Route 111 is a state highway

State highway

State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...

 in Massachusetts

Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...

, a continuation of New Hampshire Route 111

New Hampshire Route 111

New Hampshire Route 111 is a east–west highway in Hillsborough and Rockingham counties in southeastern New Hampshire. The road runs from Hollis to North Hampton on the Atlantic shore....

. The route has a north–south component and an east–west one, though it is signed exclusively as a north–south route on newer signs. The east–west portion of the route largely follows the path of the Union Turnpike, built in the early 19th century to connect the communities of Leominster

Leominster, Massachusetts

Leominster is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the second-largest city in Worcester County, with a population of 40,759 at the 2010 census. Leominster is located north of Worcester and west of Boston. Both Route 2 and Route 12 pass through Leominster. Interstate 190,...

 and Concord

Concord, Massachusetts

Concord is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 17,668. Although a small town, Concord is noted for its leading roles in American history and literature.-History:...

. (A few older east–west directional signs still exist east of Harvard

Harvard, Massachusetts

Harvard is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. A farming community settled in 1658 and incorporated in 1732, it has been home to several non-traditional communities, such as Harvard Shaker Village and the utopian Transcendentalist center Fruitlands...

.)

Route description

Route 111 begins in Concord

Concord, Massachusetts

Concord is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 17,668. Although a small town, Concord is noted for its leading roles in American history and literature.-History:...

 at the rotary junction of Route 2, Route 2A and Route 119, next to MCI - Concord. The route is concurrent along Union Turnpike with Route 2 for the first 2.4 miles (3.9 km) into Acton

Acton, Massachusetts

Acton is a suburban town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States about twenty-one miles west-northwest of Boston along Route 2 west of Concord and about ten miles southwest of Lowell. The population was 21,924 at the 2010 census...

, before Route 2 heads northwestward, beginning its western highway portion. Route 111 continues along Massachusetts Avenue

Massachusetts Avenue (Boston)

Massachusetts Avenue, known to locals as Mass Ave, is a major thoroughfare in Boston, Massachusetts, and several cities and towns northwest of Boston...

, having a junction with Route 27 not far from the split.

Route 111 continues relatively westward along Massachusetts Avenue through Boxborough

Boxborough, Massachusetts

Boxborough is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,996 at the 2010 census. The town name is often spelled "Boxboro" on highway signs and official documents, but the correct spelling is, in fact, Boxborough....

, meeting I-495

Interstate 495 (Massachusetts)

Interstate 495 is the designation of an Interstate Highway half-beltway in Massachusetts. It was the longest auxiliary Interstate Highway of its kind—measuring 120.74 miles —until 1996, when the PA Route 9 section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike was redesignated as Interstate 476, making it about ...

 at Exit 28, just before entering Harvard

Harvard, Massachusetts

Harvard is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. A farming community settled in 1658 and incorporated in 1732, it has been home to several non-traditional communities, such as Harvard Shaker Village and the utopian Transcendentalist center Fruitlands...

. In Harvard, the route leaves Massachusetts Avenue at its far western end, looping around until it meets Route 110 at that town's center. The two routes continue northward, crossing Route 2 at exit 38, before continuing northward, west of Fort Devens

Fort Devens

Fort Devens is an active United States military installation in the towns of Ayer and Shirley, in Middlesex County and Harvard in Worcester County in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It was named after jurist and Civil War general Charles Devens. The nearby Devens Reserve Forces Training Area is...

 into Ayer

Ayer, Massachusetts

Ayer is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Originally part of Groton, it was incorporated February 14, 1871 and became a major commercial railroad junction. The town was home to Camp Stevens, a training camp for Massachusetts volunteers during the American Civil War...

. In Ayer, Route 111 splits from Route 110 as that route turns eastward with Route 2A Eastbound, while Route 111 turns westbound along that route, passing concurrently with it along Ayer's Main Street.

After turning northward again, Routes 111 and 2A split, just west of Moore Army Air Field

Moore Army Air Field

Moore Army Airfield is located in Fort Devens, Massachusetts. It was closed following the closure of Fort Devens in 1995. It is named for Ayer native Chief Warrant Officer 2 Douglas Moore. It is the only Army Airfield named for someone killed in the Vietnam War.-Beginnings:The earliest...

, with Route 111 turning more northerly into Groton

Groton, Massachusetts

Groton is a town located in northwestern Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The population was 10,646 at the 2010 census. It is home to two noted prep schools: Groton School, founded in 1884, and Lawrence Academy at Groton, founded in 1793. The historic town hosts the National Shepley Hill Horse...

