Best Time to Drive from Manchester to Lowell

Right now (8:33 pm EDT): about 42 minutes via US-3 South, usually 42 at this time.

Only 25% 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 Manchester to Lowell 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	42	43	45	46	44	43	44	44	43	44	46	48	47	44	42	42	44
Tue	42	43	48	51	47	45	43	43	43	44	47	49	50	46	43	42	44
Wed	42	43	48	51	47	45	44	44	43	44	48	50	51	46	43	43	44
Thu	42	43	47	49	47	44	43	43	43	45	48	50	52	48	43	42	44
Fri	42	42	43	43	43	43	44	44	45	47	51	51	49	45	43	42	43
Sat	42	41	41	41	42	42	43	43	44	43	43	43	42	42	42	42	42
Sun	43	42	41	41	41	41	42	42	42	42	42	42	42	42	42	43	43

About this drive

On weekdays the 36-mile drive from Manchester to Lowell (via US-3 South) usually takes as little as 42 minutes and up to 52 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 44 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12:30 pm on Saturdays (44 minutes).

Drive times are measured from central Manchester to central Lowell 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 Manchester to Lowell?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 42 minutes then, versus up to 52 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 36-mile drive usually takes 42 to 52 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 44 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Manchester to Lowell?

Leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 52 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

US-3 South in Boston (14 miles)

Boston traffic right now · Boston traffic tomorrow

More drives

Lowell to Manchester (return trip) · Manchester to Boston · Manchester to South Boston · Manchester to Worcester

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	42	43	45	46	44	43	44	44	43	44	46	48	47	44	42	42	44
Tue	42	43	48	51	47	45	43	43	43	44	47	49	50	46	43	42	44
Wed	42	43	48	51	47	45	44	44	43	44	48	50	51	46	43	43	44
Thu	42	43	47	49	47	44	43	43	43	45	48	50	52	48	43	42	44
Fri	42	42	43	43	43	43	44	44	45	47	51	51	49	45	43	42	43
Sat	42	41	41	41	42	42	43	43	44	43	43	43	42	42	42	42	42
Sun	43	42	41	41	41	41	42	42	42	42	42	42	42	42	42	43	43

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	42	43	45	46	44	43	44	44	43	44	46	48	47	44	42	42	44
Tue	42	43	48	51	47	45	43	43	43	44	47	49	50	46	43	42	44
Wed	42	43	48	51	47	45	44	44	43	44	48	50	51	46	43	43	44
Thu	42	43	47	49	47	44	43	43	43	45	48	50	52	48	43	42	44
Fri	42	42	43	43	43	43	44	44	45	47	51	51	49	45	43	42	43
Sat	42	41	41	41	42	42	43	43	44	43	43	43	42	42	42	42	42
Sun	43	42	41	41	41	41	42	42	42	42	42	42	42	42	42	43	43

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	42	43	45	46	44	43	44	44	43	44	46	48	47	44	42	42	44
Tue	42	43	48	51	47	45	43	43	43	44	47	49	50	46	43	42	44
Wed	42	43	48	51	47	45	44	44	43	44	48	50	51	46	43	43	44
Thu	42	43	47	49	47	44	43	43	43	45	48	50	52	48	43	42	44
Fri	42	42	43	43	43	43	44	44	45	47	51	51	49	45	43	42	43
Sat	42	41	41	41	42	42	43	43	44	43	43	43	42	42	42	42	42
Sun	43	42	41	41	41	41	42	42	42	42	42	42	42	42	42	43	43