Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
52.9 mi
85 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Auburn, ME to Dayton, ME is 52.9 miles and takes about 1h 12m via Maine Turnpike, New County Road, and Washington Street, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically Maine, making it a straightforward local excursion. Given its short duration and primarily highway profile, it's well-suited for a quick trip or an add-on to a larger itinerary. You'll find the drive efficient, with most of your mileage covered on well-traveled roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 38.1 mi | 42m |
| New County Road | 4.6 mi | 8m |
| Washington Street | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Hollis Road | 1.4 mi | 5m |
| Minot Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Garfield Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Bradley Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, ME and Dayton, ME.
Start on US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
Turn slight left onto US 202; ME 4; ME 100
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on this road
Keep slight right at fork
Turn left onto ME 112
Continue on ME 112
Turn right onto Garfield Street
At end of road, turn right onto ME 5
Continue on ME 5
Turn right onto Hollis Road
Turn left onto Bickford Road
Turn right onto Wilderness Drive
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.4 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 45.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward I 195 East: Saco, Old Orchard Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward RT-112 Buxton Rd: Saco, Buxton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward RT-112 Buxton Rd: Saco, Buxton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
At end of road, turn right onto ME 5 / Bradley Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$9.35 one way
$18.70 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $10.24 | $20.49 |
| premium | $5.29 | $11.02 | $22.03 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $11.14 | $22.28 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.28
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$2
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.55 | $2.54 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.63 | $2.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.41 | $3.39 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Auburn on Wednesday
Local time
5:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Sunny
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 21 at 2:45PM EDT until May 22 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gray ME
Destination
Evening in Dayton on Wednesday
Local time
5:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Sunny
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 21 at 2:45PM EDT until May 22 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gray ME
52°F
Falmouth, ME
26 mi in
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
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.
This route is mostly highway, with 72% of the drive on high-speed roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 38.1 miles on the Maine Turnpike before transitioning to surface streets like New County Road and Washington Street. Expect the highway portion to feel efficient, with the transition to more local roads signaling the approach to your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and New County Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 43.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
516 ft
Total Descent
509 ft
Highest Point
335 ft
~18.9 mi in
Elevation Range
282 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Auburn, ME and Dayton, ME, road signs point toward Old Orchard Beach, Rt-112 Buxton Rd: Saco and Buxton.
Old Orchard Beach
Rt-112 Buxton Rd: Saco
Buxton
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
Founded 1798
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 52.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Auburn, ME or browse trips ending in Dayton, ME.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ME road trips.
