Ming Lee Chinese Restaurant
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Waterville, Maine
Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm
+12078732828
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 9m
Distance
106.8 mi
172 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
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
Guilford, ME
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning to head north from Auburn to Guilford, expect a straightforward journey covering 106.8 miles. You can easily complete this drive in about 2 hours and 9 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With fuel costs estimated at approximately $17, it is an affordable excursion through Maine’s Northeast region. Because the duration is relatively short, there is no need to worry about splitting the travel over multiple days. This route functions best as a direct transit, allowing you to reach your destination without the hassle of multiple overnight stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.4 miles from Auburn, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 75.5 mi | 1h 21m |
| North Dexter Road | 9.4 mi | 14m |
| Dexter Road | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| Moosehead Trail | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| Lisbon Street | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Newport Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Water Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Corinna Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, ME and Guilford, ME.
Start on US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Turn sharp right onto ME 196
Merge onto ME 196
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Alfred A Plourde Parkway
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto ME 11; ME 100
Enter roundabout onto ME 7; ME 11
Continue on ME 7; ME 11
Continue on ME 7; ME 11
Continue on ME 7; ME 11; ME 43
Continue on ME 7
Continue on ME 7
Continue on Church Street
Turn left onto ME 23
Continue on ME 23
Continue on Crockett Road
Turn straight onto ME 23
Continue on ME 23
Continue on ME 23
Turn left onto ME 6; ME 15; ME 16
Arrive at destination
Since this is a relatively quick 2-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid the heaviest traffic. While there are no mandated stops required for a route of this length, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise despite the modest $17 estimated cost. Because the majority of your time is spent on the Maine Turnpike, ensure your vehicle is prepared for consistent, high-speed highway driving before you depart Auburn. Use the final stretch on Dexter Road to ease off the throttle and transition into the quieter pace of the Guilford area. Planning to arrive during daylight hours will make the transition from the turnpike to local roads much smoother.
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.
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 23 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.4 miles or 59m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Guilford, ME than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Auburn, 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 Auburn, ME
This is one driving day of about 106.8 miles and 2h 9m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 53.4 miles from Auburn, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Maine Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Waterville, Maine
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm
+12078732828
Orchid Lewiston
Lewiston, Maine
The Heritage Restaurant
Lewiston, Maine
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Waterville, Maine
Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm
+12078732828
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Lewiston, Maine
Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm
+12077530389
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Lewiston, Maine
Hours: 9 am–8 pm
+12075137005
Around the midpoint, short detour
Waterville, Maine
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
+12078726231
Early in the drive, short detour
Augusta, Maine
Hours: 11 am–3 pm
+12074801121
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Dexter, Maine
Hours: 7 am–2:30 pm
+12079242217
Near the start, short detour
Auburn, Maine
Hours: 11 am–7 pm
+12077822135
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Lewiston, Maine
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+12077530173
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Lewiston, Maine
Hours: 10 am–9 pm
+12077833888
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Augusta, Maine
+12076262385
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 79.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street
Navigation decision point
Turn sharp right onto ME 196 / Canal Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Maine Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Dexter
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$17.19 one way
$34.39 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $18.92 | $37.83 |
| premium | $4.86 | $20.45 | $40.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.58 | $47.16 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.53
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32 | 0 | $11.21 | $5.13 |
| Efficient EV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.34 | $4.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.7 | 0 | $14.95 | $6.84 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Late night in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
4:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Guilford on Sunday
Local time
4:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
56°F
Fairfield, ME
53 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
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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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.
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 71% of your travel spent on high-speed roads. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Maine Turnpike, which accounts for a significant 75.5-mile stretch of the journey. Expect a transition from the heavy-duty interstate environment to the more relaxed pace of North Dexter Road and Dexter Road as you approach the final leg. The character of the drive shifts noticeably once you exit the turnpike, moving from wide, fast lanes to the local road infrastructure that defines the latter portion of your 106.8-mile transit.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and North Dexter Road. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street.
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 106.8 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: near the start (US 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (ME 196 / Canal Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 22.8 miles (I 95 / Maine Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Auburn, ME to Guilford, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Dexter along the way.
Dexter
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 106.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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