Driving from Auburn to Belfast covers 76.3 miles across the scenic Northeast region of Maine. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 36 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your journey will primarily utilize Route 3, US 202, and North Belfast Avenue. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, it is a budget-friendly excursion for a quick getaway. Because the route is straightforward and relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your own schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.1 miles from Auburn, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Route 3
17.6 mi
21m
US 202
12.8 mi
14m
North Belfast Avenue
9 mi
13m
Route 202
6.6 mi
7m
Main Street
5.2 mi
6m
Augusta Road
4.8 mi
5m
Belmont Avenue
4.4 mi
5m
Acadia Highway
4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Route 3
— 17.6 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, ME and Belfast, ME.
1
Start on US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
40 ft·4 sec·Minot Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.4 mi·37 sec·Court Street
3
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
4.9 mi·5 min·Main Street
4
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
3.8 mi·4 min·Route 202
5
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.6 mi·42 sec·US Route 202
6
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
2.7 mi·3 min·Route 202
7
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.9 mi·1 min·US Route 202
8
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
13 mi·14 min·US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
2.5 mi·3 min·Western Avenue
10
Turn left
416 ft·8 sec
11
Turn straight onto Old Winthrop Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Old Winthrop Road
12
Turn right onto Meadow Road
0.3 mi·42 sec·Meadow Road
13
Turn left onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100
0.3 mi·1 min·Western Avenue
14
Turn right onto Armory Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·Armory Street
15
Continue on Capitol Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Capitol Street
16
Turn left onto US 201; ME 27
0.2 mi·18 sec·State Street
17
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100
29 ft·0 sec·Memorial Drive
18
Continue on US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100
0.7 mi·1 min·Memorial Drive
19
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100
220 ft·4 sec·Bangor Street
Toward US 201 North, ME 100 North, US 202 East, ME 9 East: Waterville, Belfast
20
Continue on US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100
0.6 mi·54 sec·Bangor Street
Toward US 201 North, ME 100 North, US 202 East, ME 9 East: Waterville, Belfast
21
Turn right onto US 202; ME 9
1.0 mi·1 min·North Belfast Avenue
Use the right lane.
22
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
8.1 mi·11 min·North Belfast Avenue
Use the right lane.
23
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
0.2 mi·16 sec·Belfast Road
24
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
18 mi·21 min·Route 3
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Acadia Highway
26
Continue on ME 3
3.4 mi·3 min·Belfast Augusta Road West
27
Continue on ME 3
4.8 mi·5 min·Augusta Road
28
Continue on ME 3
4.4 mi·5 min·Belmont Avenue
29
Continue on Main Street
0.3 mi·46 sec·Main Street
30
Turn right onto High Street
112 ft·1 sec·High Street
31
Arrive at destination
High Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of being able to leave whenever fits your plans best. Keep in mind that with zero scheduled stops, you should plan your own breaks accordingly to stay refreshed throughout the 1 hour and 36 minute duration. Budgeting $12 for fuel ensures you are covered for the 76.3-mile distance without any mid-trip stress. Because the route relies on a mix of thoroughfares like US 202 and North Belfast Avenue, stay alert for changing speed limits as you move between rural and built-up areas. Using the 17.6-mile stretch on Route 3 as your primary cruising window is a great way to make efficient progress toward the coast.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.1 miles from Auburn, ME, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.6 miles.
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 17 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.1 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belfast, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Auburn, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Auburn, ME
This is one driving day of about 76.3 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Auburn, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Route 3 for about 17.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 32.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street
Navigation decision point
4
30.1 mi into trip|~37m in|Armory Street
Turn right onto Armory Street
Navigation decision point
5
31.3 mi into trip|~39m in|US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100 / Memorial Drive
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100 / Memorial Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
32 mi into trip|~40m in|US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100 / Bangor Street
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100 / Bangor Street toward US 201 North, ME 100 North, US 202 East, ME 9 East: Waterville, Belfast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 201 North, ME 100 North, US 202 East,...
5
32.6 mi into trip|~41m in|US 202; ME 9 / North Belfast Avenue
Turn right onto US 202; ME 9 / North Belfast Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.28 one way
$24.57 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$13.51
$27.03
premium
$4.86
$14.61
$29.22
diesel
$5.61
$16.85
$33.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.9
0
$8.01
$3.66
Efficient EV
19.1
0
$6.68
$3.05
EV Truck/SUV
30.5
0
$10.68
$4.88
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Auburn, ME
Morning
in Auburn on Tuesday
Local time
6:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Belfast, ME
Morning
in Belfast on Tuesday
Local time
6:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Augusta, ME
38 mi in
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
13 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 36m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed drive profile, balancing fast-paced highway stretches with slower local roads. Approximately 50% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a nice variety in the driving experience. You will navigate a longest uninterrupted stretch of 17.6 miles while traveling along Route 3. Expect the road's personality to shift as you transition between these different road types, keeping the pace engaging rather than monotonous. It is a manageable drive that allows you to settle in for a decent stretch before transitioning into local navigation.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.6 mi on Route 3.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 36m drive. You will face about 12 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 (US 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 30.1 miles (Armory Street): Navigation decision point; at 31.3 miles (US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100 / Memorial Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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".
The longest stretch is about 17.6 miles on Route 3. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through ME can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 30.1 miles (Armory Street): Navigation decision point; at 31.3 miles (US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100 / Memorial Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Belfast, ME before heading back.
