Best Time to Drive from Worcester to Lowell

Right now (4:02 pm EDT): about 90 minutes via I-495 North and I-290 East, usually 84 at this time.

Only 31% 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 40-mile drive from Worcester to Lowell (via I-495 North and I-290 East) usually takes as little as 56 minutes and up to 92 minutes, when leaving around 4 pm on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 8:30 am or after 6 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 59 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 5 am on Sundays (58 minutes).

Freeway, about 12 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 28 miles: 45 to 80 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 Worcester (Main Street) to central Lowell (Hale 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 Worcester 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	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	59	60	64	87	84	90	58	58	57	60
Tue	58	60	73	73	74	59	59	60	59	67	78	92	77	62	62	58	58
Wed	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58
Thu	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58
Fri	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58
Sat	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58
Sun	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58

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 Worcester to Lowell?

On weekdays, leave before 8:30 am or after 6 pm. The drive usually takes about 56 minutes then, versus up to 92 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 40-mile drive usually takes 56 to 92 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 59 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Worcester to Lowell?

Leaving around 4 pm on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 92 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

I-495 North in Boston (8 miles) · I-290 East in Boston (5 miles)

Boston traffic right now

More drives

Worcester to Boston · Worcester to Cambridge · Worcester to Quincy · Worcester to Burlington MA · Worcester to Woburn · Worcester to Braintree · Worcester to Peabody · Worcester to Andover · Worcester to Brockton · Worcester to Plymouth MA · Worcester 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	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	59	60	64	87	84	90	58	58	57	60
Tue	58	60	73	73	74	59	59	60	59	67	78	92	77	62	62	58	58
Wed	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58
Thu	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58
Fri	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58
Sat	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58
Sun	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	59	60	64	87	84	90	58	58	57	60
Tue	58	60	73	73	74	59	59	60	59	67	78	92	77	62	62	58	58
Wed	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58
Thu	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58
Fri	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58
Sat	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58
Sun	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	59	60	64	87	84	90	58	58	57	60
Tue	58	60	73	73	74	59	59	60	59	67	78	92	77	62	62	58	58
Wed	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58
Thu	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58
Fri	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58
Sat	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58
Sun	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58	58