Spanning 69.3 miles, this trek from Camden to Lewiston is a straightforward journey that takes approximately 1 hour and 38 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend about $11 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your Maine travels. The drive transitions you across the Northeast region, moving from the coastal influence of Camden toward the inland hub of Lewiston. It is a practical, efficient connection that links two distinct parts of the state without requiring a significant time commitment. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, the path is simple enough to navigate without stress.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.7 miles from Camden, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Maine Turnpike
20.6 mi
22m
Rockland Road
8.4 mi
11m
Heald Highway
6.9 mi
9m
Augusta Road
5 mi
7m
Augusta-Rockland Road
4.1 mi
6m
Togus Road
3.7 mi
6m
Rockland Street
3.1 mi
4m
West Street
2.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 20.6 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Camden, ME and Lewiston, ME.
1
Start on Bay View Street
22 ft·5 sec·Bay View Street
2
Turn left onto US 1
0.9 mi·2 min·Elm Street
3
Continue on US 1
1.0 mi·2 min·Commercial Street
4
Turn right onto ME 90
2.7 mi·4 min·West Street
5
Turn right onto ME 17
3.1 mi·4 min·Rockland Street
6
Continue on ME 17
1.9 mi·3 min·Main Street
7
Continue on ME 17
6.9 mi·9 min·Heald Highway
8
Continue on ME 17
2.2 mi·3 min·Rockland Road
9
Continue on ME 17
3.5 mi·4 min·Augusta Road
10
Continue on ME 17
6.2 mi·8 min·Rockland Road
11
Continue on ME 17; ME 32
4.1 mi·6 min·Augusta-Rockland Road
12
Continue on ME 17
0.9 mi·1 min·Augusta Road
13
Continue on ME 17
1.1 mi·1 min·Eastern Avenue
14
Continue on ME 17
0.6 mi·59 sec·Augusta Road
15
Turn left onto ME 226
3.7 mi·6 min·Togus Road
16
Continue on ME 226
1.7 mi·3 min·Windsor Street
17
Turn right onto ME 27; ME 126
0.2 mi·35 sec·Water Street
18
Turn left onto ME 9; ME 27; ME 126
0.5 mi·44 sec·Bridge Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Turn right onto Water Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Water Street
20
Continue on Central Street
0.2 mi·15 sec·Central Street
21
Continue on Lewiston Road
0.2 mi·21 sec·Lewiston Road
22
Continue on Cobbossee Avenue
0.6 mi·49 sec·Cobbossee Avenue
23
Continue on Lewiston Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Lewiston Road
24
Enter roundabout onto ME 9; ME 126
120 ft·2 sec·Lewiston Road
25
Continue on ME 9; ME 126
0.4 mi·38 sec·Lewiston Road
26
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 102Toward I-95
27
Merge onto I 95
1.1 mi·1 min·Maine Turnpike
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
20 mi·20 min·Maine Turnpike
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
30
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
31
Turn straight onto Alfred A Plourde Parkway
0.2 mi·16 sec·Alfred A Plourde Parkway
32
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
33
Merge onto ME 196
2.5 mi·3 min·Lisbon Street
34
Turn right onto US 202
0.2 mi·16 sec·Main Street
35
Turn slight right
157 ft·5 sec
36
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 1 hour and 38 minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 69.3-mile distance in one go, as there are no mandatory stops required to finish the trip comfortably. If you prefer to avoid heavier traffic, plan your departure to steer clear of peak commuting hours on the Maine Turnpike section. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Camden, as the $11 estimated cost assumes a steady pace once you hit the main highways. Because the route is short, you have the advantage of being able to adjust your schedule on the fly without needing to worry about long-distance fatigue or complex overnight logistics.
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 34.7 miles from Camden, ME, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.6 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 15 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.7 miles or 52m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewiston, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Camden, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Camden, ME
This is one driving day of about 69.3 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Camden, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Maine Turnpike for about 20.6 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.3 and 66.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
35.3 mi into trip|~53m in|ME 226 / Togus Road
Turn left onto ME 226 / Togus Road
Navigation decision point
5
41 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|ME 9; ME 27; ME 126 / Bridge Street
Turn left onto ME 9; ME 27; ME 126 / Bridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
44.7 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|ME 9; ME 126 / Lewiston Road
Enter roundabout onto ME 9; ME 126 / Lewiston Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
45.1 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the ramp toward I-95
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Exit 102
Toward I-95
5
66.1 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.16 one way
$22.31 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$12.27
$24.55
premium
$4.86
$13.27
$26.54
diesel
$5.61
$15.30
$30.60
Estimated Tolls: $1.23
Maine Turnpike
(20.6 mi)$1.23
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
$11
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.8
0
$7.28
$3.33
Efficient EV
17.3
0
$6.06
$2.77
EV Truck/SUV
27.7
0
$9.70
$4.44
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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 17, 2026
Origin
Camden, ME
Morning
in Camden on Tuesday
Local time
6:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lewiston, ME
Morning
in Lewiston on Tuesday
Local time
6:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 0 to 5 mph73% chanceLive forecast
56°F
Chelsea, ME
35 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 38m 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.
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...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 26.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile, balancing local roads with brief stints on the interstate. You will navigate via Rockland Road and Heald Highway before joining the Maine Turnpike, which accounts for roughly 30% of your total travel time. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Maine Turnpike, covering 20.6 miles of the journey. As you move away from the smaller local routes, the character of the drive shifts from slower, winding sections to more consistent highway speeds. Expect a practical experience that prioritizes functionality over long-distance interstate cruising, keeping you engaged as the road surface and traffic patterns evolve.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.6 mi on Maine Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.3 miles in near ME 226 / Togus Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 35.3 miles (ME 226 / Togus Road): Navigation decision point; at 41 miles (ME 9; ME 27; ME 126 / Bridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.7 miles (ME 9; ME 126 / Lewiston Road): 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".
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 69.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.6 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.23 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 2 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 Lewiston, 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 35.3 miles (ME 226 / Togus Road): Navigation decision point; at 41 miles (ME 9; ME 27; ME 126 / Bridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.7 miles (ME 9; ME 126 / Lewiston Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 Lewiston, ME before heading back.
