Cincinnati, OH to Augusta, ME is 1027.5 miles and takes about 19h 42m via I-71, I-80, and I-84, with a fuel budget near $166 and recommended for 3 days. This long-haul drive will take you from the Midwest into the Northeast, covering a significant portion of the country. You'll be on major interstates for almost the entire trip, making it a straightforward, if lengthy, transit. It's a solid option if you need to get from Ohio to Maine efficiently, with a focus on covering ground.
Trip Pace
Best split across 3 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
5 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
513.7 miles from Cincinnati, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 9h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
276.8 mi
4h 59m
I 84
231.4 mi
4h 36m
I 71
170.6 mi
3h 6m
I 495
62.8 mi
1h 13m
I 76
57.6 mi
1h 6m
Blue Star Turnpike
54.2 mi
1h
I 295
52.5 mi
1h 1m
I 81
34.7 mi
42m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 276.8 mi, about 4h 59m
Traffic on I-495
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 191 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,984 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,658
Quietest
2 AM
~275 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cincinnati, OH and Augusta, ME.
1
Start on Ohio Avenue
99 ft·6 sec·Ohio Avenue
2
Turn right onto West McMillan Avenue
0.2 mi·26 sec·West McMillan Avenue
3
Continue on East McMillan Street
0.8 mi·2 min·East McMillan Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 71
29 mi·35 min·Northeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 32Toward SR 123: Morrow, LebanonUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto SR 123
515 ft·12 sec·SR 123
8
Turn left onto SR 350
4.3 mi·8 min·SR 350
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left onto C-45
1.9 mi·4 min·Middleboro Road
10
At end of road, turn left onto SR 350 Truck; C-7
336 ft·10 sec·Wilmington Road
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 71 North: Columbus
12
Merge onto I 71
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto I 71
0.4 mi·45 sec·I 71
Toward I 71 North, I 70 East: Cleveland, WheelingUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 70; I 71
1.3 mi·1 min·South Innerbelt
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
1.0 mi·1 min·I 71
Exit 101AToward I 71 North: ClevelandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 71
100 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 209A-BToward I 76, US 224: Lodi, AkronUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 209AToward I 76, US 224 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 76; US 224
17 mi·20 min·I 76; US 224
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.9 mi·2 min·Kenmore Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
1.2 mi·1 min·I 76
Toward I 76 East: AkronUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76; I 77
39 mi·43 min·I 76; I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 80
4.0 mi·4 min·I 80
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
273 mi·4 hr 54 min·I 80
25
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
26
Merge onto I 81
35 mi·42 min·I 81
27
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I-84 east, US 6 east
28
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·35 sec
29
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mt Pocono, Milford
30
Merge onto I 84; I 380
3.4 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
31
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84
129 mi·2 hr 32 min·I 84
Toward I 84 East: MilfordUse the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 6
43 mi·50 min·I 84; US 6
Toward WaterburyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
14 mi·19 min·I 84
Use the slight right lane.
34
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6
2.3 mi·2 min·I 84; US 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6
40 mi·46 min·I 84; US 6
Toward I 84 East: BostonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Merge onto I 90
27 mi·31 min·Massachusetts Turnpike
37
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 106Toward I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, TauntonUse the slight right lane.
38
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth New Hampshire
39
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 495 North: Lowell, Portsmouth NHUse the slight left lane.
40
Merge onto I 495
63 mi·1 hr 13 min·I 495
Use the straight / right lanes.
41
Merge onto I 95
6.7 mi·7 min·I 95
42
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
7.8 mi·9 min·Blue Star Turnpike
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
43
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
46 mi·50 min·Blue Star Turnpike
Toward I 95 North: Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Maine PointsUse the straight / slight left lanes.
44
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
52 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 295
Exit 44Toward Downtown PortlandUse the slight right lane.
45
Merge onto I 95
6.3 mi·6 min·Maine Turnpike
46
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 109Toward US 202, ME 11, ME 17, ME 100: Augusta, Winthrop
47
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·20 sec
Toward US 202, ME 11, ME 17, ME 100: Augusta
48
Turn straight onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100
0.6 mi·1 min·Western Avenue
49
Turn right onto Armory Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·Armory Street
50
Continue on Capitol Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Capitol Street
51
Turn left onto US 201; ME 27
0.2 mi·18 sec·State Street
52
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 27; ME 100
466 ft·8 sec·Memorial Circle
53
Arrive at destination
US 201; ME 27
Trip Plan
Given the nearly 20-hour drive time, splitting this trip over 3 days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight driving. Plan for approximately 5 stops for fuel and rest, which should be manageable with your recommended 3-day pace. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 276.8-mile stretch on I-80, as services can sometimes be more spread out in certain sections.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 3-day trip.
