Best Time to Drive from Lowell to Worcester

Right now (2:47 pm EDT): about 42 minutes via I-495 South and I-290 West, usually 46 at this time.

Only 67% 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 41-mile drive from Lowell to Worcester (via I-495 South and I-290 West) usually takes as little as 35 minutes and up to 67 minutes, when leaving around 4 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 8 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 40 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12:30 pm on Saturdays (45 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Worcester to Lowell

Drive times are measured from central Lowell (Hale Street) to central Worcester (Main 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 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	36	36	37	38	40	38	38	39	39	40	46	49	47	39	37	37	37
Tue	37	36	38	40	41	39	39	39	38	40	46	52	53	42	37	37	37
Wed	36	36	37	40	41	39	39	39	39	41	49	53	52	42	37	37	37
Thu	36	36	38	40	40	39	39	39	39	43	53	58	56	44	38	37	37
Fri	36	35	36	37	37	37	40	43	44	53	64	67	59	44	38	36	37
Sat	36	35	35	35	35	37	41	44	44	41	41	37	36	36	35	36	36
Sun	37	35	35	34	35	35	40	44	41	39	39	38	37	35	35	36	36

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 Worcester?

On weekdays, leave before 8 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 35 minutes then, versus up to 67 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 41-mile drive usually takes 35 to 67 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 40 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Lowell to Worcester?

Leaving around 4 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 67 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

I-495 South in Boston (29 miles) · I-290 West in Boston (11 miles)

Boston traffic right now · Boston traffic tomorrow

More drives

Worcester to Lowell (return trip) · Lowell to Boston · Lowell to Cambridge · Lowell to Quincy · Lowell to Newton · Lowell to Waltham · Lowell to Framingham · Lowell to Burlington MA · Lowell to Woburn · Lowell to Braintree · Lowell to Dedham · Lowell to Peabody

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	36	36	37	38	40	38	38	39	39	40	46	49	47	39	37	37	37
Tue	37	36	38	40	41	39	39	39	38	40	46	52	53	42	37	37	37
Wed	36	36	37	40	41	39	39	39	39	41	49	53	52	42	37	37	37
Thu	36	36	38	40	40	39	39	39	39	43	53	58	56	44	38	37	37
Fri	36	35	36	37	37	37	40	43	44	53	64	67	59	44	38	36	37
Sat	36	35	35	35	35	37	41	44	44	41	41	37	36	36	35	36	36
Sun	37	35	35	34	35	35	40	44	41	39	39	38	37	35	35	36	36

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	36	36	37	38	40	38	38	39	39	40	46	49	47	39	37	37	37
Tue	37	36	38	40	41	39	39	39	38	40	46	52	53	42	37	37	37
Wed	36	36	37	40	41	39	39	39	39	41	49	53	52	42	37	37	37
Thu	36	36	38	40	40	39	39	39	39	43	53	58	56	44	38	37	37
Fri	36	35	36	37	37	37	40	43	44	53	64	67	59	44	38	36	37
Sat	36	35	35	35	35	37	41	44	44	41	41	37	36	36	35	36	36
Sun	37	35	35	34	35	35	40	44	41	39	39	38	37	35	35	36	36

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	36	36	37	38	40	38	38	39	39	40	46	49	47	39	37	37	37
Tue	37	36	38	40	41	39	39	39	38	40	46	52	53	42	37	37	37
Wed	36	36	37	40	41	39	39	39	39	41	49	53	52	42	37	37	37
Thu	36	36	38	40	40	39	39	39	39	43	53	58	56	44	38	37	37
Fri	36	35	36	37	37	37	40	43	44	53	64	67	59	44	38	36	37
Sat	36	35	35	35	35	37	41	44	44	41	41	37	36	36	35	36	36
Sun	37	35	35	34	35	35	40	44	41	39	39	38	37	35	35	36	36