Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 43m
Distance
240.3 mi
387 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ashland, ME
Cliff Booth
Auburn, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Ashland to Auburn is 240.3 miles and takes about 4h 43m via I 95 and US 202, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, moving from the Northeast region down towards the southern part of the state. The majority of your driving will be on Interstate 95, offering a straightforward path. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points in Maine without a significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
120.2 miles from Ashland, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 32m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 153.7 mi | 2h 42m |
| Aroostook Scenic Highway | 30.2 mi | 44m |
| US 202 | 12.8 mi | 14m |
| Masardis Road | 11.7 mi | 17m |
| Main Street | 6.6 mi | 9m |
| Route 202 | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Station Road | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| North Road | 4.4 mi | 6m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 64 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,113 veh/hr typical · worst 1,508
Quietest
1 AM
~41 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
27.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Ashland, ME and Auburn, ME.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn left onto ME 11
Turn right onto ME 11
Continue on ME 11
Continue on ME 11
Continue on ME 11
Continue on ME 11
Continue on ME 11
Continue on ME 11
Continue on Route 11
Continue on Station Road
Continue on Main Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Turn left onto US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
Arrive at destination
Given the 4h 43m estimated drive time and 240.3 miles, starting your trip in the morning is recommended to ensure you have ample daylight. The route includes only one suggested stop, but with the longest stretch on I 95 being 153.7 miles, you might want to plan an additional break for comfort. Your estimated fuel cost is around $39, so ensure your tank is full before departing Ashland. Pay attention to the transition off I 95 onto US 202, as this is where the driving environment will change most noticeably.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 53 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.2 miles or 2h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, ME than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Ashland, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ashland, ME
This is one driving day of about 240.3 miles and 4h 43m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
120 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 120.2 miles from Ashland, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 153.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 210.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto ME 11 / Station Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Turn right onto ME 11 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining
Take the exit toward US 202 West, ME 11 West, ME 17 West, ME 100 West: Winthrop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$40.03 one way
$80.06 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $44.42 | $88.84 |
| premium | $5.07 | $47.93 | $95.86 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $52.97 | $105.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.1 | 0 | $25.23 | $11.53 |
| Efficient EV | 60.1 | 0 | $21.03 | $9.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96.1 | 1 | $33.64 | $15.38 |
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Ashland on Wednesday
Local time
1:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Scattered Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Auburn on Wednesday
Local time
1:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Monument
Spread across a wild landscape offering spectacular views of Katahdin, Katahdin Woods and Waters invites discovery of its rivers, streams, woods, flora, fauna, geology, and the night skies that have a...
National Monument
Known as the first woman to hold a presidential cabinet position and the “Woman behind the New Deal,” Frances Perkins championed many labor rights that Americans enjoy today, including safety standard...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
You'll spend about 73% of your 240.3 miles on highways, primarily I 95. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 153.7 miles, so expect extended periods of faster travel. After leaving I 95, you'll transition to US 202, which offers a change of pace with more local traffic and potentially more frequent intersections. This mix means you'll experience both high-speed cruising and more typical surface road driving.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Aroostook Scenic Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ME 11 / Station Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 43m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (ME 11 / Station Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (ME 11 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 56.9 miles: Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
461 ft
Total Descent
967 ft
Highest Point
795 ft
~17.2 mi in
Elevation Range
680 ft
Lewiston-Auburn is a city in Androscoggin County, in the central Maine region of Maine. The Androscoggin River divides the city into two separate municipalities: the east bank is Lewiston, with a population of about 39,000 (2016), and the west bank is Auburn, with about 23,000 people (2016). They are known locally as the "Twin Cities" or "L–A".
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 43m. Total distance: 240.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Ashland, ME or browse trips ending in Auburn, ME.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ME road trips.