Plan roughly 5 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 513.7 miles from Cincinnati, OH, or about 9h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 276.8 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 220 miles or 4h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 513.7 miles or 9h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 342.5 miles or 6h 31m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 18h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Augusta, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cincinnati, OH 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 3-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cincinnati, OH
Aim for roughly 343 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 343 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Finish the approach into Augusta, ME
Aim for roughly 343 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Cincinnati, OH.
This route usually feels better as a 3-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 5 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 276.8 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 47
5 decision points cluster between mile 30.1 and 841.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
30.1 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward SR 123: Morrow, Lebanon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 32
Toward SR 123: Morrow, Lebanon
8
107.6 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|I 71
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71 toward I 71 North: Cleveland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 101A
Toward I 71 North: Cleveland
8
209 mi into trip|~4h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 209A-B
Toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron
9
209.2 mi into trip|~4h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 209A
Toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron
8
841.7 mi into trip|~16h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Taunton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 106
Toward I 495: Portsmouth New Hampshire, Taunton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$157.89 one way
$315.77 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg360 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$178.07
$356.15
premium
$4.99
$201.74
$403.48
diesel
$4.80
$194.01
$388.02
Estimated Tolls: $5.82
Blue Star Turnpike
(54.2 mi)$3.80
Massachusetts Turnpike
(27.4 mi)$1.64
Maine Turnpike
(6.3 mi)$0.38
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
$158
Tolls
$6
Hotel (2n)
$160–$280
Meals
$75–$150
Total
$399–$594
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 359.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $108 in charging
· 3 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
308.3
3
$107.89
$49.32
Efficient EV
256.9
2
$89.91
$41.10
EV Truck/SUV
411
5
$143.85
$65.76
Gas CO2
360 kg
EV CO2
120 kg (67% less)
Plan for 3 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Cincinnati, OH
Night
in Cincinnati on Saturday
Local time
9:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
95°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NW 3 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 2:47PM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Destination
Augusta, ME
Night
in Augusta on Saturday
Local time
9:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 15 mph51% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 3:52PM EDT until July 16 at 4:30PM EDT by NWS Gray ME
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 3:52PM EDT by NWS Caribou ME
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
17 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
19h 42m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
Throughout his life, Charles Young overcame countless obstacles in his ascent to prominence. In spite of overt racism and stifling inequality, Young rose through the military ranks to become one of th...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 70.9
Though a short distance from the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away. The park is a refuge for native plants and wildlife, and provides routes of discov...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 248
Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park was established to honor the lives and achievements of poet and author Paul Laurence Dunbar and aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright. Through p...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 35.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is almost entirely on interstates, with a 99% highway share. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 276.8 miles on I-80. Expect a consistent cruising experience for the vast majority of the 1027.5 miles. The transition to surface roads, if any, will likely be minimal and occur only at the very beginning or end of your drive.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
53 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 276.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 84. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 30.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 47 significant decision points across 1027.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 30.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.6 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 209 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,573 ft91 ft
Total Climb
1,966 ft
Total Descent
2,708 ft
Highest Point
1,573 ft
~587.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,483 ft
Notable High Points
1,573 ft at ~587.1 miles+986 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cincinnati, OH and Augusta, ME, road signs point toward Wheeling, Akron, Milford, Waterbury, Taunton and Portsmouth New Hampshire - among others.
Cincinnati is Ohio's third largest city and the largest metro region, and lies on the north bank of the Ohio River in Southwest Ohio in the United States of America.
Cincinnati is distinct amongst Midwestern cities. Its culture is a mixture of the Northeast, Old South, Midwest, and Appalachia blended with a strong German-Catholic heritage. It was one of the United States' early boomtowns, and the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood is the largest National Historic District in the country. Today, it's part of a fast-growing metro area, and home to a remarkable blend of industry and architecture. Downtown Cincinnati is surrounded by picturesque foothills that add a beautiful backdrop to the Queen City and its legendary skyline – celebrated in the opening credits of television show WKRP in Cincinnati.
Top landmarks
•Carew Tower — skyscraper in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
•Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains — cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati in downtown Cincinnati...
•Cincinnati Observatory — other organization in Cincinnati, United States
Augusta is the capital of Maine, but at 19,000 (2020), it is one of the least populous state capitals in the United States. Top attractions include the historic Old Fort Western (the oldest surviving wooden fort in New England (built 1754)), tours of the Maine State House, the Maine State Museum, and outdoor recreation at Viles Arboretum or the Kennebec River Rail Trail.
Top landmarks
•Maine State House — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Maine
•Fort Western — fort in Augusta, Maine
•The Blaine House — Official residence of the Governor of Maine
The longest stretch is about 276.8 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 3-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 343 miles on day one.
Expect about $5.82 in tolls one way, starting with Blue Star 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 118 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 Augusta, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 5 meaningful breaks. There are 118 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 30.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.6 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 209 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 19.7 hours each way, a round trip means 39.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Augusta, ME before the return drive.