. In Groton, Route 111 joins Route 225 near the center of town, with the two of them meeting Route 119. At this point, Route 225 joins Route 119 eastbound while Route 111 joins Route 119 west bound. The two routes head northwestward and cross the Nashua River

Nashua River

The Nashua River, long, is a tributary of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the United States. It is formed in eastern Worcester County, Massachusetts, by junction of its north and south branches near Lancaster, and flows generally north-northeast past Groton to join the...

 into the town of Pepperell

Pepperell, Massachusetts

Pepperell is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,497 at the 2010 census. It includes the village of East Pepperell.-History:...

 concurrently. Once in Pepperell, Route 111 turns northward again, running in roughly the same direction as the river. It crosses Route 113 near the center of Pepperell before continuing northward, finally ending as it enters Hollis, New Hampshire

Hollis, New Hampshire

Hollis is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,684 at the 2010 census. The town center village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Hollis Village Historic District....

 and becomes New Hampshire Route 111

New Hampshire Route 111

New Hampshire Route 111 is a east–west highway in Hillsborough and Rockingham counties in southeastern New Hampshire. The road runs from Hollis to North Hampton on the Atlantic shore....

.

Junction list

County	Location	Mile	Roads intersected	Notes
Middlesex Middlesex County, Massachusetts -National protected areas:* Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge* Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Longfellow National Historic Site* Lowell National Historical Park* Minute Man National Historical Park* Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge...	Concord Concord, Massachusetts Concord is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 17,668. Although a small town, Concord is noted for its leading roles in American history and literature.-History:...	0.00	Route 2 Routes 2A / 119	Southern end of Route 111 at junction of Routes 2, 2A & 119. Beginning of concurrency with Routes 111 and 2.
	Acton Acton, Massachusetts Acton is a suburban town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States about twenty-one miles west-northwest of Boston along Route 2 west of Concord and about ten miles southwest of Lowell. The population was 21,924 at the 2010 census...	2.4	Route 2 West	End of concurrency with Route 2 at Route 2’s Exit 43.
		2.9	Route 27
	Boxborough Boxborough, Massachusetts Boxborough is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,996 at the 2010 census. The town name is often spelled "Boxboro" on highway signs and official documents, but the correct spelling is, in fact, Boxborough....	7.6	I-495 Interstate 495 (Massachusetts) Interstate 495 is the designation of an Interstate Highway half-beltway in Massachusetts. It was the longest auxiliary Interstate Highway of its kind—measuring 120.74 miles —until 1996, when the PA Route 9 section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike was redesignated as Interstate 476, making it about ...	I-495 Exit 28.
Worcester Worcester County, Massachusetts -Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...	Harvard Harvard, Massachusetts Harvard is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. A farming community settled in 1658 and incorporated in 1732, it has been home to several non-traditional communities, such as Harvard Shaker Village and the utopian Transcendentalist center Fruitlands...	10.3	Route 110 West	Beginning of concurrency with Route 110.
		11.9	Route 2	Route 2 Exits 38 A-B
Middlesex	Ayer Ayer, Massachusetts Ayer is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Originally part of Groton, it was incorporated February 14, 1871 and became a major commercial railroad junction. The town was home to Camp Stevens, a training camp for Massachusetts volunteers during the American Civil War...	14.1	Route 2A / Route 110 East	End of concurrency with Route 110. Beginning of concurrency with Route 2A.
		15.8	Route 2A West	End of concurrency with Route 2A.
	Groton Groton, Massachusetts Groton is a town located in northwestern Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The population was 10,646 at the 2010 census. It is home to two noted prep schools: Groton School, founded in 1884, and Lawrence Academy at Groton, founded in 1793. The historic town hosts the National Shepley Hill Horse...	18.6	Route 225 West	Beginning of concurrency with Route 225.
		19.2	Route 225 East Route 119 East	End of concurrency with Route 225. Eastbound Route 225 to Route 40. Beginning of concurrency with Route 119.
	Pepperell Pepperell, Massachusetts Pepperell is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,497 at the 2010 census. It includes the village of East Pepperell.-History:...	21.0	Route 119 West	End of concurrency with Route 119.
		23.8	Route 113
		27.28	NH Route 111 New Hampshire Route 111 New Hampshire Route 111 is a east–west highway in Hillsborough and Rockingham counties in southeastern New Hampshire. The road runs from Hollis to North Hampton on the Atlantic shore....	Northern end of Massachusetts Route 111. Western end of New Hampshire Route 111.