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Trip from Auburn, ME to Cornish, ME

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 9m

Distance

47.2 mi

76 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 4m ★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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city in Maine, USA

Auburn, ME

Wikimedia Commons

town in Maine, United States

Cornish, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Auburn to Cornish, Maine, you are looking at a manageable 47.2-mile trek that takes roughly 1 hour and 9 minutes behind the wheel. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is short enough to avoid the need for an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via the Maine Turnpike, Ossipee Trail West, and Chadbourne Road. Budgeting about $8 for fuel covers the trip comfortably, making it an economical choice for a quick getaway. Since both towns reside within the Northeast region, you won't experience drastic shifts in climate or terrain, but you will enjoy a straightforward transition between these two Maine communities.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Maine Turnpike 11.5 mi 12m
Ossipee Trail West 8.2 mi 12m
Chadbourne Road 6.3 mi 9m
Ossipee Trail East 4.1 mi 6m
Washington Street 4.1 mi 5m
Tandberg Trail 3.6 mi 7m
West Gray Road 3.3 mi 6m
Main Street 2.2 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Maine Turnpike — 11.5 mi, about 12m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, ME and Cornish, ME.

1

Start on US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100

40 ft · 7 sec · Minot Avenue
2

Continue on US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100

0.7 mi · 59 sec · Minot Avenue
3

Turn slight left onto US 202; ME 4; ME 100

4.1 mi · 5 min · Washington Street
4

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec
5

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
6

Merge onto I 95

7.7 mi · 8 min · Maine Turnpike
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95

3.8 mi · 4 min · Maine Turnpike
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Exit 63 Toward US 202, ME 115, ME 4: Grey, New Gloucester
9

Turn left onto US 202; ME 4

3.3 mi · 6 min · West Gray Road
10

Continue on ME 115

3.6 mi · 7 min · Tandberg Trail
Use the straight lane.
11

Continue on Chadbourne Road

6.3 mi · 9 min · Chadbourne Road
Use the straight lane.
12

Continue on ME 35

2.2 mi · 3 min · Northeast Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Turn right onto ME 25

4.1 mi · 6 min · Ossipee Trail East
14

Enter roundabout onto ME 25

118 ft · 2 sec · Ossipee Trail West
15

Continue on ME 25

8.2 mi · 12 min · Ossipee Trail West
16

Continue on ME 25; ME 117

2.2 mi · 3 min · Main Street
17

Arrive at destination

ME 5; ME 25

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Standish, ME, ME

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Standish, ME

24 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Five Corners, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ireland Corner, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23.6 miles from Auburn, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 36.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
4.8 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

4
4.9 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4
13.1 mi into trip | ~15m in | I 95 / Maine Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Maine Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

6
17 mi into trip | ~19m in

Take the exit toward US 202, ME 115, ME 4: Grey, New Gloucester

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 63 Toward US 202, ME 115, ME 4: Grey, New Gloucest...
4
36.8 mi into trip | ~54m in | ME 25 / Ossipee Trail West

Enter roundabout onto ME 25 / Ossipee Trail West

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.41 one way

$14.81 round trip

$3.99/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.48 $8.32 $16.64
premium $4.81 $8.94 $17.88
diesel $4.80 $8.91 $17.82

Estimated Tolls: $0.69

Maine Turnpike (11.5 mi) $0.69

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Tolls

$1

Total

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.2 0 $4.96 $2.27
Efficient EV 11.8 0 $4.13 $1.89
EV Truck/SUV 18.9 0 $6.61 $3.02

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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 Jul 3, 2026

Origin

Auburn, ME

Late night in Auburn on Sunday

Local time

5:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

94°F

Sunny

NW 10 to 15 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 3 at 6:35AM EDT until July 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Gray ME

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued July 3 at 6:35AM EDT until July 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Gray ME

Destination

Cornish, ME

Late night in Cornish on Sunday

Local time

5:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

96°F

Sunny

W 10 to 15 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 3 at 6:35AM EDT until July 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Gray ME

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued July 3 at 6:35AM EDT until July 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Gray ME

86°F

Standish, ME

24 mi in

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

2 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 9m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate grind. With only 24% of the trip spent on highways, the majority of your time is dedicated to local roads that offer a more intimate look at the landscape. The Maine Turnpike provides the longest uninterrupted stretch of the journey at 11.5 miles, allowing for a brief period of steady cruising before you transition back to more technical driving. As you move away from the main highway segments, the character of the road shifts significantly toward winding, localized travel. You will find that this mix keeps the driving experience engaging and requires you to be actively involved with the steering throughout the entire hour-long duration.

Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.5 mi on Maine Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.2 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 13.1 miles (I 95 / Maine Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

445 ft 192 ft

Total Climb

287 ft

Total Descent

131 ft

Highest Point

445 ft

~43.8 mi in

Elevation Range

253 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Auburn, ME to Cornish, ME, road signs begin pointing toward New Gloucester along the way.

New Gloucester

17 mi in | ~19m

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

The Library Cafe

Cafe

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Cuisine: sandwich

Visit website

She Doesn't Like Guthries

Cafe

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Lewiston, ME

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: Mo-Fr 07:30-16:00

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Early in the drive, short detour

23min in 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Gray, ME

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Thai Dish

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0 mi from route

Cuisine: thai

Visit website

Mother India

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Lewiston, ME

Cuisine: indian

Visit website

El Pocho's Mexican Grill

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Cuisine: mexican

Sacopee Valley House of Pizza

Restaurant

Near the end, short detour

1h 10m in 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Cornish, ME

Hours: Mo,We,Thu 7-2,Fr,Sa 7-8

Visit website

Forage

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Lewiston, ME

Cuisine: breakfast;bakery

Fish Bones American Grill

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Moose Point

Viewpoint

Early in the drive, short detour

23min in 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Whitholm Farm Cupola

Park

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Turtles

Attraction

Early in the drive, short detour

23min in 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Eagles

Attraction

Early in the drive, short detour

23min in 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Black Bear

Attraction

Early in the drive, short detour

23min in 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Great Horned Owl

Attraction

Early in the drive, short detour

23min in 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Androscoggin County Historical Museum

Museum

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

ME

Visit website

Bonney Park

Memorial

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Daniel Marrett House Museum

Museum

Later in the drive, short detour

47min in 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

ME

Visit website

Harold Libbey Memorial

Memorial

Early in the drive, right off the route

23min in 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Bates College Museum of Art

Museum

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Lewiston, ME

Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-17:00

Visit website

Franklin School

School

Near the end, short detour

1h 2m in 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

JFM Homes

Guest_house

Near the start, short detour

8min in 1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Auburn, ME

Sebago Lake Lodge

Hotel

Around the midpoint, short detour

39min in 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Standish, ME

Busy Bee Cabins

Motel

Around the midpoint, short detour

31min in 3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour

Gray, ME

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

About the Cities

Starting in Auburn, ME

Full guide →

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

  • • Auburn Public Library — library in Auburn, Maine
  • • Androscoggin County Courthouse and Jail — Historic building in Auburn, Maine

Arriving in Cornish, ME

Full guide →

Founded 1794

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 47.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 11.5 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.69 in tolls one way, starting with Maine Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Cornish, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

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: at 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 13.1 miles (I 95 / Maine Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cornish, ME before heading back.

How this page is built

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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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