02 pm EDT): about 69 minutes via I-93 South, usually 62 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 30-mile drive from Lowell to Cambridge (via I-93 South) usually takes as little as 41 minutes and up to 66 minutes, when leaving around 8 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 42 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 5 am on Sundays (43 minutes).

Freeway, about 15 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 15 miles: 27 to 45 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 Lowell (Hale Street) to central Cambridge (Ellery 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 Lowell to Cambridge 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	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	44	42	43	47	62	61	47	41	41	50
Tue	41	52	55	66	61	46	42	42	42	42	47	48	53	60	45	43	43
Wed	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43
Thu	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43
Fri	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43
Sat	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43
Sun	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43

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 Lowell to Cambridge?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 41 minutes then, versus up to 66 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 30-mile drive usually takes 41 to 66 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 42 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Lowell to Cambridge?

Leaving around 8 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 66 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

I-93 South in Boston (13 miles) · I-495 North in Boston (3 miles)

Boston traffic right now

More drives

Lowell to Boston · Lowell to Quincy · Lowell to Newton · Lowell to Waltham · Lowell to Framingham · Lowell to Braintree · Lowell to Dedham · Lowell to Peabody · Lowell to Brockton · Lowell to Plymouth MA · Lowell to BOS

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	44	42	43	47	62	61	47	41	41	50
Tue	41	52	55	66	61	46	42	42	42	42	47	48	53	60	45	43	43
Wed	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43
Thu	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43
Fri	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43
Sat	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43
Sun	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	44	42	43	47	62	61	47	41	41	50
Tue	41	52	55	66	61	46	42	42	42	42	47	48	53	60	45	43	43
Wed	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43
Thu	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43
Fri	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43
Sat	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43
Sun	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	44	42	43	47	62	61	47	41	41	50
Tue	41	52	55	66	61	46	42	42	42	42	47	48	53	60	45	43	43
Wed	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43
Thu	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43
Fri	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43
Sat	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43
Sun	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43	43