Origin
Auburn, ME
Morning in Auburn on Tuesday
Local time
9:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Auburn, ME to Newport, ME
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 31m
Distance
80.6 mi
130 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 25m
★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 35m
3 PM
1h 37m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Newport, ME
Efrem Efre
Trip Overview
Auburn to Newport is 80.6 miles and takes about 1h 31m via Maine Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, moving you from one part of the Northeast to another. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on highways, making it a convenient option for a quick transit between these two locations. Given the short duration and high highway percentage, this route is well-suited for a same-day trip without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.3 miles from Auburn, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 75.5 mi | 1h 21m |
| Lisbon Street | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Canal Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Ox Bow Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Court Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Alfred A Plourde Parkway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Minot Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 75.5 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, ME and Newport, 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
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn sharp right onto ME 196
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Canal Street
5
Merge onto ME 196
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lisbon Street
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
7
Turn straight onto Alfred A Plourde Parkway
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Alfred A Plourde Parkway
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
9
Merge onto I 95
19 mi
·
20 min
·
Maine Turnpike
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
56 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
Maine Turnpike
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 157
Toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Dexter
12
Keep slight left at fork
112 ft
·
6 sec
13
Turn left onto ME 11; ME 100
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Ox Bow Road
14
Turn slight right
228 ft
·
7 sec
15
Turn slight right onto US 2; ME 7; ME 100
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
US 2; ME 7; ME 100
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 1.5 hours, this route offers a lot of flexibility for when you decide to leave. You could easily depart in the morning and arrive well before lunch, or leave in the afternoon and still have ample daylight. Since it's a relatively short trip with no designated stops, you can decide on the fly if you need a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially since the estimated cost is around $13, and plan to fill up before you leave Auburn if your tank is low, as the majority of the drive is on the highway.
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 40.3 miles from Auburn, ME, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.5 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 18 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.3 miles or 45m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newport, 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 80.6 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Auburn, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Maine Turnpike for about 75.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.3 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 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.
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
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
ME 196 / Canal Street
Turn sharp right onto ME 196 / Canal Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
22.8 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
I 95 / Maine Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Maine Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
79.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
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
Exit 157
Toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Dexter
5
79.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.98 one way
$25.95 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $14.28 | $28.55 |
| premium | $4.86 | $15.43 | $30.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.80 | $35.59 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.53
Maine Turnpike
(75.5 mi)
$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
$13
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.46 | $3.87 |
| Efficient EV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.05 | $3.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.28 | $5.16 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Newport, ME
Morning in Newport on Tuesday
Local time
9:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Augusta, ME
40 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
18 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 31m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Frances Perkins National Monument
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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 22.2
Park Closure: For Current Visitor Information
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
For 94% of this 80.6-mile drive, you'll be on highway, with the longest continuous stretch covering 75.5 miles on the Maine Turnpike. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface streets as you approach your destination. The high percentage of highway driving suggests a relatively uninterrupted experience for most of the trip, with exits becoming more frequent as you near Newport.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.5 mi on Maine Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and Lisbon Street. You will hit about 10 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.
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 80.6 miles you will encounter 10 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.
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 websiteShe 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 websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Later in the drive, right off the route
Final third
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
Waterville, ME
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Sa 05:00-20:00; Su 06:00-20:00
Visit website368 Nutrition
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
Newport, ME
Cuisine: tea;juice
Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-17:30; Sa-Su 08:00-14:00
Jorgensens cafe and Deli
Cafe
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Waterville, ME
Bintliffs Corner Brew
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Gardiner, ME
Cuisine: coffee_shop;bakery
Visit websiteThai Dish
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
0 mi from route
Cuisine: thai
Visit websiteMing Lee
Restaurant
Later in the drive, right off the route
Final third
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Waterville, ME
Cuisine: chinese
Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-20:00
Visit websiteMother India
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Lewiston, ME
Cuisine: indian
Visit websiteTaco Bell
Fast_food
Later in the drive, right off the route
Final third
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Waterville, ME
Cuisine: tex-mex
Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-24:00
Visit websiteFirehouse Subs
Fast_food
Later in the drive, right off the route
Final third
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
Waterville, ME
Cuisine: sandwich
Hours: Mo-Su 10:30-21:00
Visit websiteSubway
Fast_food
Later in the drive, right off the route
Final third
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
Waterville, ME
Cuisine: sandwich
Hours: Mo-Su 07:00-21:00
Visit websiteWhitholm Farm Cupola
Park
Near the start, short detour
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Fred Savage Park - City of Augusta
Park
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
1.8 mi from route
~4 min detour
Augusta, ME
Public Park
Park
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Waterville, ME
Park bench
Park
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Waterville, ME
107 Playground
Park
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Waterville, ME
Town of Winslow Lands
Park
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2.7 mi from route
~7 min detour
Waterville, ME
Androscoggin County Historical Museum
Museum
Near the start, right off the route
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
ME
Visit websiteVeteran's Memorial
Memorial
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0 mi from route
Bonney Park
Memorial
Near the start, right off the route
0.5 mi from route
~1 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 websiteAuburn Fire Department Museum
Museum
Near the start, short detour
1.4 mi from route
~4 min detour
ME
Redington Museum
Museum
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
Visit website
The Stone Turret
Guest_house
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.8 mi from route
~5 min detour
Gardiner, 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".
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 31m. Total distance: 80.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.5 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.53 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.
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 Newport, 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: 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.
Yes — Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Newport, 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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