Best Time to Drive from Lowell to Worcester

Right now (3:50 pm EDT): about 48 minutes via I-495 South and I-290 West, usually 49 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.

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	39	38	38	39	39	40	45	49	47	39	37	37	37
Tue	37	36	38	40	41	39	39	39	38	40	46	53	52	43	37	37	38
Wed	36	36	38	41	42	39	39	39	39	41	49	53	54	43	38	37	37
Thu	36	36	38	40	40	39	39	39	39	43	53	57	56	45	38	37	38
Fri	36	36	36	37	38	38	40	43	44	53	65	69	60	45	38	37	37
Sat	37	35	35	35	35	37	40	42	43	40	41	37	37	36	36	36	36
Sun	37	35	35	34	35	35	39	43	41	41	40	38	37	36	36	37	37

About this drive

On weekdays the 41-mile drive from Lowell to Worcester (via I-495 South and I-290 West) usually takes as little as 36 minutes and up to 69 minutes, when leaving around 4 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 8 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 40 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12:30 pm on Sundays (44 minutes).

Drive times are measured from central Lowell (Hale Street) to central Worcester (Main Street) 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 Lowell to Worcester?

On weekdays, leave before 8 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 36 minutes then, versus up to 69 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 41-mile drive usually takes 36 to 69 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 69 minutes.

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	39	38	38	39	39	40	45	49	47	39	37	37	37
Tue	37	36	38	40	41	39	39	39	38	40	46	53	52	43	37	37	38
Wed	36	36	38	41	42	39	39	39	39	41	49	53	54	43	38	37	37
Thu	36	36	38	40	40	39	39	39	39	43	53	57	56	45	38	37	38
Fri	36	36	36	37	38	38	40	43	44	53	65	69	60	45	38	37	37
Sat	37	35	35	35	35	37	40	42	43	40	41	37	37	36	36	36	36
Sun	37	35	35	34	35	35	39	43	41	41	40	38	37	36	36	37	37

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	36	36	37	38	39	38	38	39	39	40	45	49	47	39	37	37	37
Tue	37	36	38	40	41	39	39	39	38	40	46	53	52	43	37	37	38
Wed	36	36	38	41	42	39	39	39	39	41	49	53	54	43	38	37	37
Thu	36	36	38	40	40	39	39	39	39	43	53	57	56	45	38	37	38
Fri	36	36	36	37	38	38	40	43	44	53	65	69	60	45	38	37	37
Sat	37	35	35	35	35	37	40	42	43	40	41	37	37	36	36	36	36
Sun	37	35	35	34	35	35	39	43	41	41	40	38	37	36	36	37	37

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	36	36	37	38	39	38	38	39	39	40	45	49	47	39	37	37	37
Tue	37	36	38	40	41	39	39	39	38	40	46	53	52	43	37	37	38
Wed	36	36	38	41	42	39	39	39	39	41	49	53	54	43	38	37	37
Thu	36	36	38	40	40	39	39	39	39	43	53	57	56	45	38	37	38
Fri	36	36	36	37	38	38	40	43	44	53	65	69	60	45	38	37	37
Sat	37	35	35	35	35	37	40	42	43	40	41	37	37	36	36	36	36
Sun	37	35	35	34	35	35	39	43	41	41	40	38	37	36	36	37	37